Nambling Notes - Oct 12, 2001

A Tidbit from the US -- If U.S. legislators are going to let lobbying efforts effect their decision making as they iron out the details of proposed money laundering legislation next week, then recent comments from American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf bode well for the interactive gambling industry. The House version of the now standalone money laundering bill includes Rep. James Leach's, R-Iowa, Internet gambling funding prohibition bill, while the Senate version has no such provision. The two houses are expected to work out a uniform version in coming days. Fahrenkopf said Tuesday that he would prefer that the Leach provision be left out of the bill, as it could jeopardize the AGA's efforts to avert the prohibition of gambling in Nevada on college sports. Fahrenkopf told the Las Vegas Review Journal, "I am concerned about any vehicle floating around in Congress that supporters of the (college sports betting ban) can use."

New Stuff -- Superbet.com announced that it has developed and launched its own wireless blackjack and sports book interfaces. The new games are compatible with WAP, Palm OS and PocketPC. Wireless phone users can partake in the new features for free or for real money at www.123bet.com/index.wml or www.123bet.com. Palm and PocketPC users must download a free WAP browser, such as Wapaka at Wapaka.com, and then access the WAP gateway. The wireless betting technology provider, Third Eye Software Ltd., will soon be offering the package to other online gaming customers.

Virtgame.com Corp. announced Wednesday that it has filed an application with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for a "Non-Gaming-Related supplier under the Gaming Control Act, 1992." President and CEO Scott Walker said the company has software products to market and sell to the gaming operators in the province of Ontario, and that "the licensing process is the first step." The company has developed new delivery modes for game manufacturers within traditional bricks and mortar gaming companies and over the Internet on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis using its proprietary e-BorderControl technology.

Makin' Deals -- Gaming Insight's Zap Casino has signed partnership agreements with online lottery Bananalotto and Flextech's Bravo Television Web site. The deal calls for co-branding, fixed links and banner advertising on both the Bananalotto (www.bananalotto.com) and Bravo (www.bravo.com) Web sites.

Investment Technology Inc. (IT) announced Wednesday that it has acquired Internet Gaming Technology Corp., S.A. (IGTC) of Costa Rica, a fully licensed online casino and sports book management company. Under the terms of the deal, IGTC will become a wholly owned foreign subsidiary of IT and maintain the operation and management of Casino El Duce at www.casinoelduce.com, an online casino and sports book.

On the Commerce Front -- A federal court has ordered Visa U.S.A. and MasterCard to let their member banks issue rivals' cards. With the two networks controlling more than 75 percent of U.S. credit card sales, the decision bodes well for competitors American Express and Discover.

New Faces -- NordwestLotto of Germany has appointed Helmut Stracke to the position of managing director. Stracke, who previously served as the director of IT and game operations, replaces Dr. Rolf Stypmann, who has joined Toto Lotto Niedersachsen GmbH, Hannover.

Gambling technology company Orbis Development Inc. on Wednesday introduced Raymundo Diaz as the company's vice president, pari-mutuel racing division as well as the president of Orbis's WWW Interamericana, LTDA subsidiary. Diaz, formerly a consultant to Orbis and a member of its advisory committee since May 1, 2001, will be responsible for completing and launching Orbis's pari-mutuel racing system.