In a development that has shocked the online betting community, Sportingbet's chairman, Peter Dicks, was arrested in the US on 7 September for alleged violation of Louisiana state laws, mirroring the arrest in July of Betonsports’ CEO David Carruthers, who was detained on racketeering charges. Dicks was released on $50,000 bail and was scheduled to appear at a hearing before a New York City Criminal Court on 14 September to decide whether he can be extradited to Louisiana. Louisiana state police insisted that the arrest was unconnected to the US Justice Department's action against Betonsports. At the time of going to press, Manfred Bodner and Norbert Teufelberger, the joint chief executives of Austrian-based Bwin Interactive Entertainment which owns and operates several gambling sites, including PokerRoom.com and EuroPoker.com, were arrested as they were preparing to give a press conference in France about the company's sponsorship deal with the Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club. Their company is now being investigated because of its promotional activities in France, including the deal with Monaco and two other French Clubs, which are deemed potentially illegal under French law. If S&T readers are wondering how such measures aimed at cracking down on online gambling in the US and France among other countries will affect your business or the sports and gaming/gambling industry in general, then you will find all the answers you need in The Global Business of Poker - the latest report from ArkSports, publisher of leading e-newsletter Sport and Technology. Published at the end of July 2006, this 350+ page report provides an invaluable market overview of the fast-moving multibillion dollar poker industry, both land-based and online, including a section on legal issues that affect online gambling and gaming as a whole. See http://www.sportandtechnology.com/page/0359.html for further details including a table of contents.
Dates announced for networking events
The next networking evening for the Sport and Technology Executive Club (STEC) will be hosted by Addleshaw Goddard and held at the company’s Aldersgate office in London on Thursday 26 October 2006. The first 2007 STEC networking evening will be hosted at the House of Commons on Thursday 25 January by Derek Wyatt MP who, as well as being an inaugural member of STEC and a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party, is Chairman of both the All Party Internet and All Party Rugby Groups at Westminster. The event will be sponsored by PA Sport. See www.sportandtechnologyexecutiveclub.com for membership details and fees.
ArkSports seminars confirmed
The future of online gaming will be the subject of an ArkSports-hosted panel discussion at SPORTELMonaco on Wednesday 18 October (9.30-10.45am). Speakers are Sabin Brooks, Head of Marketing Communications, Europe, PartyGaming; Kevan Moretti, Co-Founder and Commercial Director of iKnowledge; John O'Connor, Business Development Director, Servecast; and Tony Singh, Associate, Spectrum Strategy Consultants. In a change in subject matter and date, the planned STEC breakfast seminar held in association with Clintons Solicitors in London will now take place on the morning of Thursday 26 October, streamed by Premium TV to STEC members. Entitled: ‘The Protection Racket. Safeguarding your sports data’, industry experts will look at who owns what in the sports data marketplace and how digital assets can be protected. Further details will appear on the Sport and Technology website in the ‘Events’ section.
Infostrada Sports’ S&T sponsorship enters third year
ArkSports is delighted to announce that Infostrada Sports, a worldwide provider of comprehensive sports statistics and sports information services, has renewed its sponsorship of the Sport and Technology Databox section once again, marking the start of its third sponsorship term. Speaking about the deal, Philip Hennemann, CEO of Infostrada Sports said: "Infostrada Sports is pleased to continue its sponsorship of S&T's Databox for a third year because data is at the heart of technology and sport and we are thrilled to be associated with the leading online resource in this area."
PA Sport invests in Australian sports internet
Sports information provider PA Sport has invested in premier Australian sports internet and information company, Sportal Australia. Under the terms of the deal PA Sport will acquire 33.3% of Sportal Australia to gain the exclusive rights to commercialise and develop Sportal’s content and technical products and services outside Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. In return, Sportal will become the sales agent for PA Sport’s content and services in their home territories of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Meanwhile, PA Group Photos has launched GameOn, its innovative real-time mobile service for fans of the FA Premier League. The service has already been licensed to Orange, O2, Arsenal FC, Teletext and FourFourTwo Magazine.
It’s hip to like American Football
HipCricket has been chosen as the interactive partner for the new NBC4 US television show called The Challenge, a first of its kind in local television. The show allows the viewer to compete in realtime either by text message or online and has been specifically designed for the audience watching Sunday Night football, co-produced by popular host Fred Roggin. The show debuted directly after the completion of NBC4's broadcast of Sunday Night Football on 10 September. Pre-registered viewers are set to compete during the NFL season to see who can amass the most points by answering sports trivia. There will be multiple weekly winners, as well as cumulative multiple grand prize-winners. HipCricket is providing all the interactivity online and on cell phones. Meanwhile, CBS Sportsline, a leading internet sports media organisation and part of CBS Digital Media, has completely redesigned live game coverage of the NFL through its revamped GameCenter. The GameCenter allows fans to follow a game of their choice in real-time with play-by-play accounts, live game (‘glog’) commentary and statistics. Wrapped around the feature game coverage are scores at a glance, allowing fans to follow all the NFL action from across the league in realtime with play-by-play updates and game alerts. Additionally, CBS SportsLine Fantasy Football participants can use the GameCenters to track all of their fantasy football leagues with live scoring updates.
Roddick Tennis game launch
International mobile games developer and publisher Guppy Games, was set to release Andy Roddick Tennis to major carriers throughout the US and internationally during The US Open 2006 which ended on 10 September with Roddick as runner-up to Roger Federer. "Without the cooperation of Andy Roddick, we would have not have had this chance to create the most exciting tennis game on the market," said Guppy Games CEO, Alex Choe. "Andy Roddick is a powerful athlete and we are ecstatic to have him as a part of this venture." In addition to singles games and championship play, Andy Roddick Tennis will feature a power serve mini-game which can be played for chances to win Andy Roddick autographed goods.
West Ham signs casino partners
West Ham United has selected Pinnacle Casino and Blue Chip Games as the East London soccer club's official online casino partners. In the exclusive three-year agreement running through the 2008-09 season, a devoted gaming section will be created on the club's homepage at WHUFC.com by Blue Chip Games allowing loyal Irons fans the opportunity to play all of their favourite casino games at PinnacleCasino.com. The sponsorship agreement also includes several marketing initiatives granting Pinnacle Casino advertising on the official website of West Ham United, match day programmes and television interview backdrops as well as LED time during live matches at Upton Park. In addition, West Ham United has granted use of the Club's trademark, player names, images and photographs for promotional use worldwide.
Wal-Mart and ESPN team up for multimedia programming
Wal-Mart and ESPN have announced a fully integrated multiplatform agreement for ESPN's Monday Night Football and its surrounding programming and content for the 2006-07 NFL season. The new association will facilitate the transformation of the traditional three-hour primetime American football game telecast into a 24-hour multimedia event. Highlights of the Wal-Mart and ESPN multimedia agreement include ESPN television features called ‘Pump Up The Volume’ on SportsCenter and ‘Soundtracks’ on NFL Countdown, a co-branded custom promotion on ESPN.com to highlight the retailer’s HDTV offerings. Wal-Mart will also have advertising on ESPN Radio, in ESPN The Magazine, on-site, in-store and promotion on all ESPN networks throughout the NFL season.
European digital TV on the up
According to research firm Datamonitor, there will be 187m digital TV homes in Europe and the US by 2010, with Europe expected to overtake the US by the end of 2006.
Page from ArkSports' Sport and Technology (www.sportandtechnology.com) on 2008-11-21 : News - September 2006 : http://www.sportandtechnology.com/news/0412.html
In a development that has shocked the online betting community, Sportingbet's chairman, Peter Dicks, was arrested in the US on 7 September for alleged violation of Louisiana state laws, mirroring the arrest in July of Betonsports’ CEO David Carruthers, who was detained on racketeering charges. Dicks was released on $50,000 bail and was scheduled to appear at a hearing before a New York City Criminal Court on 14 September to decide whether he can be extradited to Louisiana. Louisiana state police insisted that the arrest was unconnected to the US Justice Department's action against Betonsports. 
Sports information provider PA Sport has invested in premier Australian sports internet and information company, Sportal Australia. Under the terms of the deal PA Sport will acquire 33.3% of Sportal Australia to gain the exclusive rights to commercialise and develop Sportal’s content and technical products and services outside Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. In return, Sportal will become the sales agent for PA Sport’s content and services in their home territories of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Meanwhile, PA Group Photos has launched GameOn, its innovative real-time mobile service for fans of the FA Premier League. The service has already been licensed to Orange, O2, Arsenal FC, Teletext and FourFourTwo Magazine.
West Ham United has selected Pinnacle Casino and Blue Chip Games as the East London soccer club's official online casino partners. In the exclusive three-year agreement running through the 2008-09 season, a devoted gaming section will be created on the club's homepage at WHUFC.com by Blue Chip Games allowing loyal Irons fans the opportunity to play all of their favourite casino games at PinnacleCasino.com. The sponsorship agreement also includes several marketing initiatives granting Pinnacle Casino advertising on the official website of West Ham United, match day programmes and television interview backdrops as well as LED time during live matches at Upton Park. In addition, West Ham United has granted use of the Club's trademark, player names, images and photographs for promotional use worldwide.
