Atos Origin Wins UK Gambling Commission IT Services Contract

LONDON – International IT services company, Atos Origin, has been awarded the IT systems contract by the UK Gambling Commission.

The IT contract will Atos Origin employ Siebel 8.0 to support the Gambling Commission’s licensing and compliance work for the gambling industry encompassing both online and land-based operations.

The new CRM platform will allow the Commission with a single, updated view of the operator’s regulatory information viewable by office-based and mobile staff.

Gambling Commission Director for Corporate Services Bill Butler commented on the choice of Atos Origin:

“Following a competitive process, we selected Atos Origin because it demonstrated that it understands our needs and has the capability and experience to deliver.”

Atos Origin VP for Public Sector Anne Ware also said:

“Having the correct information to hand at the right time is essential for all organisations. For the Gambling Commission, this new solution will help them to keep gambling fair and safe for all by making it easier to ensure that operators are fulfilling their requirements.”

Parlay Entertainment Settles with 1st Technology

ONTARIO, CANADA – To avoid a costly patent litigation, Canadian online gaming software developer Parlay Entertainment has decided to settle with 1st Technology LLC over a patent infringement suit that the latter had filed against Parlay.

“Given the cost of patent litigation, we determined that it would be a prudent corporate action to negotiate a settlement with 1st Technology,” said Parlay CEO Scott White. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement which provides us with certainty.”

1st Technology LLC CEO Dr. Scott Lewis commented on the settlement:

“We are pleased to have this dispute with Parlay resolved and look forward to working with other leading companies to assist in achieving compatibility with 1st Technology’s intellectual property.”

Neither parties made any admission of liability and no terms of payment were released.

1st Technology is a technology licensing company and owns several multi-media patents for advanced gaming including one for putting bets online. Several online and interactive media companies have licensed 1st Technology’s patents including Chartwell Technology, Excapsa Software and Playtech Ltd.

It will be noted that 1st Technology is the same company that last year brought a patent infringement suit against Bodog and had a very public war of words with Bodog Founder and former CEO Calvin Ayre.

Bodog and Parlay were not the first companies to go to court with 1st Technology. 1st Technology also brushed with SportingBet PLC, Paradise Poker, NDS Group PLC and Orbis Technology in court before they eventually settled with Lewis.

Betbrokers Going Broke?

Trading on AIM Suspended After Subsidiary Goes Into Administration

LONDON – Betbrokers Plc., the independent broker and clearing house for the sports betting industry, announced that it was suspending trading of its shares on the AIM temporarily.

The move to suspend trading occurred after one of Betbrokers subsidiaries, Betbrokers Limited, was placed in administration.

In its website, BetBrokers stated:

“Currently the Company is unable to fully ascertain the effect of this on the Company’s financial position.

The Company’s shares on AIM have been suspended temporarily with effect from Tuesday 26 August 2008 until the full implications have become clear.”

The company also announced that its nominated adviser, Daniel Stewart & Company has resigned.

No Layoffs at Bodog Says Morris Mohawk Gaming Group

MONTREAL, CANADA – Following reports that online betting company Bodog is experiencing hard times and has laid off hundreds of workers in its North American operations, the CEO of the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group has replied that all is well with Bodog.

Morris Mohawk Gaming Group CEO Alwyn Morris replied to the reports regarding layoffs at Bodog:

“The layoffs in question have actually taken place with a firm that provides Bodog some software and marketing support, but we are confident their service levels to us have not been, and will not be affected,” he wrote. “Bodog has not and is not planning to close its doors to any market. In fact, Bodog is researching new potential markets and will continue to accept new players from all existing markets.”

Morris’ Group run Bodog’s North American operations after the group was awarded the license to use the Bodog brand by Bodog founder and former president Calvin Ayre.

Reports have surfaced that the beleaguered sports betting, poker, casino and entertainment company — currently facing US federal investigations — has been experiencing slow payments of customers’ winnings and a general decline in participation in its poker network despite opening up to the European and Asian markets.

Prior to the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006, Bodog was predominantly an American-facing sports betting site, earning millions of dollars while it introduced poker and casino. Following the passage of UIGEA, Bodog and its owner, Ayre remained defiant of the US and has since then been a prime target of US crackdown on offshore operators.

In 2007, Bodog lost control of its domain after a legal dispute with First Technology LLC. Ayre has since then been keeping a low profile.

The deal with the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group was also realized last year but Bodog lost quality employees when its North American operations moved from Vancouver to Montreal.

The most recent news on layoffs stated that about 250 employees in Canada from various departments including customer support and management have been affected.

Mobile Gaming Solutions Appoints New Business Development Director

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Mobile solutions and technology provider, Mobile Gaming Solutions Plc, has announced the appointment of Mika Kuusito as Executive Director of Business Development.

Formerly Director of Internation Business Development for the MINICK Group, Kuusito will charged with rolling out MGS’s solutions and services as well as the development of new business opportunities especially in the fields of lottery and related activities.

Kuusito brings to MGS ten years of experience gained from mobile services, telecommunications and software where he has demonstrated his drive for strategic partnerships and new business initiatives for companies such as Nokia, Comptel and Fujitsu.

Commeting on the appointment, MGS Chairman Tero Turunen said:

“Mika’s appointment as Executive Director of Business Development is an important addition to the management team of MGS. Mika will ensure that we are able to deliver our value added solutions to our customers, by overseeing project execution and maintaining an active and continuous dialogue with our customers.”

He added that Kuusito’s main focus will be in lottery and related areas where he is expected to seek possible business opportunities.

“The company will benefit from Mika’s international contact network and his relevant professional experience that he brings to the table,” said Turunen.