Online Gambling News - January 15, 2008

Here is your online gambling news for January 15, 2008 featuring news on the first of what could be many concessions related to the online gambling WTO decision. 

Mohawks Respond to Internet Gambling Decision

European Union Ignores Mohawks long standing and pivotal role with Internet gambling sector.  Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke Grand Chief Michael Ahríhrhon Delisle, Jr. announced today that he is extremely disappointed with a decision made by the United Kingdom’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which has failed to include Kahnawá:ke on it’s list of jurisdictions whose Internet gaming permit holders are allowed to advertise in the U.K.

PartyPoker Continues to Struggle Verses Full Tilt Poker in Online Poker Arena

PartyGaming and its PartyPoker arm continue to lose some ground in the lucrative online poker market where they have fallen to number three over the past month.  Full Tilt Poker takes over the number two position.  Full Tilt is currently averaging over a 1000 more real cash players per week now.

The real concern for PartyPoker is the iPoker Network, which is currently averaging just a few players less than Party.  Gambling911.com is forecasting iPoker Network to take over the number three position from PartyPoker by month's end.

This is a serious blow for PartyPoker, which only 16 months ago was double the size of its next closest competitor, PokerStars.  Now PokerStars is double the size of Full Tilt Poker, with over 14000 real cash players on average.

OnGame is threatening to push Party even further down the charts.

Betting Industry Urges EU Action vs. Germany Ban on Internet Gambling

STRASBOURG, France, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Europe's online gaming industry filed a complaint with the European Commission on Tuesday, saying Germany's ban on online gambling breaks EU law on the free movement of services.

First of WTO Online Gambling Concessions Could Pose Threat to Florida

With the Florida Primaries coming up shortly, voters may want to address concerns over a proposal that could adversely harm the state.

In what may be the first in a series of dangerous concessions the U.S. has given to the EU in order to withdraw its commitments at the WTO for recreational online gambling is about to happen.

Parlay Entertainment Purchased by Sportingbet Founder

Parlay Entertainment Inc. (TSXV:PEI), a developer of Internet bingo software, says it struck a a non-binding letter of intent to be acquired by PEIC Acquisition Corp. in a deal valued at about $12.3 million. PEIC's President is none other than the founder of Sportingbet, Mr. Mark Blandford.

Parlay shares were halted on the TSX Venture Exchange pending news of the deal.

Jenny Woo of Gambling911.com, a long time friend of Blandford's, praised the deal.

"Everything Mark touches turns to gold, including Sportingbet, which was one of the first publicly traded Internet gambling companies and the more prestigious.  It was able to compete with dinosaurs like Victor Chandler and William Hill."

The proposed transaction, announced Friday, would provide Parlay shareholders with 95 cents each in cash. With just under 13 million shares outstanding, the transaction values the Canadian company at about $12.3 million.

"There can be no assurance that any definitive agreement will be entered into, that any proposed transaction will be approved by the shareholders of Parlay or that any transaction will be completed as a result of the execution of the letter of intent," Parlay said.