Most significantly, profits after tax rose by a massive 106.9 percent to $3.96 million from $1.91 million, helped by the signing of three new license agreements for its CasinoModule software solution alongside two breakthrough deals for its CasinoCafe land-based gaming system.

”This year is off to a strong start for Net Entertainment with continued sales growth and several new license agreements,” said Johan Ohman, President and Chief Executive Officer for Net Entertainment.

“The market for online gaming shows positive development where organic growth was the prime driver for the company during the period.

“We move into the second quarter with an order book comprising 14 casinos that still are to be commissioned, of which three are so-called ‘Tier One’ operators.

“It is my view that the company has good opportunities for continued success as a result of our specialisation within the segment of the online market with the highest growth and strongest profitability.

“The IT project initiated at the end of 2008 aimed at increasing our development, delivery and operational capacity has progressed according to plan and affected the cost base during the first quarter. The project continues during the second quarter and creates a foundation for the continued growth and expansion for the company.”

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Intertops.com had previously been powered by software from Microgaming but the Isle Of Man-based gaming solutions provider revealed that it did not wish to operate in the US with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act still on the books.

“Intertops.com is proud to have been powered by such a reputable and market-leading gaming software provider over the past decade,” said Michl Posch, Head Of Marketing for Intertops.com.

“The assistance that Microgaming has provided in the change process has been extremely helpful.”

Antigua and Kahnawake-licensed Intertops.com launched the world’s first online sportsbook in 1996 before going on to debut a virtual casino in 1998 with software from Microgaming.

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The Las Vegas-based giant revealed that Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment Incorporated would ‘manage the global growth of the World Series Of Poker’ while also exploring a ‘European interactive strategy’.

‘As the world’s largest gaming company, Harrah’s is taking a proactive approach toward international and interactive expansion,’ said Gary Loveman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer for Harrah’s Entertainment.

‘It is important we position ourselves to explore new markets as well as new technologies with our best-in-class brands.’

Loveman revealed that the new subsidiary would explore the use of interactive gaming technologies to expand the reach of its brands globally, beginning in Europe, in addition to growing the World Series Of Poker. Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment will utilise the Total Rewards customer loyalty programme to strengthen and grow the firm’s customer base.

Garber will serve as Chief Executive Officer for the new subsidiary while Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner for the World Series Of Poker, has been appointed as its President. A lawyer, Garber also served as Executive Vice-President for Optimal Group, FireOne’s Nasdaq-listed majority shareholder, before moving to PartyGaming and has experience with the industry going back to the 1990s when he developed the first gaming law practice in Canada for the Montreal-based firm Lazarus Charbonneau.

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The South Carolina State Judiciary Committee recently ratified Senate Bills 535 and 628 by a vote of twelve to eight and the measures now look set for a full vote before the full Senate sometime next year.

Bill 535 also outlines the process by which a non-profit organisation may obtain a gaming license, although it asserts that 90 percent of any monies raised in an event must go directly to charity.

In February, five home poker players in the southern state were found guilty under a law from 1802 that, when read literally, makes it illegal to take part in any diversion played with cards or dice including board games such as Monopoly. However, Mount Pleasant Municipal Judge Larry Duffy ruled at the time that poker was a game of skill and not one of luck or chance, which prompted some legislators to take a second look at the antiquated legislation.

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) poker advocacy group lobbied hard through its nearly 10,000 members in the state for a change to the law and commended the Committee for passing the two pieces of legislation.

“The thousands of poker players in the state are now one step closer to being allowed to enjoy a game of poker online or with their friends around the kitchen table without the fear of being accused of a crime under outdated state laws,” said John Ridgeway, South Carolina State Director for the PPA.

“With the continued rising popularity of poker across the country and the state of South Carolina, it is vital that any laws related to gaming not only reflect he realities of the 21st Century but establish a clear definition of what constitutes legal gaming and what constitutes illegal gaming,” said John Pappas, Executive Director for the PPA.

“These two bills achieve those goals and we urge the South Carolina Senate to quickly bring these pieces of legislation to the floor for a vote before the end of the session.”

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In a first for any betting organisation, London-based Sporting Index made the site available and then asked clients to help it drive the development process.

“We wanted to deliver the best sports spreadbetting experience for our clients,” said Mark Maydon, Commercial Director for Sporting Index.

“So, we started by asking what they wanted out of the new site, built a prototype and then gave it to the clients to get their further feedback and suggestions.

“Today’s website, from the design to the functionality, is, therefore, very much their creation. We’ve been really encouraged by the sheer amount of feedback we’ve received.”

Sporting Index revealed that the look and feel of SportingIndex.com has been updated to emphasise simplicity. The bet placement process and open bets area have both been changed with all of the action now taking place on the right side of the screen. All bets now appear in a tab allowing these to be confirmed without losing sight of live prices.

In-play betting and live prices were important areas highlighted by feedback Sporting Index received from its clients. These sections were improved on the new-look SportingIndex.com to allow for increased speed so that individuals could strike a better bet before prices changed.

“If you follow, say, a cricket match on SportingIndex.com, you’ll find our scoreboard and associated prices update quicker than anything else on the web including the big cricket portals such as CricInfo.com,” said Maydon.

The new site also features an in-play menu in a box in the middle-right of the site containing shortcuts to live events. Sporting Index stated that this is a nod to the fact that it takes over 50 percent of its bets from in-running action.

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