News from my desk Wednesday January 16, as at 4.30am

Lottery Keno Games Would Be Phased In

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (January 15, 2013) -- An introduction of keno games under a privately managed Pennsylvania Lottery would be gradual, with some 500 restaurants and taverns that have Lottery retail licenses getting keno first, Corbett administration officials told the Senate Finance Committee on Monday, the Times Tribune reports.. State officials have authority under state lottery and procurement laws to add terminal-based games like keno and online games without obtaining legislative approval, Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser told the media. A bright line exists under state law between lottery games and gaming, he said.

New system for Maltco Lotteries
Due to its new system, Maltco and its agents will not be able to accept sales of Super 5 after the 16 January’s Super 5 draw
MALTA (January 16, 2013) – Maltco Lotteries would like to inform the public that it will start operating the new system, the Grand Lottery game and the relevant modifications to the existing games, with the use of the new Photon terminals from Monday, 21 January.

La Française des Jeux  2012: an Exceptional Calendar And A Record Year For Redistribution

PARIS, France (January 15, 2013) -- 2012 boasted an exceptional calendar: three Friday 13ths (only one in 2011), a series of symbolic dates for players (10-11-12, 12-12-12 and 21-12-12), two international sports events in Europe (the Olympic Games in London and the Euro 2012 football championship) and four “long cycles” for the Euro Millions game (only two in 2011). One of these ended with a record French win of nearly €170m, a second crossed the absolute game record, reaching the ceiling of €190m while the most recent one totalled nearly €102m and was won in France (on 21-12-12).

PERFORM's German advertising business mediasports, secures exclusive strategic advertising representation partnership with Germany`s leading football app,
Partnership positions mediasports as leading mobile sports network in Germany
HAMBURG, Germany (January 14, 2013) -- mediasports, the German advertising division of sports media group PERFORM, has today announced the signing of a major advertising partnership with leading German app developer motain to exclusively represent media sales across its market-leading football app: THE Football App.

BetVictor Poker Launches EUR50,000 Secret Agent Sit 'n' Go Giveaway
LONDON, UK (January 15, 2013) -- BetVictor Poker today announces its massive EUR50,000 Secret Agent Giveaway starting on January 15 with 10 EUR1,000 Tag Heuer watches, five iPhone 5s, and 1,500 EUR22 tournament tickets up for grabs.
To take part in the giveaway and be in with a chance of scoring one or more of the fantastic free prizes players need simply play 10 sit 'n' go tournament with a buy in of EUR1 + EUR0.10 or more within a 24-hour period.

O2 UK Marketing, Consumer Director Leaves To Join Camelot

LONDON, UK (January 15, 2013) -- O2 UK's marketing and consumer director Sally Cowdry is set to leave the company after accepting a post with National Lottery operator Camelot.

bwin.party COO Steps Down From Board

LONDON, UK (January 15, 2013) -- bwin.party's chief operating officer Joachim Baca has stepped down from the board.