ASPIRITUS AND INSIDE GAMING AT LOGGERHEADS

1 August 2008

Online casino management dispute results in online gambling website closing


It appears that a major bust-up has occurred between the online gambling management company Inside Gaming and what is presumably a white label operation it was managing under a Curacao licence and Playtech software for the Finnish multi-level marketing group Aspiritus Gaming.

The partnership does not appear to have lasted long, starting earlier this year, yet this week the website was 'closed for maintainance' amid allegations that the gambling services had been cut off.

A notice on the website dated July 29 advised that the firm was trying to find another software provider or partner, but had so far been unsuccessful due to "time constraints on delivering new products, the cost of obtaining new licenses or a mixture of both."

The notice continues: "Over the last week, Aspiritus management has been reviewing the business and it is with great regret that we will have to close the Aspiritus business with immediate effect as the impact....of the recent contractual dispute, and ultimate termination of the contract, with our gaming operator [Inside Gaming] has been devastating."

Without describing the reasons for the dispute, the notice advises: "The dispute has put Aspiritus under further financial strain and after reviewing the cash flow of the business, the Aspiritus management team has been left with no alternative.

It appears that Aspiritus has agreed a deal with an unidentified gaming operator to take on its players, informing members that:"While the decision has been made to close the Aspiritus business, Aspiritus management has held discussions with a new gaming operator, who will be opening their website in August, and they have agreed to place Aspiritus members into their database.

The Aspiritus management team meanwhile continues to negotiate with this operator on how Aspiritus can secure a holding that would allow its members holding Club Equity credits to have some future ownership of the new company as well as migrating the VirtuDAQ and S8 + Superdraw products.

Ending on a rather ominous note, the announcement advises that Aspiritus is seeking further legal advice on the recent developments in order to rectify some of the losses in reputation and business that have resulted from its dispute with Inside Gaming.

The disagreement between Inside Gaming and Aspiritus appears to have its roots in contractual and financial differences. In an update on the situation dated July 18, Aspiritus revealed that the fees and charges payable to Inside Gaming had caused not only significant disruptions to members but also major financial impacts on the Aspiritus business.

"With the recent transfer restrictions placed on our members, Aspiritus suffered major losses as the casino and poker products make up 95% of revenues," the update advised members. "The effect this has had on the goodwill and reputation of the business in supplying services, especially for a community based site such as Aspiritus, are devastating.

"Accordingly, due to the actions of Inside Gaming in placing the transfer restrictions on the business, Aspiritus has been left with no choice but to cease the contract with Inside Gaming with immediate effect."

And in earlier membership communications Aspiritus referred to Inside Gaming billing 35 percent more than the alleged contract charges agreed.

Inside Gaming had not issued a statement as requested when InfoPowa went to press, with spokesman Richard Hogg away on leave.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa