GIGM - Sector: Technology---Industry: Multimedia & Graphics Software

[David Randolph]

enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyBKtsfDq5k

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GIGM: Short Interest DN 11.6% to 2.2M in Mid Nov 2007
Tuesday , November 27, 2007 16:18ET

According to new short interest data from NASDAQ, short interest for GigaMedia Limited (NasdaqNM: GIGM) DECREASED 11.6% to 2,160,011 shares as reported in mid-November, 2007. Based on GIGM's 20-day average daily share volume of 1,722,855, it would require approximately 2 day(s) of buying to cover this short interest.

Nº 1 game? That would probably mean another $1 B added to GIGM's market cap (or a double from current levels). The company has already spent a lot of money with HellGate: London and still didn't receive a dime. When the game opens for subscribers in 2008 ... it can have a very meaningful impact in GIGM's revenues and profits.

GIGM is a keeper.

[David Randolph]

The suite of Japanese games press release and the general market move to the upside that I expect between now and the end of 2007 should put GIGM where it belongs given the current fundamental information, which is $25 a share.

In 2008 I expect to see maybe $40-$50, depending on how the new initiatives do.

I'll keep holding GIGM for the long term.

[David Randolph]

GIGM is looking good for a push up towards the end of the year. I wonder when will we get the Japanese suite of games press release, management said it would be in early December.

[la-onda]

nice video:
http://www.thestreet.com/video/index.html?clipId=10393271&channel=Market+Strategy&cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=&cm_ite=#10393271
nice chart:

[BigSully1]

GigaMedia Invests in Top Game Studio XLGames
Tuesday December 11, 5:15 am ET 
Partnership with Creator of Lineage to Drive Regional Games Business


TAIPEI, Taiwan, Dec. 11 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GigaMedia Limited ("GigaMedia" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: GIGM - News) announced today a strategic partnership with and investment in hot game development studio XLGames Inc. ("XLGames").
ADVERTISEMENT


XLGames is founded by gaming legend Jake Song, renowned as the creator of The Kingdom of the Winds -- one of the world's first MMORPGs, and Lineage -- the most popular online game franchise in history. The company enjoys a senior management team with deep industry experience and outstanding talent, and plans to develop games that will define leadership of the next generation of online games.

"Jake Song and his team are superstars -- some of the world's greatest game developers," stated GigaMedia President Thomas Hui. "We are thrilled to partner with such a tremendously talented team and look forward to working closely with them on their new MMORPG, which should rock the world."

"GigaMedia is an unrivaled gateway to Asia -- a great partner and platform for us to showcase world-class, epic entertainment," stated Chief Executive Officer Jake Song of XLGames. "With GigaMedia's game expertise and huge pan- Asian platform, we look forward to a highly successful partnership."

The investment in XLGames is the latest step in GigaMedia's plan to build the region's leading online entertainment platform, with a scope that spans all of Asia.

The partnership strengthens GigaMedia's rapidly growing pan-Asian entertainment platform, a one-stop solution for game developers and entertainment providers addressing over 68 million registered users in the region's huge and lucrative market.

Pursuant to the terms of the strategic partnership with XLGames, GigaMedia has made an investment in XLGames and obtained board representation and certain strategic rights.

About GigaMedia

GigaMedia Limited (Singapore registration number: 199905474H) is a major provider of online entertainment software and services. GigaMedia develops and licenses software for online gaming. GigaMedia also operates online games businesses including FunTown, a leading Asian casual games portal and the world's largest online MahJong game site in terms of revenue, and T2CN, a leading online casual sports game operator in China. More information on GigaMedia can be obtained from http://www.gigamedia.com.tw .

About XLGames

XLGames Inc. was founded in Seoul, Korea in 2003 by NCSoft's former Executive Vice President and Head of Worldwide Development, Jake Song, creator of Lineage, one of the most popular and successful MMORPGs of all time. XLGames also develops games in its subsidiary office in Austin, Texas, to help insure the company's products have strong appeal to the diverse cultural preferences of both Asian and American gamers. XLGames' global game design team collaborates on all aspects of art, engineering and design.

The statements included above and elsewhere in this press release that are not historical in nature are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. GigaMedia cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Information as to certain factors that could cause actual results to vary can be found in GigaMedia's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in June 2007.


    For further information contact:

     Brad Miller
     Investor Relations Director
     Tel:   +886-2-2656-8016
     Email: [email protected]

[David Randolph]

Thanks for posting GIGM's press release BigSully1:

• GigaMedia Invests in Top Game Studio XLGames
PR Newswire (Tue 5:15am)

Because the text lacks financial details, traders used it as an excuse to close the gap at $19.88. Good buying opportunity if you're not in yet.

[David Randolph]

Because the text lacks financial details, traders used it as an excuse to close the gap at $19.88. Good buying opportunity if you're not in yet.

Not so good after all, since GIGM fell down some more after the FED rate decision.

GIGM doesn't sell $1 in the US and its business is totally independent from the economic cycle. There's no fundamental reason to move it in tandem with the general market, but traders do it anyway as they get in and out of the market.

I see GIGM earning $1 per share in 2008, but let's stay with the $0.94 analysts, on average, predict. This would mean 44.6% EPS growth from one year to the next. And the forward p/e is 20.2. The p/e is half of the growth rate.

And with GIGM's new initiatives we can be positively surprised in 2008. You see, GIGM has been investing a lot of money in new games and most of them still aren't for sale. They still don't generate any revenues, they're just adding to costs.

Using BigSully's words, "GIGM is a keeper".

[Rmagos]

Friday , December 14, 2007 04:14 ET

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Dec. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GigaMedia Limited ("GigaMedia" or the "Company"; Nasdaq: GIGM) announced today a strategic partnership with and investment in leading game development studio Neostorm Holdings Limited ("Neostorm").

Neostorm is one of the largest independent game developers in South Korea. The company was originally formed by the merger of four separate online games studios, creating a powerful full-range company with extensive technology, development and production capabilities. Neostorm focuses on the enormous casual games market targeting the "medium-core" gamer. Neostorm has a top-tier management and development team composed of experienced professionals with strong track records at leading game companies, including NCsoft Corporation, Nexon Corporation and NHN Corporation.

"Neostorm is a game development powerhouse," stated GigaMedia President Thomas Hui. "We are very excited to partner with them and continue strengthening our portfolio of world-class entertainment content."

"With unparalleled reach and an extensive network of strong strategic partners, GigaMedia brings to bear tremendous resources," stated Chief Executive Officer Chris Kim of Neostorm. "Together, we are positioned to capture enormous regional opportunities in online games."

The agreement strengthens GigaMedia's ability to develop and source popular online games and distribute them throughout the region.

"We are rapidly building an exciting regional online entertainment business with strong competitive advantages and operating synergies," stated President Thomas Hui. "Neostorm is an outstanding partner whose games will help fuel strong long-term growth."

Pursuant to the terms of the strategic partnership with Neostorm, GigaMedia has made an investment and obtained board representation, options for additional investment, and certain strategic rights.

Currently, Neostorm has four online casual titles under development with launch dates for three of them expected in 2008.

About GigaMedia

GigaMedia Limited (Singapore registration number: 199905474H) is a major provider of online entertainment software and services. GigaMedia develops and licenses software for online gaming. GigaMedia also operates online games businesses including FunTown, a leading Asian casual games portal and the world's largest online MahJong game site in terms of revenue, and T2CN, a leading online casual sports game operator in China. More information on GigaMedia can be obtained from http://www.gigamedia.com.tw .

About Neostorm Holdings Limited

Neostorm Holdings Limited was founded in Seoul, Korea in 2007 by merging four previously independent game development studios into one, creating one of the largest independent game development companies in South Korea. Neostorm is currently working on four medium-core casual game titles, three of which expect to launch in 2008.

The statements included above and elsewhere in this press release that are not historical in nature are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. GigaMedia cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Information as to certain factors that could cause actual results to vary can be found in GigaMedia's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in June 2007.

    For further information contact:

     Brad Miller, Investor Relations Director
     Tel:   +886-2-2656-8016
     Email: [email protected]

SOURCE GigaMedia Limited

[Kublakhan]

GIGM up 5% on a day like today is nothing to sneeze at.

[setravis]

Press Release Source: GigaMedia Limited


GigaMedia Makes Strategic Investment in Powerful New Game Studio Neostorm
Friday December 14, 4:15 am ET 
New 'Roll-Up' One of Largest Casual Studios in Korea


TAIPEI, Taiwan, Dec. 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GigaMedia Limited ("GigaMedia" or the "Company"; Nasdaq: GIGM) announced today a strategic partnership with and investment in leading game development studio Neostorm Holdings Limited ("Neostorm").


Neostorm is one of the largest independent game developers in South Korea. The company was originally formed by the merger of four separate online games studios, creating a powerful full-range company with extensive technology, development and production capabilities. Neostorm focuses on the enormous casual games market targeting the "medium-core" gamer. Neostorm has a top-tier management and development team composed of experienced professionals with strong track records at leading game companies, including NCsoft Corporation, Nexon Corporation and NHN Corporation.

"Neostorm is a game development powerhouse," stated GigaMedia President Thomas Hui. "We are very excited to partner with them and continue strengthening our portfolio of world-class entertainment content."

"With unparalleled reach and an extensive network of strong strategic partners, GigaMedia brings to bear tremendous resources," stated Chief Executive Officer Chris Kim of Neostorm. "Together, we are positioned to capture enormous regional opportunities in online games."

The agreement strengthens GigaMedia's ability to develop and source popular online games and distribute them throughout the region.

"We are rapidly building an exciting regional online entertainment business with strong competitive advantages and operating synergies," stated President Thomas Hui. "Neostorm is an outstanding partner whose games will help fuel strong long-term growth."

Pursuant to the terms of the strategic partnership with Neostorm, GigaMedia has made an investment and obtained board representation, options for additional investment, and certain strategic rights.

Currently, Neostorm has four online casual titles under development with launch dates for three of them expected in 2008.

About GigaMedia

GigaMedia Limited (Singapore registration number: 199905474H) is a major provider of online entertainment software and services. GigaMedia develops and licenses software for online gaming. GigaMedia also operates online games businesses including FunTown, a leading Asian casual games portal and the world's largest online MahJong game site in terms of revenue, and T2CN, a leading online casual sports game operator in China. More information on GigaMedia can be obtained from http://www.gigamedia.com.tw .

About Neostorm Holdings Limited

Neostorm Holdings Limited was founded in Seoul, Korea in 2007 by merging four previously independent game development studios into one, creating one of the largest independent game development companies in South Korea. Neostorm is currently working on four medium-core casual game titles, three of which expect to launch in 2008.

The statements included above and elsewhere in this press release that are not historical in nature are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. GigaMedia cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Information as to certain factors that could cause actual results to vary can be found in GigaMedia's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in June 2007.

    For further information contact:

     Brad Miller, Investor Relations Director
     Tel:   +886-2-2656-8016
     Email: [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: GigaMedia Limited

[David Randolph]

GIGM recently announced two partial acquisitions:

• GigaMedia Invests in XLGames
AP (Tue, Dec 11)

• GigaMedia Makes Strategic Investment in Powerful New Game Studio Neostorm
PR Newswire (Fri, Dec 14)

The press releases lack financial details and usually the market doesn't like that, at least over the short term, because it brings some uncertainty to the table. "How much have they paid? How did they finance the acquisitions? What are the risks and potential of the newly acquired companies?"

Of course I don't have an answer for these questions, it isn't public information. I guess all the details will be expressed when the company files the 10-Q with the SEC relative to Q4 2007. This will probably happen in mid February.

Anyway, these investments show GIGM has plenty of cash and management is confident about the future of online gaming in Asia. It appears to me that GIGM will rapidly become the owner/operator of several online games ... At least I see HellGate: London, Holic and now these three games coming to the market in 2008 from Neostorm. Not counting the Japanese suite of games ... by the way, this press release should come out before the year closes.

Now, there are companies outthere with just 1 game which are worth more than GIGM, can you believe it?

I'll keep holding GIGM for the long term.

[n1notesguy]

Just in case anyone did not see this (from the yahoo boards):

Criterion increases ownership      18-Dec-07 08:15 pm 

http://www.secinfo.com/dsHsj.ucz.htm#1stPage

Criterion Capital Management filed a stmnt of ownership with the SEC today showing current holdings in GIGM of:

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 7,055,778


11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 13.4%

Ken

[la-onda]

Hanbit Soft Finds Solace From Overseas Game Sales

By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter

Hanbit Soft is transforming itself into a global game publisher as Korea's online game market gets saturated by scores of new games. The company said on Wednesday that its previous game ``Granado Espada'' is now earning around 3 billion won every month from subscription fees and game item sales from 20 countries, mainly thanks to its surprising popularity in China. More than 4 million Chinese have signed up for the multiplayer role-playing game, in which thousands of gamers form a virtual society and play against, or along with each other.

The firm is even more upbeat about the global launching of its new game ``Hellgate: London'' next month, which is being developed by famous U.S. game producer Bill Roper.

``We are currently the only game company in Korea that earns much more overseas than domestically,'' its public relations manager Lee Soo-hyun said, saying the accumulated sales of ``Granado Espada'' could reach 50 billion won next year. ``The income from foreign countries will take a larger portion in our revenue next year.''

South Korea's online multiplayer games such as ``Lineage'' of NCsoft and ``Granado Espada'' of Hanbit had the reputation as the world's most advanced and most addictive ones. But from last year, big game firms have struggled to produce hit games in Korea, while gamers are becoming fond of online or offline games made in the United States, Japan and even China.
Hanbit is no stranger to failure. The company had raked up cash as the local distributor of American games such as ``StarCraft'' and ``Diablo,'' both of which were incredibly huge hits here. Hoping to make its own hit game rather than to import another foreign-made game, the firm reportedly spent more than 10 billion won on developing ``Granado Espada'' until last year. But the ambitious project failed to attract Korean gamers, and Hanbit reported 2.7 billion won in operating losses last year, compared to 2.9 billion won in profits in 2006.

Meanwhile, Hanbit had seen unexpected profits by selling a tiny golf game ``Pangya,'' which became its first product to earn more than 30 billion won overseas. Currently, ``Pangya'' and ``Granado Espada'' are the two main profit sources, Lee said.

``Online games are not a one-time sales items like a movie,'' Kim Young-man, the chief executive, said in the press release. ``To judge whether a game is a success or not, one should wait for about two years.''

Analysts see that the game firms should turn their eyes to foreign markets in order to survive. According to Mirae Asset Securities, the global online game market is expected to grow to over $10 billion by 2009, with an annual growth of around 25 percent.

The stock market, however, has been less enthusiastic than Kim. Hanbit's stock price peaked at 18,250 in July but has plummeted to around 7,000 won in just five months when the launch of ``Hellgate:London'' was delayed.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/12/123_16247.html

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GigaMedia Scores Hot Game Title Hellgate: London®

Expected to be The Monster Hit of 2007
TAIPEI, Taiwan, December 14, 2006 - GigaMedia Limited ("GigaMedia" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GIGM) announced today that it has secured an exclusive license to offer and operate the highly anticipated action game Hellgate: London® in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

"Hellgate: London is the hottest new game for 2007 - created by the same team of game giants that brought Diablo and Warcraft to the world," stated GigaMedia CEO Arthur Wang. "Hellgate: London is going to be a monster hit."

Hellgate: London® is the creation of the fabled Flagship Studios and is distributed by leading international game publisher HanbitSoft, Inc.

"Flagship and HanbitSoft are the Steven Spielberg and Pixar of the game world," stated CEO Wang. "Hellgate: London is their next-generation product and we are looking at a blockbuster."

Flagship Studios was founded in 2003 by a team of executives and developers renowned for numerous #1-selling games and multiple Game-of-the-Year awards to their credit, including the worldwide best-selling Diablo®, Starcraft® and Warcraft® games.

HanbitSoft is a leading international publisher of online games, with a long track record of successful large scale multi-player games such as Granado Espada, Neo Steam, Neo Baseball and PangYa.

"We are excited to partner with GigaMedia and its leading FunTown casual game portal," stated Tony Park, President of International Business at HanbitSoft. "The combination of HanbitSoft's gaming publishing track record and GigaMedia's large player base and operating team ensures that Hellgate: London will be a huge success in Asia."

"Joining with HanbitSoft and Flagship Studios is joining the dream team," explained GigaMedia CEO Wang. "We are thrilled and expect this partnership will significantly accelerate and extend our robust revenue and earnings growth in 2007 and beyond."

[berloga]

Any possibly negative effect for GIGM because of this? Can other European States follow?

Germany set to prohibit online gambling

Bloomberg NewsPublished: December 27, 2007


BERLIN: Online gambling will be banned in Germany starting Jan. 1 as part of an accord with states that preserves the country's state monopoly for lotteries and most forms of betting.

All 16 German state legislatures voted by mid-December to approve the new online-betting laws, which the states negotiated after the Federal Constitutional Court overturned earlier rules.

The new rules ban any form of Web-based gambling or brokering of games over the Internet.

The states may order Internet service providers to block Web sites of illegal betting operations and banks to stop money transfers to them.

The rules' definition of illegal gaming includes placing a bet from German territory over the Web with a company based outside Germany.

Today in Business
Warren Buffett, investor on a hot streak, makes more dealsA U.S. charity gets paid on a claim over risky mortgage investments.China's central bank chief reaffirms tight money policy for 2008
Not surprisingly, the new regulations have drawn criticism from Internet betting companies and lottery brokers like Bwin Interactive Entertainment, Fluxx and Tipp24.

Tipp24 said last week that it regarded the regulations "as clearly contrary to law and will sue for its rights if necessary."

Bwin sued four German states in October seeking to continue offering online bets after the rules come into effect. The cases are pending.

Bwin operates a site under a license originally issued by the communist East German government before unification and another portal under a Gibraltar license.

The company claims that both permits prevail over the new online-betting ban and will continue to operate its sites.

"We think that in the second half of 2008 the European Court of Justice will have stopped this futile effort to keep us out of Germany," Hartmut Schultz, a spokesman for Bwin, said in an interview this month.

The European Commission, the European Union's regulator, called on Germany to reconsider the total ban on online betting, saying the step was disproportional. In April, Germany rejected that demand, arguing the rules were needed to protect citizens from the dangers of gambling.

"I am pretty sure the commission will escalate the process and send a formal warning the day after" the new law takes effect, Wolfgang Kubicki, leader of the Free Democrats, or FDP, opposition party in the Schleswig-Holstein Parliament, said last week. "Berlin will have something in the mail on Jan. 3."

The commission can sue EU member states to force them to comply with EU law.

At least 13 of Germany's 16 states had submitted the ratification documents for the ban to take effect by Thursday, said Eric Braum, a spokesman for the Hesse government, which monitors the process.

"That's the required majority and we expect to have all the rest coming in by New Year's Eve," he said.

The new regulations will also outlaw advertising of gambling over the Internet and on television, stating that advertising in print and other media could no longer "directly invite, incite or prompt" customers to play; it may only "inform" about the possibility to do so.

[la-onda]

hold on David!!!
Without EU approval this law is NOT in place;
they just want to protect the gambling and betting industry that is oprganised by the "state"


Germany set to prohibit online gambling
......

The company claims that both permits prevail over the new online-betting ban and will continue to operate its sites.

"We think that in the second half of 2008 the European Court of Justice will have stopped this futile effort to keep us out of Germany," Hartmut Schultz, a spokesman for Bwin, said in an interview this month.
The European Commission, the European Union's regulator, called on Germany to reconsider the total ban on online betting, saying the step was disproportional. In April, Germany rejected that demand, arguing the rules were needed to protect citizens from the dangers of gambling.

"I am pretty sure the commission will escalate the process and send a formal warning the day after" the new law takes effect, Wolfgang Kubicki, leader of the Free Democrats, or FDP, opposition party in the Schleswig-Holstein Parliament, said last week. "Berlin will have something in the mail on Jan. 3."
The commission can sue EU member states to force them to comply with EU law.
At least 13 of Germany's 16 states had submitted the ratification documents for the ban to take effect by Thursday, said Eric Braum, a spokesman for the Hesse government, which monitors the process. "That's the required majority and we expect to have all the rest coming in by New Year's Eve," he said. The new regulations will also outlaw advertising of gambling over the Internet and on television, stating that advertising in print and other media could no longer "directly invite, incite or prompt" customers to play; it may only "inform" about the possibility to do so.

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Countries voting for gambling state contract-Online Betting before Origin
The News-DJ pressetext.de: Germany: Countries are voting for gambling state contract-Online Betting before Origin
Hamburg (pte/19.12.2007/15: 23) - The German federal states should the proposal
The gambling state contract have approved. This affirms the Market leader in Internet-Lotto, Tipp24 https: / / www.tipp24.de, in his Today's press release. The contract is due to start on the first of January 2008 in force Occur.
It is envisaged that the provision of gambling on the Internet only One year to allow. In addition, some companies Requirements. "As a provider of lotteries on the Internet, we are coming in Year by the State Treaty was not so badly affected. Operators of Wett-Seiten
Have significantly harder, "says von Tipp24-Pressesprecherin Andrea Fratini on the request of press.

"The approval of the state treaty has not yet been confirmed by all the countries,
We will, however, in each case the Treaty to act, "continues Fratini.
Vertragskonform means, in this case, that certain requirements in the Promotional activities of the gambling provider must be respected. "
One-year is a transitional arrangement whereby the Internet business Gambling for the vendor after a year no longer be possible.
On the other hand, we will in any case take legal action, as well Tipp24 them Involved, "said Fratini. Further development until 2009 was currently but not yet in sight.

The state contract is not only in the eyes of the gambling providers to Wobbly legs. The technical feasibility of the proposal is questioned (Press reported: http://www.pressetext.at/pte.mc?pte=071206017). It also see legal experts contradictions that the German Constitution and European law. The EU and the Federal Cartel Office had this Clear positions. "We are sure that the contract is not durable and we preserved with a possible lawsuit succeed, "stresses Fratini to press.[/color]

translated by Google:
http://www.ad-hoc-news.de/Marktberichte/de/14697454/DJ+pressetextde+Deutschland+L&%23228uender+stimmen+f&%23252uer
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German court rules internet gambling ban an 'impossibility'
By Burke Hansen in Las Vegas
Published Tuesday 6th November 2007 19:46 GMT

The the Administrative Court of Appeal in Hessen state today overturned a ruling by a lower court that had prohibited Austrian online gambling operator Bwin from providing gambling services over the internet to German customers. The ruling focused on what the court described as the practical impossibility of enforcing a ban on internet gambling - the impossibility of which rendered the law for all intents and purposes "null and void". Thomson
Financial reports

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Betting companies to take legal action against German state monopoly on gambling
FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - Online betting companies including BWIN Interactive Entertainment AG (Vienna: BWIN.VI - news) and Fluxx AG are gearing up to file a legal complaint against Germany's state monopoly on lotteries and most forms of betting, law firm Hambach & Hambach head Wulf Hambach told Die Welt newspaper. Hambach said he represents about 20 of the world's biggest betting companies, according to the newspaper.
Germany's states earlier this month ratified an accord solidifying their monopoly on lotteries, online gambling and most forms of sports betting in Germany. The accord will effectively ban private betting companies from operating in the country from tomorrow.
'The accord breaches EU law because it excludes foreign betting companies with EU licenses from the German market,' Hambach said.  The newspaper also cited law firm Redeker's Michael Winkelmueller, who represents BWIN and Fluxx, as saying he expects to see legal action by all 3,000 betting companies active in Germany. Germany's states have voted in favor of banning private sports betting companies until 2010, during which time they will develop a system by which private betting companies can obtain concessions.

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/31122007/323/betting-companies-legal-action-against-german-state-monopoly-gambling.html

I have also contacted IR for an offical statement and I will hold GIGM because of the strong Q4 results!

cheers
Oliver