Update: via email, from Sportech PLC: "As you know, Sportech entered a joint venture with the Essel Group in January 2010. The joint venture's first project was Sportshero, a sports-based gaming site, offering free to play prediction and fantasy sports games. The site has since evolved to one focused on sports editorial content. Sportshero has never offered pool games; as the oldest football gaming business in the world, Sportech adheres strictly to regulations and integrity. Subsequent to the launch of Sportshero, Essel was awarded a provisional online gaming license from the state of Sikkim. On receipt of the full license, the licensee will be entitled to provide gaming in Sikkim. Sportech will provide Essel with certain services in relation to its activities in Sikkim, specifically to support it's pool gaming platform. Essel will operate it's online gaming site completely separately from Sportshero, which will remain focused on sports news and views." August 29th: Sportech PLC, one of the key UK-based Football pools businesses, expects to launch Cricket Pools in India in the second half of 2011, the company has said in an earnings announcement. Sportech has a 50:50 joint venture with Essel Group owned lottery business Playwin in India, and operates the website SportsHero. A "pool" is essentially a betting system based on predicting the outcome of a match or an event. Betting on most sports is illegal in India, but reports suggest that - at least where Cricket is concerned - it is is big business. The Essel Group has…
