The National Rugby League "will road-test a shot clock for the first time in rugby league history at the Auckland Nines, and there's the chance the innovation could be used in premiership matches if the experiment is successful." The introduction of a countdown clock, "akin to the one used in basketball," is supposed to speed up play. The shot clock "will initially be used to speed up try conversions, and fans will be able to countdown at the venue." Conversions "will only count if they are completed within the specified timeframe" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/16).
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Britain’s biggest bookmakers "are creating a self-regulatory body to impose tougher standards on the industry as they seek to head off criticism about the rise of problem gambling."
Four companies -- William Hill, Ladbrokes, Gala Coral and Paddy Power -- "are the founding members of the new body, which will be able to 'name and shame' and impose fines on operators that breach the standards."
Other gambling companies, including Betfred and Bet 365, "have also been invited to sign up to the new watchdog, which will be launched in January." The new body "has been dubbed the Senet Group, after a board game that was popular in ancient Egypt" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 9/15).