London - Betfair, a U.K.-based online gambling firm focused on horseracing, has acquired Macrovision's (NASD: MVSN) TV Games Network interactive TV horserace wagering service for $50 million in cash.

New York - Anurag Dikshit, a founder and former officer and director of PartyGaming, an Internet gambling business, has pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to charges that he used the wires to transmit in interstate and foreign commerce bets and wagering information.

Waltham, Mass. - GameLogic, a developer of casino games based on online games, has raised $3 million of debt financing from Velocity Financial Group.

San Francisco - PurePlay, an online poker site that allows users to play for cash and claims to be compliant with U.S. laws, announced on Tuesday that it has raised a third round of venture capital, led by Bay Partners, with total funding to date now at $15 million.

Los Angeles - The government of Antigua is threatening to legalize piracy of U.S. music and movies -- with World Trade Organization approval -- should the U.S. fail to end a running dispute over the legality of Internet gambling, Variety reports.

Brussels - The European Union has launched an investigation into U.S. treatment of overseas online gambling operations, with an eye towards possibly launching proceedings against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization, Reuters reported. Several European online gaming services filed complaints with the EU in December, saying that the U.S. is singling out foreign companies for prosecution, while allowing domestic online gambling on horse racing.

London - Bragster, a social network "for dares and social bets," announced on Wednesday that it has closed a $3.5 million first round of venture capital financing, led by Intel Capital.

London - BetNow, a U.K.-based developer of mobile gambling services, has raised an undisclosed sum in its first round of venture capital, led by Balderton Capital, PEHub.com reported.