Casino News Authority

Who's In And Out In France's Online Gambling Market

2010-06-11T03:44:00.000-07:00

Recently, the online gambling market for international operators has been opened up in France. This is to adhere to the free trade requirements of the European Union. But in order for these operators to begin their online casino gambling business in the country, the new online gambling law of France requires them to obtain an additional French gaming license dictating constraints which are regarded as "excessive" and "draconian".

With regards to the law, there are over 35 online casino operators that resolved to apply for the licenses to operate in the country while many other companies do not take the chance. And also due to this law that there are many others which completely withdraw from the French online casino gambling market.

Last June 9, the full list of the online gambling companies who are given the license to operate in the French market was released to the public. This includes:

BetClic
Beturf
BES SAS
Bwin/Amaury Groupe
EverestPoker
France Pari
La Française des Jeux
Iliad Gaming/ChiliGaming
Pari Mutuel Urbain
SPS Betting
Table 14

More licenses will be granted by the French government, but it has yet to be announced. Also, the only companies who could accept the huge incoming World Cup wagers today are the websites that are already licensed above.

Some of the companies that are still waiting for their license applications to be approved are mostly based in UK, and this include PartyGaming, PokerStars, Microgaming, Landbrokes, and Unibet. And the companies that have totally pulled out from the France online gambling market are the Spin Palace, Cabaret Club, Ruby Fortune, Piggs Casino, Mummy’s Gold, William Hill, 888, Betfair, SportingBet, Paradise Poker and Cake Poker.

The companies that had withdrawn from the market will no longer accept wagers or transactions from France-based players. However, they have promised to pay all of the winnings made by the French players. Still, all future activity from .fr domains will be blocked.

Onlinecasino.org News, 10.06.2010, 11:22:16

France Online Casino Bill

2010-06-03T00:22:00.000-07:00

A new gambling bill that reflects gambling websites and operators has began taking action last June 1 after it has been approved by the government of France. There may be others that may say that this new legalization in online casinos discriminates all nongovernmental gambling organizations and creates monopolies in the states.

Many believe that this step is not according to the European Union (EU) standard, and it does not give fair chances to casino websites wishing to establish operation in France. On the other hand, the taxes, fair betting, and avoiding Internet money laundry will come under order due to the legalization of online casinos.

When this new gambling bill was passed in the France parliament, 299 votes support the bill, while 233 votes oppose this and are not sure whether this is a very good idea. However, the numbers are already enough for the bill to be approved.

One of the major clause in the new online gambling bill discuss taxation of online casino and sport betting websites. It is obvious that the France government are looking forward to earning and monitoring the money that comes in and out from this field, especially for the upcoming World Cup 2010. Thus, they can nicely claim that they are monitoring online gambling products in favor of the customers and to help the French public who are experiencing gambling problems.

Following this online gambling bill, licenses will be distributed by the government to some casino and betting websites. There are particular operators that are looking forward to operate in the French gaming market. The operator of the fifth largest online poker network according to PokerScout.com, bwin, has already applied licenses for sports betting and poker. BetClic has also applied for sports betting, horse racing, and online poker operation licenses. The Poker News Daily also reported that Microgaming, the ninth largest poker network, has also applied for three licenses, in which two are for 888.com online casino.

Poker And Online Casino Legalization In Washington

2010-06-01T02:52:00.000-07:00

In Washington there is a state law that makes engaging in online gambling for both poker and online casino, an unlawful act. The Washington State branch of the Poker Players Alliance had challenged this law. Moving up from the trial court and the appeals court, the case came up for hearing before the Washington Supreme Court. The arguments on behalf of the Poker Players Alliance were led by state director Lee Rousso.

Lee Rousso challenged the Washington state law under the Commerce Act. Under this Act no state can pass legislation that discriminates against a section of any industry. According to Lee Rousso the Washington legislation discriminates against the online casino industry. A person playing poker or blackjack in a brick and mortar casino is considered engaging in a legal activity.

However, the same person playing the same online casino game is considered a felon. Lee Rousso pointed out that the only persons to benefit from making online casino an unlawful act were the tribal casinos regulated by the state. This was because a competing sector was being prevented from operating.

The State of Washington was represented by Assistant Attorney General Jerry Ackerman. Ackerman told the court that online casino cannot be regulated and is therefore unsafe. Thomas Goldstein, who next took up cudgels on behalf of the online casino industry, pointed out that it was not sufficient for the state to claim that online casino cannot be regulated. They would have to prove before the court that it could not be regulated. If they were unable to prove this then it is their responsibility to provide a regulated environment for online gamblers.

Thomas Goldstein said that neither in the trial court nor in the appeals court did the state try to prove that online casino could not be regulated. Also, Thomas Goldstein provided instances of online casino being regulated in other parts of the world. He also pointed out that Washington allowed regulated online horse racing. Therefore the claims of the Assistant Attorney General did not carry weight.

The judges questioned the state Assistant Attorney General extensively. From the questions they asked it appeared that they too were not able to comprehend the reasons for discrimination between land casinos and online casinos.

"Aren’t these the same games that are played in Indian casinos?" asked Justice Jim Johnson.

Justice Gerry Alexander said the state allowed many forms of gambling, and prejudice against online casinos may be a "generational thing." Gen. Jerry Ackerman tried the argument that the state supported the Indian casinos because federal legislation required them to do so. However, the judges quashed this argument by pointing out that the state received a hefty fee from the Indian casinos.

Rand Paul Wipes Out Online Casino Legalization Debate

2010-05-27T01:10:00.000-07:00

While the religious wing of the Republican Party pushes for government to legislate against choices they don't like, such as gambling at online casino and sports betting, Rand Paul seeks to allow individual liberties and limit government's influence.

Despite efforts from the more liberal elements to lump libertarian Rand Paul in with social conservatives, the Kentucky Republican has made clear his is a distinctly different philosophy. His quotes, used by the ridiculously biased Huffington Post to supposedly expose him, instead show an understanding of Constitutional concepts foreign to both established conservatives and liberals, and directly relevant to the online casino legalization debate.

Rand Paul is being blasted for being manipulated into a political firestorm by MSNBC's most strident liberal, Rachel Maddow, who got Paul to say government has no business creating laws that interfere with private clubs, even if the membership is racially exclusive. Rand Paul distinguishes between, as Barney Frank has noted many times regarding online gambling, what government endorses and what government makes illegal.

The tendency to criminalize immoral, unethical, and repulsive behavior is a flaw common between many established Republicans and Democrats alike. Thus, those who think online casinos are tawdry and exploitative argue they should be forbidden to those who disagree.

Rand Paul says that community morals and ethics should discourage improper behavior, and that an excess of law and legislation has led to the decline of morality rather than a raising of it, with the letter of the law replacing the spirit of justice. He is consistent with that in that he recognizes the overly litigious nature of the US society, in which any unfortunate occurrence results in a lawsuit; if someone spills hot coffee on himself, it isn't the coffee brewer's fault, as someone is not always to blame.

"I think it's part of this sort of blame game society in the sense that it's always got to be someone's fault instead of the fact that sometimes accidents happen," Rand Paul says.

Republican social conservatives think that the danger to a minute section of the public through online gambling is reason enough to ban the playing at online casino altogether. But, as the analogy has been made, people die daily in car accidents, yet we don't ban automobiles.

The truth is that life's problems have no easy answers, or else there would be no problem. Paul argues that, inasmuch as no one has a solution to hard issues without costs, each person has the right to make their own choice, whether it be to commit to religious fundamentalism and donate their life savings, or enjoy some mild entertainment at an online casino site.

Online Casino On Google TV

2010-05-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

For gamblers to find the most popular online casino, they currently have to use their computers. That will not be the case for long, however, after Google announced their innovative Google TV would be coming to television sets across the world.

Featured in Google TV is an on-screen search box that allows viewers to search for their favorite television shows or other material available on the Web. The idea is being pitched as a way to make television viewing easier, but the end result could be Internet surfing and gambling on big screen high definition televisions throughout the world.

Sony has partnered with Google for the project, and they claim their television sets with Google TV access will be ready by the fall. The price has not yet been determined, but analysts are predicting the price to come in somewhere in the $200 to $300 range.

Advertising is the biggest area of Google's revenue source, and adding Google TV to televisions around the world will only increase the advertising possibilities. The company recently again started accepting online casino ads on their search engine, and with television access online casinos may be drooling at the possibilities of reaching their target audience on big screen televisions in high definition.

In some countries, actual gambling can already take place on television. NetPlay delivers interactive gambling shows in the UK, and in some casinos, gamblers can play casino games on their hotel room television sets. This new Google TV, however, will change the future of online casino and open up an entire new world to millions of online casino players.

At Google's development conference on Thursday in San Francisco, company spokesmen marveled at their idea that they believe will change the future of television. The company unveiled their Google TV to thousands of amazed developers that attended the conference.

Currently, gamblers have to look for online casino bonuses and their favorite games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker by accessing keywords on their computers and picking the site they wish to enter. With Google TV, that will all be the same, but surfers will be doing in in comfort, sitting on leather couches and surfing on their big-screen televisions.

While online gambling laws are the biggest obstacles for gamblers these days, with many jurisdictions still outlawing online casino, it is clear that technology is preparing for the inevitable. Comfort and ease of access are two things that online gamblers cannot live without, and Google TV could provide both for generations of online casino players to come.

Federal Power Shapes Up To Online Casino Taxation

2010-05-21T04:33:00.000-07:00

While some speakers at the hearing concerning online casino taxation before the House Ways and Means Committee oppose allowing online betting, even they said the issue should be resolved by the states.

While various positions were elucidated at today's House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Representative Jim McDermott's bill outlining taxation for online gambling, even those opposed to Internet gaming admitted the Federal Government probably shouldn't be deciding the issue. Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican, said the need for money shouldn't outweigh negatives he sees in online gambling, but added the issue properly belongs to the states.

"People sometimes resort to drastic things when they are strapped for cash," said Bob Goodlatte. Still, he agreed with supporters of regulation that a federal ban is not the solution, saying states should be able to make their own decisions.

Barney Frank, the driving force in Congress for online gambling regulation, testified before the Committee that the issue involves more than figuring the best way to raise income for the government.

"We are talking about a decision by adults to do what they want to do with their own money," Barney Frank told the gathered legislators. He cited John Stuart Mills' famed essay "On Liberty" to remind the lawmakers of the principles underlying the US government.

While creating an estimated $42 billion in federal revenue already interested the most practical-minded Representatives, the larger issue of personal liberty became a hot topic, only one day after Tea Party voters had shown their contempt for big government at both Democratic and Republican primaries, ousting party favorites on both sides.

Recently, Rep. Goodlatte finally conceded issue a state affair at hearing, predicting, and writing about for years. In his website, he states:

"Under current federal law, it is unclear whether using the Internet to operate a gambling business is illegal. The closest useful statute currently is the Wire Act, which prohibits gambling over telephone wires. The Wire Act, which was written well before the invention of the World Wide Web, has become outdated. My legislation amends the Wire Act to make it clear that the prohibitions include Internet gambling and the use of other new technologies."

As the Constitutional limitations of federal power shapes up to be a major point of discussion in fall elections, online casino rights may become a symbol of the freedom to self-determine.

PartyGaming Prepares To Go Into US Market

2010-05-18T23:47:00.000-07:00

Prior to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) that was introduced in the U.S. in 2006, PartyGaming was one of the largest online gambling providers in that country. However, they were forced to pull out of the U.S. after the Act was introduced. This week PartyGaming announced that they are noticing an increased momentum towards the regulation of online poker in the U.S. and are preparing to make a return.

Jim Ryan, PartyGaming Chief Executive, announced that it was possible that the UIGEA could be overturned as early as this year and that in the event of this happening, they are fully prepared. Last year PartyGaming reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and all the company's wrongdoings in the past was cleared by them. This agreement has left an opening for the online casino operator to re-enter the U.S.

Online gambling market should the UIGEA be overturned. They could, however, re-enter the U.S. market without the UIGEA being overturned as Lawmakers in many states are contemplating regulating online poker. In the event of the Lawmakers being successful PartyGaming will be permitted to gain licenses to operate within those states.

U.S. Attorney Ortiz stated, "The conduct alleged in this case reveals a blatant effort to circumvent gaming and tax laws. The notion that the type of activity alleged here is legal because it is conducted over the Internet from offshore, is pure fiction."

"We are seeing increased momentum towards regulating online poker (in the US), It's possible that it could happen this year and we're prepared if it does." said PartyGaming Chief Executive Jim Ryan, on a conference call.

"It's possible that it could happen this year and we’re prepared if it does." U.S. Attorney Ortiz stated.

PartyGaming was in the news last year in the US after they reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice that cleared the company of any possible wrongdoing in the past. That agreement opened the door for the online gambling operator to re-enter the US market if, and when, the UIGEA was overturned.

U.S. Attorney Ortiz is not happy with this situation and stated that the conduct in this case shows a brazen effort to evade gaming and tax laws. He added that the idea that this type of activity is legal because it is conducted over the Internet from offshore is untrue.

PartyGaming is one of the most popular gaming companies in the world and recently announced an increase of twenty-seven percent in their revenue for the first quarter of 2010. In addition, Representative Barney Frank has proposed legislation that would overturn the UIGEA. Frank is also pushing another bill that would lay the framework for a regulated online casino industry in the US.

Online Casino Access In Canada Now Authorized

2010-05-17T04:27:00.000-07:00

Canada's provincial lotteries are joining together to create a national online casino site, offering online casino players a safe and regulated series of sites. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation is linking with other Canadian lotteries to permit online casino access across the country, according to reports by the Canwest News Service. The company, owned by the province, will join with the Atlantic Lottery and Loto-Quebec to offer Internet gaming over a standardized platform.

A gambling consultant with the Atlantric Lottery Bob Rybak said he expects the provinces not currently operating online casino games to join the project, giving Canada a unified system of online gambling. The new network would be accessible not only to computer users, but also through mobile phone applications.

However, some gambling critics showed their lack of education regarding problem gambling, saying the online gambling project would bring a great danger of increased problem gambling to Canada.

"Internet gambling is potentially the most problematic for people who have gambling addictions," said noted gambling opponent Shane Simpson. But most problem gambling experts are in agreement with the studies from Harvard Medical School and other objective sources that have found online gambling to be far less likely to result in compulsive gambling.

Gambling consultant, Bob Rybak told a gaming conference in Montreal that Canadians spend almost a billion dollars annually on online casino, and offering the national online casino sites will help generate revenue from that previously untaxed wealth.

Bob Rybak, who spoke at an Internet gambling conference in Montreal, said Canadians spent an estimated $800 million in 2009 gambling online, with "the vast majority of that money going offshore".

Officials said concerns that online casino will not properly protect children or gambling addicts will be addressed through software determining identity and location of players. Bob Rybak and other conference speakers stressed that public acceptance of online casino will be linked to the operators' ability to ensure underage players cannot access the sites.

Another priority revolves around measures to identify and help problem gamblers. "Safeguarding the players means safeguarding our industry and our livelihood," said Hillevi Stuhrenberg, manager of responsible gambling for Betsson, a Swedish group.

Republican Party Future Over Online Casino Prohibition

2010-05-13T00:35:00.000-07:00

A Poker Players Alliance executive reveals a split in the Republican Party over online casino, with the growing libertarian forces opposed to the online casino prohibition. An article published on conservative website biggovernment.com says the legislative battle over online casino and online poker may hold the future of the Grand Old Party. Rich Muny of the Poker Players Alliance writes that social conservatives are growing alarmed at the emerging libertarian focus of the anti-big government movement, and may make the online casino ban a point on which to draw a desperate stand.

Rich Muny cites written opinions expressed by a number of influential Republicans opposing the prohibition of online casino, from the PPA's own Alfonse D'Amato to Dick Armey, George Will, and Ron Paul. Rich Muny also added that the social conservatives controlling such groups as the infamous Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council are feeling their strength sap away.

"In this environment, perhaps it is not surprising that some Republican lawmakers feel that going after online poker could shore up the support of the dwindling ranks of social issue statistics, It is up to conservatives to tell their lawmakers that they demand fidelity to conservative principles. If we do not want them wasting political capital on online poker bans, and if we do not want them fighting for smaller government fifty percent of the time and for larger government the remaining fifty percent, we need to tell them." writes PPA's Rich Muny.

The article notes that Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association was quoted in Politico as saying, "There’s a libertarian streak in the tea party movement that concerns me as a cultural conservative."

The influence of religious fundamentalist groups has caused the banning of online casino sites and online poker rooms to be carried as a plank of the Reublican platform. But the protests of hundreds of thousands of grassroots Republicans that the party should be supporting personal rights and freedom caused paroxysms in GOP leadership, which could no longer disguise the conflict between its libertarians and its extreme fringe.

Rich Muny advocates the party return to the values of Barry Goldwater, the father of modern conservatism, and reject pressures to tear down big Democratic government only to set up another dysfunctional bureaucracy of its own. The freedom to play at online casino sites would be a good start.

Online Casino Bill Close To Congressional Hearing

2010-05-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

Online casino is a growing phenomenon in households nationwide, many people sit down after a hard day's work and login to try their luck at online gambling. Some play professionally, others for recreation, but both probably feel that there is little harm in doing it. The House of Representatives thinks differently about the issue.

Jim McDermott's proposal to use revenue collected from online gambling taxes to fund foster care will soon receive a hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee. Representative Jim McDermott's bill taxing online gambling and using the revenue to fund foster care programs may have a hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee as soon as next week, according to a report by PokerNews.com. The bill, a companion piece to Barney Frank's measure detailing regulation for Internet gaming, will most likely be discussed on the 19th or 20th.

While there has been a fair amount of informal talk about online gambling among the members of Barney Frank's Financial Services Committee, the topic will be new and unfamiliar to many members of the Ways and Means Committee. John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, says his group is trying hard to educate Congressmen on the subject before the hearing.

"It will be a really interesting day, and we're spending a lot of time between now and then to talk to as many folks as we can on the committee, We'll see what members show up, and who cares about the issue." said Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance, John Pappas.

The bill was House Resolution 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. Essentially, the bill would spell out and redefine existing federal laws that would outlaw online gambling. The legislation makes it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to gambling sites and also increases the maximum prison sentence from two years to five years. It also opens the door for law enforcement agencies to force Internet Service Providers to remove all links to those online wagering sites.

The focus of the committee will also be different than the discussions Frank has led so far. While previous talks were about proper regulation as protection for consumers, the new hearing will concentrate on the amount and reliability of revenue that can be generated by taxing online casino and online poker rooms.

John Pappas says there may be some talk of preventing problem gambling and guarding against money laundering, but also asserts that "...I think it's mostly going to focus on how much money can be raised from this and if it's reliable revenue the government can use to fund programs over the next 20 years."

Barney Frank's bill was scheduled for a hearing last month, but the date was postponed due to a conflict in Frank's itinerary. No new date has been set.

Online Casino Regulations In Pennsylvania

2010-05-06T03:57:00.000-07:00

While Pennsylvania residents are excited about casino table games, they are still waiting for one of their online casino projects to be completed. The SugarHouse Casino project looks like the first one to be finished. But the Gambling tycoon Steve Wynn decided to pull out of his plan to take over the management of the Foxwoods casino projects on April 8th, 2010.

Negotiations were still ongoing and it is not known if the talks stalled or if Steve Wynn simply decided that he no longer had any interest in the Foxwoods project. That decision comes at a time when Pennsylvania is preparing for casino table games expansion.

Table games were approved by legislators earlier this year and many casino facilities in the state are expecting to have the games operation for players by summer. Philadelphia has proven to be a difficult city to conduct business with for both casino facility projects. The SugarHouse casino project has been postponed several times for different reasons.

Some of the issues are a resistance from area residents who do not want the casino facility to be constructed in their area. That has caused Philadelphia to move slowly in approving the necessary construction permits. Billionaire Neil Bluhm has been the main financer behind the SugarHouse project and the developers are hoping that a temporary casino will be open to the public by the end of 2010. Meanwhile, the Foxwoods casino project has been temporarily put on hold after Steve Wynn backed out of the agreement.

The Pennsylvania Bill 711 is the catalyst that will allow poker, roulette, blackjack, roulette and craps games. The bill does a lot more than just legalizing table games because it is filled with special earmarks. For example, there is an earmark that allows patrons in Philadelphia casinos to smoke despite the fact that there is a city law that bans smoking in public places. Additionally, the bill also increases the amount of slot machines that a resort casino can have from 500 to 600.

Had this bill not passed it likely would have lead to the elimination of 1,000 state jobs and cuts to many state-funded programs. Currently, there is a $250 million gap in the Pennsylvania budget and this bill is expected to fill that void. The passage of Bill 711 came as good news to many and could mean particularly good news for the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. Rivers Casino was predicted to be one of the State’s most lucrative, yet this past September it posted the third-lowest revenues of Pennsylvania’s 9 casinos. The hope is that table games will bring the Rivers Casino revenues closer to the highest in the state, rather than the lowest.

Back in December 2009, online casino revenues in Pennsylvania had bigger slot machine revenue than in Atlantic City for the first time in history. Pennsylvania casinos are planning to take advantage of that momentum once the casino table games are operational.

PaddyPower Sponsors Confessional Box

2010-04-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

Irish online casino and sports betting site Paddy Power has donated £10,000 towards refurbishment work at Newmarket's Catholic Church in Suffolk of the UK as part of a deal where their name will be put above the confession box. Paddy Power is paying Our Lady and St. Etheldreda Church over $15,000 to place the Paddy Power brand on the confessional box.

The sponsorship, which is valued at £10,000, was the brainchild of Paddy Power and Newmarket Parish Priest Father Michael Griffin with the sponsorship money helping to finance the reordering of the church. The reordering has been planned for a number of years with finance proving a major a hurdle. Church members are surprisingly united in their acceptance of and gratitude for the online casino sponsorship. The church priest mentions that he and the church leaders are delighted to have the generous donation, and says he has included Paddy Power by name in sermons.

Father Michael Griffin, the parish priest, told local press: "An enterprising member of our fund raising committee was ringing anyone with vaguely Catholic or Irish connections and spoke to Paddy Power who agreed to make this generous donation. I’ve been asked whether the proceeds of gambling are suitable to fund churches, but all churches built around the time this one was, in the 1960s, were funded by football pools, bingo evenings and raffles".

Mark Hackeson, spokesman for the Catholic diocese, said, "There is nothing morally wrong with gambling unless it deprives people of what is necessary to provide for their needs and that of their dependants".

Paddy Power said, "From our point of view it’s a great fit to sponsor a confession box in a church nestled in the galloping heart of British horse racing. We hope that over time confessing your sins in the Paddy Power confession box will become a tradition for Newmarket race goers!"

Paddy Power is targeted to the UK and European markets and at present supports accounts in just two currencies: GBP Sterling (£) Euro (€). German and Spanish language sites are also available. Paddy Power is also renowned for "Justice" payouts where they pay out based on what they think should have happened, as well as the actual result. A great deal for online gamblers!

Rental Computers Confiscated For Acquiring Online Casino

2010-04-27T03:07:00.000-07:00

Australia - As our beloved internet and technology becomes more advanced, increasing questions are being asked about such matters in Australia such as when is a gambling device not a gambling device, but just a computer, and vice versa... you get the idea punters.

Australian authorities confiscate a rental computer because it could be used to access online casinos, making it a potential gambling device in their eyes. A service providing computers with Internet access in Australian pubs and hotels is charged with operating an illegal gambling device. VenueNet is a marketing company whose computer kiosks are facing charges by Tabcorp that they violate exclusive gaming licenses and are real online casino.

Tabcorp pays for licensing in locations in the Australian province of Victoria, but customers using VenueNet's computer Internet connections can access online casino and sports betting sites and other competitors shopping their bets and gambling while avoiding Tabcorp. After hearing complaints, officials from the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation impounded the computer located at the Rising Sun Hotel in Melbourne.

VenueNet executives are demanding the return of their computer. They say the device is the same as those installed at airports, malls, and other locations, and is no more a gambling device than computers in the courtroom or anywhere else.

While the machines do permit users to access sports betting site including Sportsbet and online casino, it does not emphasize that connection any more than the millions of other possible websites. The computer does not accept or register bets.

VenueNet says it has damages coming from the state for impeding its business. It plans to install 200 more computer kiosks in Victoria, and says it will expand to other provinces once the Victoria case is settled.

The Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation lodged an appeal with the Victorian Supreme Court to stop Sportsbet being heard in the magistrates court, as a third party in the case, on legal issues relating to the seizure warrant. The wagering licence, including exclusive retail rights in pubs, is held by Aussie gaming giant Tabcorp, which complained about the machine in question to authorities last year. The new wagering licence is expected to come into play in 2012.

More Jobs At Online Casino Says UK Gaming Analysts

2010-04-23T00:54:00.000-07:00

A new study by UK gaming analysts shows as many as 32,000 jobs could be created by US regulation of online casino. A pair of high-profile reports were revealed in recent days that urge governments to legalize and regulate online casino in order to stimulate the economy.

In the U.S. Political website The Hill reports that “legalizing online gambling could create tens of thousands of new jobs over five years,” writes Kevin Bogardus, citing a new research report from H2 Gambling Capital, U.K.- based market analysis firm. In addition to the 32,000 new jobs the report cites, legalized online gambling would also yield “$57.5 billion in new tax revenue over five years. It could also lead to $94 billion in new economic activity, the firm estimates.”

“This study should provide further incentive for the Obama administration and Congress to act quickly to regulate Internet gambling,” Simon Holliday, a director at H2, said in a statement published in The Hill article.

The report also argues that the UIGEA and other anti-online gambling laws are throwing away billions of dollars "and leaving tens of thousands of U.S. players without any onshore regulatory protection" - the kind of protection that may prevent certain money launderers from manipulating an online gambling industry that's short in legal payment solutions.

In Australia, a similar study states that the online casino is experiencing an incredible popularity surge, and what is now a $790 million industry will likely double by 2012. Which accumulating $790 may seem like a somewhat paltry number compared to the billions cited above for the American market, but it seems less so when one considers that Australia’s population is about 1/12th of the U.S.

Simon Holliday remarked that this and past studies have shown that by trying to ban online casino rather than regulate it,US lawmakers are spending billions rather than collecting billions, all while failing to protect US consumers from unsavory elements in the gambling industry. Barney Frank is promising to soon push to advance his proposal to regulate online casino. A deadline of June 1st looms, as that is the implementation date for UIGEA rules against online gambling payment transactions (See VISA Blocks Online Casino Transactions In Canada).

Regulation of online casino seems to be a growing cause in Congress, as bipartisan legislators have called for the suspension of the UIGEA as well as submitted bills using funding from online casino taxes to pay for tax reform and foster care, among other causes.

Marvel Superhero Slots Launched by Cryptologic

2010-04-20T23:48:00.001-07:00

One of the most popular new series of online slots to hit the online casino world is the Marvel Superhero slots game created by Cryptologic. The Marvel Superhero slots that have recently been released at Cryptologic-powered online casino have become some of the most popular games to ever hit the online gambling scene. The relationship between Marvel and Cryptologic was seemingly successful, but the software designer has just announced that a legal dispute is now taking place with the comic book company.

According to a press release issued by Crypotologic’s subsidiary WagerLogic Ltd, Marvel has committed material breaches of certain provisions of its agreement with the designer. The company has tried to come to an agreement outside of court, but they have been left with no choice but to undergo the arbitration process.

There are no concrete reasons have been cited as the cause of the disagreement, although industry onlookers are speculating. It is believed that Cryptologic is not pleased with Marvel’s subsequent partnership with PlayTech. Cryptologic signed its licensing deal with Marvel in 2005, granting the online gambling developer sole rights to the depiction of the superheroes in the online casino realm. By 2008, almost 20 games were produced as a result of the partnership, but one year later Marvel signed a very similar deal with PlayTech.

Playtech signed a licensing agreement with Marvel to create a range of Marvel slots based on popular superhero characters and went on to launch a series of online slot games including X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, Blade, Daredevil, Elektra, Iron Man and Fantastic Four. These games very soon captured the imagination of slots players world wide as did the superior graphics, sound and animation. Plus there's no doubt some very interesting comic characters that you may just be discovering now for the first time such as the Thor and Silver Surfer.

If Cryptologic was, in fact, granted sole rights, Marvel has certainly breached their contract. However, it is now up to the courts to decide. Hopefully, they can come to an amicable solution, so that we will be able to see new Marvel-themed slots in the future.

Cryptologic is a global developer of online slots, casino games and software has announced in a press release that they have started arbitration proceedings against Marvel Enterprises Inc. and Marvel Enterprises B.V. through their wholly owned subsidiary, WagerLogic Ltd.

Daredevil Online Slots Image from: http://www.onlineslotsfinder.com/slots/daredevil.htm

VISA Blocks Online Casino Transactions In Canada

2010-04-19T01:56:00.000-07:00

It wasn't long ago since MasterCard announced that they are going to block Americans from making transactions to online casino sites (See MasterCard Cuts Off Online Casino Payments In US). Now, MasterCards biggest opponent VISA follows and block their Canadian customers as well. That both the credit card giants VISA and MasterCard have decided to block Canadians from making transactions to online casino is a clear sign that UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) will soon come into effect in June 1, 2010.

Canada seemed to be untouched by the block, but it has recently come to our attention that similar hindrances are taking place here. When you are going to enter your VISA account number into online casino, the error message indicated that the financial institution by which the card was issued would not allow the transaction to take place. We are uncertain whether the block was caused by VISA or the bank, but one thing was clear: we were unable to fund our online casino account. Considering the fact that Canadian Visa is usually governed by US regulations so it is very probable that most of us are blocked with that payment option as well.

Most people have pointed to the fact that both companies are probably getting prepared for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to come into effect. If this legislation and that getting fully enforced, activity at online casino will be considered illegal within the United States and Canada and these credit card companies want to distance themselves from any illegal activity.

If you encounter this situation, it may be frustrating but there are very simple solutions to this problem. It may seems as though the next available option would be an e-wallet, however these systems take quite some time to authenticate. So, the quickest option is to register for an online credit/debit card.

Companies like VISA Electron allow players to make payments online through a web-based card. Because the card has no attachment to a financial institution, banks are not able to intercept payments to online casino. Transfers are instant and secure, as players are never required to give out their own personal bank account or credit card information.

The registration process is quick and easy. The VISA Electron took less than 10 minutes. Within 15 minutes, your online casino account was funded and we were ready to play!

Online Casino HR 6870 Bill Postponed Again

2010-04-15T00:30:00.000-07:00

The online gambling world has been waiting for Barney Frank’s online casino bill to take the next step forward in the legal process. Although many had expected that the House Financial Services Committee would have already heard the bill, there have been long delays due to other pressing legal issues, such as the health bill. It seems, however, that Congress is finally ready to move forward with the Barney Frank online casino bill.

Finally, after about a year of delays, the House Financial Services Committee will hear Barney Frank’s online caisno bill, which proposes to legalize and regulate online casino in the United States. The date set for the hearing is for the end of this week, on Friday, April 16th 2010. however, it was postponed and according to a press release by the committee, Barney Frank, committee chairman, has a conflict forcing an adjustment of the hearing time. No announcement has been made as to when the hearing will be rescheduled.

Along with the main online casino bill, Barney Frank has a side bill, which proposes to delay the implementation of the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) by one more year. This one year delay would be so that there is time for the Frank online gambling bill to work its way through official channels without the implementation of the UIGEA occurring simultaneously, since this could cause confusion should the online casino bill become law. Should Barney Frank’s main online casino bill be adopted as a new law, the UIGEA would be virtually moot.

At this time, the UIGEA is currently suspended. In response to various requests in November, the Treasury chose to suspend the starting date for the implementation of the UIGEA. Although the request had been for one year, the Treasury suspended the UIGEA implementation by six months. The suspended starting date is nearly here, which makes it that much more important that Barney Frank’s companion bill be passed, in order to give his main bill the time it needs to be considered, and move through the legal channels.

At this time, there is no indication of when markup of the bills can be expected. It does not seem to be that markup will take place at the hearing scheduled for later this week.

Michael Waxman, from the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, noted: "This hearing will provide further evidence that the UIGEA is a poorly crafted law that simply does not work.We expect this hearing to provide further impetus for the House Financial Services Committee and Congress to address this issue and move forward Chairman Frank’s regulatory bill."

There are also other online casino bills that will need to be considered, such as the Jim McDermott bill which suggests that a large part of the income raised from online casino taxes should go toward various forms of funding for those children that are currently in foster care, as well as those that were in foster care.

Kentucky Sues Full Tilt Poker For Revenue Loss

2010-04-12T00:49:00.000-07:00

The Commonwealth of Kentucky filed suit against Pocket Kings - the owners of Full Tilt Poker- and "Unknown Defendants" seeking to recoup losses by state residents in online poker games. Now, the industry has had a chance to speculate on the case’s future. Kentucky, which has been attempting to gain control of 141 Internet gambling and poker sites to shut them down for illegally doing business in its jurisdiction, is now trying to recover money lost by Kentucky residents wagered at Full Tilt Poker.

Pocket Kings, the Irish-based owner of the Full Tilt online poker sites, is being sued by the state of Kentucky in an effort to force online casino sites to return gaming losses. The latest filing by the commonwealth from late March is actually a new case, and lists Pocket Kings, Ltd., the parent company of Full Tilt Poker. It says: "the Commonwealth is entitled to sue and recover triple the value of the money lost during the statutory period between March 25, 2005 and September 25, 2009 (the five year period preceding this Complaint but excluding the most recent six months) by persons located within the borders of Kentucky." In addition, the Commonwealth is seeking pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, and "such further relief as the Court deems just and proper." No dollar amount is given and the case is numbered 10-CI-505.

The Full Tilt Poker collective is accused of accepting business with 13,000 residents of Kentucky, which the document refers to as a personal jurisdiction, for financial gain, and the details of those transactions are referred to as "tortuous acts." The Commonwealth claims that Full Tilt Poker has its chance to leave the Kentucky market when the above-mentioned domain case was filed but failed to do so, thus leaving itself open to this lawsuit. Full Tilt Poker is now accused of being in violation of Kentucky statute 372.010, which essentially states that any contract entered into for a game or bet of money or property is void.

Other internet gambling sites are targeted in the newest Kentucky case, which also names "unknown individuals and entities [that] have acted in concert in joint ventures to facilitate, host, operate, and profit from online gambling businesses." A variety of domain names are spelled out, including those belonging to Absolute Poker, Bugsy’s Club, Cake Poker, Crazy Poker, DoylesRoom, Golden Palace, Microgaming, MySportsbook, Pitbull Poker, PlayersOnly, PokerHost, PokerStars, PokerTime, Red Star Poker, Reefer Poker, Sportsbook.com, True Poker, and WSEX. UltimateBet.com, not UB.com, is listed. Also misidentified is BodogLife.com, which appears instead of Bodog.com. Several USA-friendly sites including Carbon Poker, Power Poker, and Poker Nordica are not listed.

The ramifications of this case have the potential to be wide and damaging. A response from Full Tilt and other defendants is anxiously awaited, as is word from online poker lobbying organizations like the Poker Players Alliance and the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative.

Online Casino Plan of Massachussett

2010-04-07T03:48:00.000-07:00

Massachusett's latest gaming proposal has hidden deep within it a clause that would place online casino players and online poker patrons at risk of prison terms. The new bill to expand gambling in Massachusetts once again contains controversial clauses designed to make playing online poker illegal at online casino. House Speaker Robert DeLeo's attempt to fast-track thec 172-page measure includes glossing over a section which may startle voters intent on asserting rights to gamble freely, as the clause prescribes 2 years in prison for patrons of online casino.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo has released the bill while demanding an almost immediate legislative vote, after years of speculation about the proper route for gambling in the Bay State. Just a few years ago, a proposal by Governor Deval Patrick attempted to license 3 casinos while outlawing online casino play. Governor Deval Patrick is a longtime supporter of slots at the tracks including two in his district, Suffolk Downs and Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere. In October, he said he would also support two or three casino resorts. He also seeks to license two stand-alone casinos, while also licensing race tracks to carry slots gaming. But, buried in the bill lies the section placing a fine of up to $25,000 on top of the potential prison sentence merely for being a customer of an online caisno sites.

On page 123 of the proposal, it states that "any person who knowingly transmits or receives a wager of any type by any telecommunication device, including telephone, cellular phone, Internet, local area network, including wireless local networks, or any other similar device or equipment or other medium of communication, or knowingly installs or maintains said device or equipment for the transmission or receipt of wagering information shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 years, or by a fine of not more than $25,000, or both such fine or imprisonment. "

Governor Deval Patrick is among many urging that the bill receive proper public hearing and debate, while House Speaker Robert DeLeo insistes that everything has already been said in past arguments and the vote should go forward. Washington is presently the only state that makes participation at online casinos a felony. While laws on operating online casino sites differ, most excuse patrons from jail terms.

New Hampshire Supports Online Casino Legalization

2010-04-05T01:37:00.000-07:00

Among the U.S. States whom would be interested in legalizing and taxing online casino if the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was overturned and regulatory mandates were passed, i.e, Senator Jim McDermott and Barney Frank’s companion bills – the Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act and the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act – it’s a good bet to add New Hampshire to the list.

As the fight for gaming in the Granite State continues Governor John Lynch now says he may consider a plan to allow online gambling in the state. New Hampshire Governor John Lynch may have expressed his opposition to legislation recently introduced that would have seen the legalization of 17,000 slot machines and table games such as poker in the state, he has surprised his opponents with his own idea to close a growing budget deficit - the introduction of online casino and other forms of gambling online.

Moreover, the New Hampshire Governor John Lynch will be unveiling a plan next week to help New Hampshire close a fast-growing budget deficit during trying economic times. Of the many options in this plan, one of them is online casino. However, on the other hand, the Governor Lynch’s critics, or rather, those who oppose online casino for one reason or another, have already spoken out against the prospects of online casino legalization.

“The governor is worried about proliferation of gaming, but it sounds like he’s going to make every computer terminal in every home and every BlackBerry - including those BlackBerrys held by kids in high school - a gambling facility.” Said Senator Bob Clegg, who just so happens to be a lobbyist for a golf club seeking to build a casino resort in the city of Hudson.

But Governor Lynch says he's still working out specific pieces of the plan. "At this point really we're in the conceptual stage. At this point we're discussing with legislative leaders, different ideas in terms of how to close the budget gap," Said New Hampshire Governor John Lynch.

As such, New Hampshire Governor Lynch can expect tough opposition to his alternative plan. It is being argued that online gambling and poker playing would allow for unchecked addictions and that this type of entertainment does not provide for as many jobs as the construction of land casinos. A planned casino in Hudson, for example, would bring in as much as $10 million in tax revenue and create 3,800 jobs.

Online Casino In South Africa May Postpone

2010-03-30T01:03:00.000-07:00

Despite that there is still no definite law legalizing online casino gambling in South Africa, under the current National Gambling Act, the forthcoming passing of the National Gambling Amendment Bill is likely to bring with it a dramatic turn around in the current situation. The bill has already been approved by the National Assembly, and only the approval of the National Council of Provinces is pending its go ahead. Part of the bill will include safer conditions for online casino players in South Africa who currently face up to R 10 million in fines or up to 10 years imprisonment.

South Africa is in still in a state of uncertainty when it come to online gambling legislation and it looks like it will remain that way until a commission has concluded its findings and presented them to Parliament. South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry's chief director of policy and legislation, Nomfundo Maseti, explains, “online gambling is not allowed in S.A .at the moment”. There are an estimated half a million online gamblers in the country and the department does not have any information on how much money is being won or lost illegally in S.A. Maseti, also said, that there are no regulations in place to regulate the industry and that South Africans gambling online are doing so illegally and could forfeit their winnings. “It's a risk that they take... you've engaged in an illegal activity.”

According to testimony this week at the National Gambling Review Commission, black market online casino sites are thriving due to the slow movement by government to follow through on the Interactive Gambling Act. The law would license up to top 10 online casino operators for the country, and establish regulations and taxation for them. But implementation cannot begin until Rob Davies, the Minister of Trade and Industry, gives his approval to adjoining regulations.

Online casino has the potential to be a revenue generator for the government. Should the government decide to regulate and licence online casino, the National Gambling Board has considered issuing only 10 licences. Gambling operators would be required to prove they have a physical presence in South Africa and their financial transactions would have to be located within the country's borders.

According to South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry's chief director of policy and legislation, Nomfundo Maseti explained there have been a number applications for licences in South Africa and with delay after delay the concerned companies are getting frustrated. Maseti said, “They can't wait forever.” The government is dithering and in the mean time with an absence of clear responsible rules laid out punters are basically just doing whatever they want.

New Online Gambling Taxes To Fund Foster Care

2010-03-27T02:46:00.000-07:00

Congressman Jim McDermott of Washington introduced a bill today that would use online gambling including online casino and sports betting taxation to fund foster care programs. The new proposal suggests using 25% of revenue from the regulation of online casino to pay for social programs and housing involving foster kids.

The bill is a more clearly delineated version of a measure proposed by Jim McDermott last year, which also proposed taxation rates for online gambling. Congressman JimMcDermott also includes a stipulation that states and Native American tribes receive 6 percent of the revenue collected from online gambling.

Congressman Jim McDermott told The Hill that ensuring states and social programs like those for foster children aren't hurt too badly by budget cuts is a big part of his thought in revising the bil The new bill, like its predecessor, imposes a federal licensing fee of 2% of deposits. This tax cannot be "deducted from the amounts available as deposits to the person placing a bet." According to Jim McDermott’s officials and previous estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), up to $42 billion could be reaped from the 2% deposit tax along with corresponding corporate, wager, and income taxes. The figure is over a ten-year period.

Congressman Jim McDermott’s new internet gambling venture adds two more twists that HR 2268 lacked. The first ships 25% of funds raised through HR 4976 to the Transitional Assistance Trust Fund, which provides educational opportunities and job training for those currently or formerly in foster care. The amount allocated to each state would depend on its population. In addition, 0.5% of funds raised through HR 4976 would be given to the American Heritage Block Grant Fund, which benefits historic preservation and the arts.

McDermott's office released figures showing the bill could generate $30 billion over the next decade for state coffers, as well as $42 billion for foster care subsidies. "The major reason is to make it possible for states to have access to online gambling revenue," said Congressman Jim McDermott. The bill is intended as a companion to Representative Barney Frank's proposal to regulate online gambling. Frank's bill is in the author's committee, the House Financial Services Committee, awaiting markup, and has acquired 66 co-sponsors.

Source: http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/jim-mcdermott-introduces-internet-gambling-tax-legislation-hr-4976-9321/

Online Casino Myths Prevail Over The Truth: Poll Shows

2010-03-25T02:04:00.000-07:00

While online casino over the last decade has largely threatened land-based casinos in the United States, many state governments, and the federal government as well, have desperately tried to keep the money spent by US gamblers in the US by prohibiting online casino. As government officials have seemingly been running around in every direction trying to tame the beast that is online casino, they have been butting their heads against the wall at every corner they turn.

A poll shows the public may not be behind regulating online casino a top gaming analyst suggests that is due to misinformation and lack of education on the subject which conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University shows that two-thirds of the population believes the law shouldn't be changed to allow legal online casino and other forms of gambling online. This means that at least all those who responded that way think there's already a law in place that makes online casino gaming illegal., while in fact no such law exists. The poll shows that certain urban myths and prejudices about online gambling have been shouted by demagogues, and then repeated by uneducated media, to the point that the general public accepts them for truth, according to OCA gaming analyst Sherman Bradley.

In his interview, OCA gaming analyst Sherman Bradley pointed out that over 65% said they had entered a casino in the last year, meaning a significant portion had accepted the disproved theories about the harmfulness of online gambling. Scientific study has consistently proved that, despite expectations otherwise, Internet betting is far less likely to lead to problem gambling than other forms.

"The poll shows that respondents have a strong positive image of practically every specific casino location, identifying the cities as favorable by a margin consistently better than two-to-one, "Yet they also say that vague, unidentified 'casinos' have negative effects, That means that, when presented with evidence in a particular case, they know casinos are doing good, but gambling still carries a mystique of shadiness." Said OCA gaming analyst Sherman Bradley.

It is no secret that the US government has been fighting online casino and other forms of gambling over the Internet since as early as 1997. Both the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1997 and the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1999 were failed attempts at nipping the industry in the bud. But not until the UIGEA did the federal government have any success in the fight, whatsoever. But they ultimately failed again, forcing otherwise reputable online casino establishments, online funds transfer firms, and online gamblers, themselves, to find loopholes in the laws.

As a result, those US players, who otherwise have been under hard times financially, have attempted to save money on lavish vacations to gambling cities, choosing to playing at online casino and sports betting sites in their homes, at a much cheaper rate. These hardworking and honest Americans are forced to break the law and send their US dollars overseas, on a daily basis.

Online Casino In French Jurisdiction

2010-02-09T22:49:00.000-08:00

Four online casino sites which include two British are facing court action by french casinos seeking to bar them from receiving a license to operate in France when the Gallic market is liberalized this summer. Britain's Sportingbet and 888 Holdings are being sued along with Malta's Unibet and Bwin of Austria by three of France's biggest casino operators Barrière, Joagroupe, and Tranchant, are asking the Criminal Court in Paris prepares to end a state monopoly on online gambling and to block any licensing to the accused online casino operators for at least two years.

The three online casinos – Tranchant, Barrière and Joagroupe, which run a total of 104 casinos, say their online rivals have flouted the law by setting up French language sites to tout for custom in France without waiting for parliamentary approval. They told Paris Criminal Court that the online groups had ''violated French legislation in a deliberate and patent manner''.

The French casino owners want the foreign online casino sites to be imposed a penalty on any future licensing attempt once France opens its gaming market for actions committed while the market is still closed. However, if the lawsuit is upheld by judges, the four Internet firms would find themselves at a notable disadvantage in a market thought to be worth hundreds of millions of euros a year.

The case, which is likely to end Wednesday, comes two weeks before the French Senate is expected to back a bill authorizing private online gamblers to apply for licences. The legislation has already been approved by the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, and is likely to come into force in time for the French to bet on the World Cup.

However, there are about 100 operators will apply for a licence, according to French government estimates, but only about half will receive one. They will have the right to take bets on sports betting and casino games such as auto racing, basketball and poker, but not on activities such as one-arm bandits considered by French officials to be dangerously addictive.

From this time on, the new operators will face high tax rates which critics say are intended to favour the two state-run firms which control the French market at present — Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU), the bookmakers, and Française des Jeux (FdJ), the national lottery. An estimated 3,000,000 French people already betting online with online casino sites operating outside France.

Source: http://www.onlinecasinoadvisory.com/casino-news/online/french-casinos-sue-foreign-online-gambling-operators-43594.htm

Australia To Quickly End The Era Of Online Casino Censorship

2010-02-07T22:38:00.000-08:00

The spectre of broadscale Internet censorship in Australia has been covered previously here on The Next Web before, but many outside Australia may wonder: why should you care if you don’t live in Australia. If you’re not aware of what’s proposed, the short version is that Australia is proposing to introduce a compulsory firewall that filters content based on a blacklist of banned sites

What’s going to be on that list is even now still somewhat confused. The Censorship Minister Stephen Conroy has stated that all Refused Classification content will be banned, which in Australia would extend to computer games and online casino games unsuitable for children especialloy in Australia that has no adult (R18+) rating for computer games, small breasts, information about euthanasia, discussion forums on anorexia, as well as the usual nasties of child porn. To complicate matters, a site may be refused classification in Australia if it links to a site that is refused classification, which could literally result in half the internet being blocked.

The Austarlian Government plans to impose mandatory Internet filtering at the Internet Service Provider (ISP) level. There are two lists, a “child safe” list which filters both illegal content and explicit pornography; a second which users can opt-out to which only filters unwanted content. Austarlia's federal has engaged to pursuing its plan to censor the Internet, blocking sites encompassing online casinos and even sports betting sites thought via arbitrary officials to be harmful. The censor board, a small team of bureaucratic staff whose decisions are imposed without audit or announcement, has decided to include nudity involving women with small breasts in the ban.

On the authority of a report on boingboing.net, the Adult Classification Board has very resolute that nudity of women with A-cups is a sneaky pattern of pedophilia and should be omitted as progeny pornography. The Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, has consistently ignored advice from a host of technical experts saying the filters would slow the internet, block legitimate sites, be easily bypassed and fall short of capturing all of the nasty content available online. Despite this, he is pushing ahead with trials of the scheme using six ISPs - Primus, Tech 2U, Webshield, OMNIconnect, Netforce and Highway 1. But even the trials have been heavily discredited, with experts saying the lack of involvement from the three largest ISPs, Telstra, Optus and iiNet, means the trials will not provide much useful data on the effects of internet filtering in the real-world.

Online casino sites are hoping complaints by the Australian public and Internet providers will quickly end the era of censorship in this land once known for bold thinking.

News Source: http://www.onlinecasinoadvisory.com/casino-news/online/small-breasts-blocked-with-online-gambling-by-australia-43591.htm

Australia Having Internet Filters To Block Online Casino

2009-12-16T23:35:00.000-08:00

Australia would be barred from sites thought dangerous to adults, which may contain, online casinos and other forms of online betting as well as x-rated material featuring consenting adults with a government member saying the program will begin next year.

The Australian government is set to impose Internet censorship by enforcing a universal national filter that will block websites deemed “controversial,” as part of a wider agenda to regulate the Internet according to free speech advocates. A provision whereby Internet users could opt out of the filter by contacting their ISP has been stripped from the legislation, meaning the filter will be universal and mandatory.

The Australian government will no doubt insist that their filter is in our best interests and is only designed to block child pornography, snuff films and other horrors, yet the system is completely pointless because it will not affect file sharing networks, which is the medium through which the vast majority of such material is distributed.

However, Personal freedom issues are raised by censorship opponents, who point out only Egypt, Iran, and China attempt such mandatory control of the Internet. An Electronic Frontiers On Australia said, "We’re yet to hear a sensible explanation of what this policy is for, who it will help, and why it is worth spending so much taxpayers' money on,".

Governments are furious that their ceaseless lies are being exposed in real time on the World Wide Web and have resolved to stifle, regulate and control what truly is the last outpost of real free speech in the world. Internet censorship is perhaps the most pertinent issue that freedom advocates should rally to combat over the course of the next few years, lest we allow a cyber-gag to be placed over our mouths and say goodbye to our last medium of free and open communication.

Internet censorship is the first step but its not the last. restricting and limiting the free speech and the free communications are form of mind-control. And the objectives are clear enough that are to stopping the truth to be known and the criminal practices to be exposed. The real question is that, will the free people give up their basic liberty?

Online Poker In California To Be Scheduled On February

2009-12-15T23:55:00.000-08:00

The cash-strapped state that has shown willingness in the past to be a trendsetter when it comes to legislative action is ready to hold a hearing on the merits of regulating online poker. California State Sen. Roderick Wright that the state legislature is planning on holding a hearing on the issue in February.

Moreover, top casinos Commerce Casino and Morongo Tribe are amongst entities supporting the regulation. Both the Morongo tribe and Commerce hope to operate online casino poker if the legislation became law. Patrick Dorinson, Morongo Tribe's spokesperson said, “About one million Californians are playing poker offshore right now,” referencing the popularity of current online poker sites that serve US players.

Lawmakers are hesitant to predict how much intrastate online poker could bring in to the state in terms of revenue, but the state operated poker like it does its Indian-run slot machines, more than $250 million could be raised per year. If ever, California would become the first state to explicitly legalize and regulate intrastate online poker if this proposal becomes law.

On the contrary, not all groups support the proposal. Robert Smith, the chairman of the California Tribal Business Alliance said, “Card game gambling on the Internet would take business away from brick-and-mortar casinos,” . Jim Butler, executive director of an advocacy group against gambling expansion said, “If someone can come home from work and give their credit-card number to an Internet site and lose thousands of dollars, that is going to exacerbate a bad situation”.

However, The Department of Justice has long claimed that all forms of gambling on the Internet are illegal, but there is no applicable law that states such a position, and most lawyers agree that the law that the Department of Justice refers to, the Wire Act, only applies to sports betting.

A recent ruling by the U.S. third circuit court of appeals clarified that the UIGEA, which was passed in 2006, did not criminalize any forms of online gambling. That law just affects the payment processors and how money can be transferred onto sites.

While California legislators don’t appear to be intimidated by the Department Of Justice's position on online poker, U.S. law is much less vague when it comes to the operation of online gambling. State and federal laws prohibit companies from operating Web-based gambling games in the country.

Pennsylvania On Legalizing Casino Table Games Bill

2009-12-14T23:45:00.000-08:00

After months of waiting, state universities may finally be able to start drawing from expected state revenue from table game gambling in Pennsylvania. The state House approved on a preliminary 98-94 vote a proposal to authorize table games such as blackjack, craps and roulette at all Pennsylvania casinos.

The table games bill, the final piece of the 2009-10 budget package, could get final consideration on the House floor Tuesday, after which it would go to the Senate. With that step taken, the House also voted last night to approve delayed appropriations to Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln universities.

The Democrats' plan would permit the state’s racetrack and free-standing casino operators, including Penn National in East Hanover Township, to pay a $16.5 million fee to obtain the expanded licenses. Profits on the new casino games would taxed at 14% through May 2011, plus another 2 percent for payments to host communities. The tax rate would fall back to 12 % in June 2011.

The measure, unveiled by House Democratic leaders in recent days, would raise the state's number of casino licenses from 14 to 15 and legalize table games such as poker, blackjack and craps at the state's slot-machine casinos. It is supposed to raise $320 million for the state over the first two fiscal years by setting a tax rate on gambling revenue from table games at 14 percent and requiring the casinos to pay millions of dollars in license fees.

In the latest twist to the debate, Democratic leaders Monday proposed in their bill to create a Category III, or "resort," license after ruling out authorizing additional casinos last week. The issue is relevant in the midstate because of Gettysburg businessman David Levan’s interest in developing a casino at the Eisenhower Hotel & Conference Center in Cumberland Township, south of the borough.

But the new license is far from a sure bet. Erik Arneson, a top aide to Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, said Monday it is doubtful there is enough support in the state Senate to approve a gaming bill that creates any new casino licenses. He did not rule out, however, the chance that pro-gambling senators could approve a different provision to allow a new round of applications for the state’s lone, unawarded resort license.

Proponents say the measure will help state government raise additional revenue to shore up its recession-ravaged tax collections and provide jobs at a time when many people are out of work.

Online Casinos Unite For Bigger Industry

2009-12-13T23:21:00.000-08:00

According to various reports, renowned online casinos PartyGaming- a parent company of Party Poker and Bwin are currently in merger talks that could create a multi-billion pound "gambling giant". Finally, after following the US government’s decision to delay implementing the UIGEA for 6 months, the possibility of the online gaming ban in the US being overturned has become increasingly more likely, and mergers are now becoming seen as an important way that companies could consolidate their positions in the internet gaming market.

Earlier this year, PartyGaming settled with the US Department of Justice for $105 million dollars. Many people believed that this settlement would lead to increased acquisition activity by PartyGaming, and this certainly appears to be the case.

“Speculation about consolidation in the online gaming sector has been rife in recent months, A tie-up between PartyGaming and Bwin would be logical given the former’s ambition to grow its presence in sports betting, an area where the Austrian group has particular strength. PartyGaming, based in Gibraltar, is best known for offering poker and casino games. It seems likely that if the two businesses can agree a tie-up, the deal would be structured as a merger of equals.” Said by a Sundat Times newspaper reporter.

A merger between the two online gambling sites, if it were to take place, would create an online gambling giant. PartyGaming trades on the London Stock Exchange and is valued at around 1 billion pounds, while Bwin trades on the Vienna stock exchange and is valued at around 1.2 billion pounds. Any new operation would have an estimated value in excess of £2 billion, could offer the whole range of gambling activities to its customers, and would be well placed to exert considerable control over the currently scattered state of the online gaming market.

About Bwin online casino: Bwin has one of the largest online sportsbook operations in the world, while PartyGaming has the fourth largest online poker room.

About PatryGaming online casino: PartyGaming wants to expand its sports betting business, while Bwin is eager to increase their online poker numbers. A merger between the two companies would seem to make a great deal of sense.

Study Shows That Online Casinos Good For Elderly

2009-12-10T23:51:00.000-08:00

To a greater extent, senior citizens are getting past their technophobia and coming up with the internet for the first time to play online casino games. Lots of them don't realize that by getting conventional with computer technology they are promoting better health.

Online casinos and sports betting sites make gambling accessible to the extreme and have become a popular outlet for casino enthusiasts. While younger generations have quickly adapted to the online gambling sphere and the resources it offers, the older population is still going through the learning process of how to maneuver computers. Senior citizens who are now being unveiled to the internet as a result of online gambling are proving that it is never too late to do well out of by learning something new.

Lots of senior citizens engage in online casino world for leisure activity. A factual research conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and Penn State University proves this in a study. A recent survey of almost 1,000 elderly people showed that 70% had participated in an online gambling activity in the past year. The connection between this demographic and gambling has naturally developed to new relationships with computers and the elderly community.

There are positives being discussed in academic institutions such as the Pennsylvania universities. Older people are getting over the intimidating and nervous emotions that come with learning something new and they are embracing it as a new educational experience.

Being taught or teaching yourself new things is vital to the brain’s health. Associate Professor Stephen Robinson from Melbourne Monash University’s School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine asserts that learning new information produces mental stimuli that can promote better health. Activating parts of your brain is important for the elderly because it can stage off Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

All neuroscientists will agree that conducting new tasks is a healthy formula to help train the connections between brain cells. Senior citizens who are curious about the online world of gaming are in fact being proactive by teaching their brains to learn new tricks. On top of this, playing certain games of strategy like blackjack, poker and baccarat provide additional mental exercise.

In the past, senior centers would plan group trips where people would spend hours of thoughtless time pulling on slot arms. Times are changing now because the alternative of playing at online casinos is more convenient. An older generation is catching up to the times and finding out how stimulating the internet can be.

Online Gambling To Cause Recession: Says Prof In Illinois

2009-12-09T23:47:00.000-08:00

Anti-gambling crusader and a professor in university of Illinois, John Kindt continued to repeat falsehoods about online gambling on a radical religious website, hoping the readers would accept his declarations without fact-checking. John Kindt Friday as reasserting his statements about the mischief of online gambling. He supposedly versed in scientific objectivity and proper research methods, continued his personal criticism against gambling in general and online casinos in particular, despite evidence that he is obviously wrong.

"Online gambling is the crack cocaine of creating new addicted gamblers," says Kindt, a statement he repeats around the country on speaking tours, ignoring the accumulated data and researchers' conclusions that he is dead wrong.

According to R&D magazine has published an article in which John Kindt claims online gambling regulation could cause an economic crisis as bad as the sub-prime mortgage fall down. Professor John Kindt criticizes Barney Frank for attempting to tighten controls on Wall Street while laughing out of court him for trying to wipe off the restriction on the free market that constitutes the online gambling ban. In addition, John Kindt said that regulating online casinos would cause an enormous hazardous that burst on online gambling operators that would overflow, causing an even bad economic downturn.

However, Sociologist Joel Best has said an incorrect statistic is "harder to kill than a vampire." Armed with that knowledge, Kindt seems determined to continue uttering falsehoods in the belief that hearing them repeated will convince the general public of their truth.

But objective studies, confirmed by peer review, have found that online gambling is actually much less addicthive than land-based casino gambling. As Dr. Howard Shaffer admitted his two-year study at Harvard Medical School expected to find a high level of problem gambling among online players, but the actual evidence confirmed the opposite: online gambling is safer than other forms of betting.

But Professor John Kindt state under oath that his supposedly factual purpose is that online gambling is as bad as crack. John Kindt was one a few speakers trotted forth by the far right church group as a supposed scholar, is equally biased. He notes conclusions drawn by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission of 1999, a body composed of political rather than scientific appointees whose conclusions have been debunked by thousands of peer-reviewed studies in the decade since.

Online Casino And Sports Betting Technology To Prevent Cheating

2009-12-08T23:11:00.000-08:00

European online casino operators are telling lawmakers that online gambling prevents cheating on sports bets because would-be fixers are unable to generate wagers large enough to profit from their schemes. According to industry representatives, technology at online casinos and sports betting sites significantly reduces the effectiveness of match corruption.

The European Sports Security Association, created by online gambling operators in Europe to detect and report unusual betting patterns and suspicious gaming, says online wagering helps remove much of the danger of corruption by its very nature. Michael Summer, public relations manager at sports betting site Interwetten, that scandals sweeping soccer did not earn profits online, because systems in place would identify suspicious betting patterns.

"We have suffered in the past due to manipulated results, but we haven't been hurt at all by the current scandal, that's because we have a risk management system that can block attempts at cheating at an early stages." Micheal Summer said.

"All of our customers are identifiable and can't get away with using pseudonyms and false identities more than once or twice, that makes Internet gaming operators far more secure than traditional betting shops." Summer added.

On the other hand, Declan Hill, a British investigative journalist says the hundreds of corrupt soccer results being uncovered in Europe and Asia aren't caused by regulated online casinos and sportsbooks across Europe, but the massive underground gambling market in Asia and Eastern Europe.

"In Asia, the gambling market is enormous - bigger than Las Vegas and the European bookmakers combined, It's huge and most of it is illegal. It's easier to hide a fraud inside a covert, criminal industry." Declan Hill said.

Also he mentioned that legal and reliable online casino and sports betting sites are the most difficult to scam with corrupted results. The online records of identities and transactions bring a level of distinctness that scammers need to avoid, and technology allows the detection of unusual betting amounts and patterns, especially on more unheard-of contests that tend to be the prey of corruptive influences.

As many as 200 matches may have trade-off results across international borders and involving a host of players and referees. However, legal online sports betting services say they were not targeted by the cheaters, as they would be able to spot the fixed matches and identify participants.

Belgium Ignores EU's Online Casino Agreement

2009-12-07T22:46:00.000-08:00

The European Gaming and Betting Associatio (EGBA) is the industry body representing the leading online casino and sports betting operators established, licensed and regulated within the European Union. EGBA promotes the implementation of a fair, competitive and regulated market for online gambling operators throughout Europe in line with EU law.

The EGBA presumes that this regulated market should be based on a valid public order and consumer protection concerns and be adapted to the cross-border nature of the online market. A successful regulated market would be based on effective European and international collaboration and cooperation. EGBA is composed of Europe’s top online casino games and sports betting operators, some of which are listed on the stock exchanges of London, Vienna and Stockholm.

The target of the organization are definitely in vulnerablity in Belgium as that country has decided to ignore recommendations from the European Commission and approve in principle. The Secretary General of EGBA, Sigrid Ligne, issued a statement, commenting on Belgium's disregard for E.U. treaty laws, “It is baffling that Belgium does not take into account the opinion of the European Commission that crucial elements of the law are in conflict with EC law requirements. And even more so with a view to the upcoming Belgian presidency of the EU; how can Belgium show leadership in the EU, if it blatantly chooses to ignore the EC Treaty?”.

A majority in the Belgian Parliament voted in favour of the law, Regardless of the objections were raised by some elected officials who brought to point the European Commission concerns including:

    * The requirement for online operators to be established in Belgium
    *The unjustified limitation of the number of available licenses
    *The requirement to have a server located in Belgium
    *Criminal sanctions on consumers wishing to play with EU licensed operators

Secretary General Sigrid Ligne went on to comment, "The law is not only highly questionable from a legal point of view," adding, "In the digital age, limiting the provision of online services only to those exploiting a betting shop or casino in Belgium doesn’t fit with reality. A high level of consumer protection can be achieved by specific and targeted legislation, not by protecting the operators with a vested interest in the current situation."

The new European Commissioner for internal markets, Michel Barnier, from France may have a difficult challenge ahead as he takes on the position from diligent predecessor, Charlie McCreevy. Legal action could be brought against the Belgium State by the E.C. when the law comes into effect.

Harrah's Entertainment Present: Caesar Casino Online

2009-12-06T23:04:00.000-08:00

During the time that the lawmakers in the US work on overturning the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, Harrah's Entertainment has quietly launched their new online casino. Harrah's Entertainment has been getting ready for introducing their latest online casino, and now it’s time for their Caesars Casino Online debut.

Caesars is one of the world’s most recognized gambling entertainment brands as many of you already know. Known for its style, ambiance and luxury, you can now enjoy those same aspects of this world renowned online casino. From the motto itself, “Harrah's Getting Set To Take Gambling Online”, and signed a long-term settlement deal with one of the most pre-eminent online gaming group, 888 Holding (Dragonfish) to provide Harrah's with online gambling services.

Caesars Casino Online is powered by Dragonfish and appears to offer a variety of games, including roulette, craps, Caribbean Poker, three-card poker, video poker, video slots and blackjack and offering a 100% welcome bonus for up to £500. As of now, it is not accepting players from the U.S. or Germany. Players from the United States are redirected to a page that lists Caesars' land-based gaming properties.

It is also offering comp points based on how much players bet. It is not clear if the comp points system will be tied into Harrah's Total Rewards. Since the original Caesars Palace hotel and casino was constructed in Las Vegas. It has been associated with the best and the brightest with having a forged ties with Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr.m Dean Martin, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Evel Knievel, and David Copperfield. Caesars Brand is now synonymous with indulgence, boldness, and prestige.

The superior quality that Caesars is recognized in online gambling as Caesars Casino Online establishes itself as a beacon to the industry as its sets the standards in providing an exceptional customer service and offering to its online clients generous online casino bonuses and promotions.

It has been a widespread opinion within the online gambling industry that Harrah's wanted to have their online casino up and running in preparation of law changes in the US. The company, based in Las Vegas, would most likely be one of the first licensed for online gaming should the US regulate online casino.

Bank Officials Wants Online Casino Regulations

2009-12-03T23:04:00.000-08:00

Some top banking official told Congress that Barney Frank's regulatory plan for online casinos and online sport betting sites would solve the difficulties posed the financial industry by the UIGEA ban.

Samuel Vallandingham, a Vice,-President of the First State Bank of Barboursville, West Virginia, and is also vice-chairman of the Payments and Technology Committee of the Independent Community Bankers of America said, “The added burden of monitoring all payment transactions for the taint of unlawful Internet gambling would drain finite resources currently engaged in complying with anti-terrorism, anti-money laundering regulations, the plethora of new regulations emerging from the financial crisis and the daily operation of community banks to meet the financial needs of their customers”.

Samuel Vallandingham also discussed the scarcity of exposition of illegal online gambling provided in the UIGEA. Because no overriding law exists, he said, banks would have the problematic task of determining each customer's legality with regard to hundreds of state, federal, and local laws. Moreover, also mentioned that the card companies have the advantage of merchant coding to more easily classify casino and gambling transactions, but also pointed out that coding depends on full disclosure by merchants, asking Internet gaming operators to essentially give themselves up.

On the brighter side, some online gambling providers supports the online casino regulations to prevent online gambling and online sports betting scams and other falacies. Like Youbet Chairman Mike Brodsky was amomng the staunchest supporters of regulation, even though the online casino ban supposedly gives the horse race betting his site allows an exemption from blocking of payments. Mike Brodsky said, “Illegal internet gambling in the U.S. is happening right now and is growing, The only way to put any controls is to legalize and regulate it ”.

Also the Harvard University Professor, Malcolm Sparrow support and said, “The U.S. incurs all of the social costs related to U.S. residents gambling online, Legalization with regulation would provide U.S. authorities the power to grant or deny licenses. ”

Last May 2009, Chairman Barney Frank introduced legislation to delay the implementation of regulations pursuant to the 2006-passed UIGEA, which are set to go into effect December 1, 2009. The regulations were completed by the Bush Administration at the last minute, and the legislation will stop federal regulators from enforcing the UIGEA until Congress has had a chance to decide national policy.

Chairman Barney Frank has also introduced H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act of 2009, that would establish a federal regulatory and enforcement framework under which online gambling operators could obtain licenses authorizing them to accept bets and wagers from individuals in the United States.

Bulgaria To Increase 12% Gambling Tax

2009-12-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Bulgarian parliament voted at first reading last Wednesday in favor of an increase in the tax rate on gambling activities from 10% to 12% as part of amendments to the Corporate Income Tax Act. Bulgaria Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, says he wants a higher gambling tax to make up forth budget for not increasing the excise on alcohol.

Moreover, Bulgaria Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov requested that the gambling tax is raised to 15%, no tax on hard liquor, precisely the traditional Bulgarian brandy known as “rakia". On the contrary, The conservative party “Law, Order, Justice” (RZS) and the members of the Blue Coalition had proposed that the gambling tax be raised from its current 10% to 15%, arguing that this should be calculated on a profit basis.

On the same day, the Council of Ministers confirmed that it has accepted only the proposal to increase the tax to 12%, on the basis of turnover. Some of the other taxation actions passed were a quarterly tax on gambling and sports betting. The Bulgarian parliament voted at first reading on November 4, 2009 in favor of an increase in the tax rate on gambling activities from 10% to 12% as part of amendments to the Corporate Income Tax Act.

The latest taxes come into effect in January 2010 as part of a revised Corporate Income Tax Act.

The Bulgarian Association for Entertainment and Gambling Games, which had previously advised that tax augmentation, could be the ultimate damage to fighting gambling companies repeated its warning that the augmented taxation could lead to the collapse of the business, and possibility of 40,000 jobs to be lost and government incomes.

The Chair of the Parliamentary Budget Commission, Menda Stoyanova, declared her support for an increase in the tax on gambling, while the Blue Coalition and the Party for Order, Justice and Equality (RZS) proposed that this tax be increased to 15%. The members of the parliament additionally adopted the proposal of the Council of Ministers to reverse tax concessions for companies having large investments in agriculture, general production, the processing industry, high technologies and infrastructure.

Concessions in the amount of tax paid would be proportional to any donations made to the following Bulgarian organizations: Fund for Treatment of Children, Fund for Assisted Reproduction and Fund for Transplants. The Corporate Income Tax Act bill will now proceed to the mandatory second reading in Parliament.

Former NBA Star With A Debt Of $900,000 In Casino

2009-12-01T22:37:00.000-08:00

Former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker has guarantted to pay more than $900,000 to put an end to bad check charges with 3 Las Vegas casinos and inhibit trial on felony criminal charges. The plan calls for Antoine Walker to pay a minimum of almost $13,000 per month over 5 years to settle a complaint containing from casino debts at Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort. The case contained from $1,000,000 in casino markers, or promises to pay, he racked up between July 2008 and January 2009. In Nevada, unpaid markers are treated as bad checks.

The gambling debts of former NBA star Antoine Walker have been negotiated and today at a court hearing Antoine Walker made his first payment toward resolving $905,050 owed to 3 Las Vegas casinos. Antoine Walker forfeited a $135,000 cash bond toward the debt today in Las Vegas Justice Court. Under a deal negotiated with prosecutors, Walker, who faces 3 felony bad check charges for casino debts at Red Rock Resort, Planet Hollywood and Caesars Palace, will pay a minimum of $12,835 a month to resolve the remaining $770,050 in debt.

A complaint charges Walker with 3 felony counts of passing checks with insufficient funds from July 27, 2008, to Jan. 19 at the 3 casinos (Red Rock Resort, Planet Hollywood and Caesars Palace). The complaint alleges he wrote 10 separate checks for $100,000 each, for gambling markers.

However, Antoine Walker never entered a plea in the case, which was filed last July. Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson agreed Monday not to order him to stand trial in state court on 3 felony bad check charges, each carrying a possible one- to four-year prison term.

The case is remaining in justice court as part of the agreement. If Walker misses a payment, it will be transferred to district court and set for trial. Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson warned against a missed payment, saying if Antoine Walker failed on his end of the bargain, she would send the case to district court “I can tell you at the point he stops making payments, I will bind him up so fast it’ll make your head spin,” She said to Walker.

US Wants Online Gambling Law Used Against Investments

2009-11-30T22:29:00.000-08:00

A Washington state senator wants to apply state laws about gambling to Wall Street. Us Senator Maria Cantwell says gaming laws could be used to oversee what she termed "casino capitalism." US Senator Cantwell wants to give state attorney generals the power to handle financial markets, a measure that seems clearly to fly in the face of the spirit and letter of the Commerce Clause. Using the popular conceit of the economic crisis as result of gambling behavior by investors, Cantwell wants to regulate derivatives markets that encourage speculative behavior.

Derivatives are seen as essentially betting on the market performance of primary investments. States have previously regulated gambling on stock market movement, going back to bans against betting on market trends at the turn of the 19th century.

"Las Vegas casinos were regulated but betting on Wall Street wasn't," says Maryland law professor Michael Greenberger.

Maria Cantwell wants laws allowing state legal authorities to examine and regulate derivatives markets left unsupervised by Congress. Her backers say the securities industry has contacted her to negotiate changes in law in an effort to persuade her not to use the gambling statutes as a method of attack on investments.

Venture-backed start-ups operating in the 3 most popular forms of online gambling including poker, horse racing and sports betting – stand to see major impacts from proposals winding their way through Congress that could legalize certain types of online betting. While the start-ups are keeping a close eye on the bills’ progress – and in some cases positioning themselves for possible major changes that most believe that any new laws won’t be enacted for at least another year, and possibly longer.

Gerard Cunningham, the president of Betfair US, the world’s largest legal online gambling company, isn’t confident that the bills will get their proper hearing in Congress soon.

“The challenges those bills face is the amount of things going on in Washington, They have other concerns now…maybe next year…maybe the year after.” Gerard Cunningham said.

Gerard Cunningham also said that the company saw revenue in the last 12 months of $50 million in the U.S. and more than $500 million outside the U.S. The company is experienced in understanding and navigating legal issues around gambling in many locales. It’s in a great position to turn on its online casino games in the U.S. if they are legalized.

Online Casino In Florida: Insufficient

2009-11-25T02:53:00.000-08:00

The aftermath of online casinos in Florida showed some unexpected prejudice in the reporting of a possible options to Governor Charlie Crist. As Governor Charlie Crist examine the potential effects of online poker rooms and online casino sites.

However, some of the writing has led readers to question what sources the gaming survey employed. The possibility of a law allowing intrastate online poker or online casinos, the committee noted that some gambling opponents;

An argue that prevalence of gambling addiction is three to four times higher with Internet gambling than with non-Internet gambling. Unfortunately, there are no sources are footnoted, leaving the reader the impression that such an argument can be substantiated by objective scientific research.

Last September 2009 as reported by the St. Petersburg Times: Governor Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe on Monday signed a new gambling agreement to allow the tribe to keep its slot machines and black jack games at the tribe's Florida casinos in exchange for $150 million a year in payments to the state.

Last week, A report requested by the state of Florida at the beginning of this year has been introduced to state officials. This report indicates the possibility of tax revenue up to $90 million that could have been generated each year by legalizing online poker.

For the preparation for debate scheduled on December 1st, the independent company American Poker Ventures brought its report to the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability last week. The research of APV was conducted with the help of UK gambling consultancy H2, which unveiled that its tax estimations were calculated according to total gross online poker rake of $226 million in the initial year of legalization, $331 million in second year and $457 million in third year, from which the state government could expect a 20 percent cut. The outlook of this kind of income is going to be tempting to a state badly putting its effort into balance its budget in difficult time.

The report indicates a single-center system that would be operated by a private operative under agreement with the state government following a certain process. Half the poker gross rake produced within state borders would be divided amongst the card rooms and groups with gaming compacts approached as licensees, with 30 % going to the systems operator, and the rest of 20 % going to the state.

Online Casinos In Poland Might Declare Ineligible

2009-11-20T23:10:00.000-08:00

The Polish Government had approved a draft on a law that would limit casino operations within the member state of the European Union. The law will limit different gambling options in several ways, but online casinos may be completely threw out of the window.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is determined to ban online gambling in the EU-member state. The new legislation will outlaw all gambling that takes place outside land-based casinos, including online casinos, while taking advantage of higher taxes on legal gambling operators. The ban would limit Poland's casino choices only to the ones that are already established. This would mean that no new permits would be issued to hopeful casino operators. Another portion of the legislation would also raise taxes on the current casinos within Poland.

The proposal would go beyond an online casino ban to also abolish slot machines outside of casinos along with higher taxes for gambling companies in the country. Moreover, the legislation would ban advertising for any games of chance. The online casino ban portion of the legislation will attempt to cover many different areas. The new laws could enable Poland to track connections between internet providers in the nation and those of international wagering websites. The legislation would also closely monitor online money transfer providers.

“We are proposing to ban a significant part of the gambling sector, We want to see this market shrink by 20 to 25 percent per year. Over the course of five years this kind of gambling should disappear from Poland.” The Prime Misnister Of Poland Donald Tuck said.

The legislation would gradually eliminate slot machines over a five-year period. During this period, taxes on the “one-armed bandits” would be increased from 180 euros a month to 480 euros a month. There are over 20,000 slot machines in and usually found in bus stations, train stations, shopping malls and fast food restaurants.

Tusk is also concerned about the potential threat of gambling on young people. The new legislation would make it illegal for anyone 17 years of age or younger to gamble.

Online Gambling In US To Recover Recession

2009-11-19T23:12:00.000-08:00

Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., president of the land-based casino organ American Gaming Association, said that he doesn't believe optimistic comments that the recession is over. He told the listeners that the industry collaboration is crucial; without it, the responsible gaming activities would have been futile. By sharing resources and best practices – and, perhaps most importantly, by sharing a commitment to responsible gaming – the industry has achieved tremendous progress.

“We know that the vast majority of Americans and Canadians who gamble do so recreationally without adverse consequences. By encouraging them to “Keep it Fun,” we remind them to play responsibly and to keep gambling what it should be – entertainment. ” said Frank Fahrenkopf Jr.

During his address, Fahrenkopf said there have been several positive signs the casino industry is on the road to recovery. Year-over-year gaming revenues are up in Colorado, Missouri and Indiana, thanks in part to more liberalized gaming regulations. New casinos have opened in Pennsylvania, and the state is looking at adding table games to the slot machine-only market.

"Without a doubt, the gaming industry is facing a long road to recovery, however, I consider these results a sign that there is optimism within our industry that we are turning a corner." Fahrenkopf said.

Fahrenkopf said also in his address that in a 2008 study from the Research Institution on Addictions at the University of Buffalo revealed just how frequently young people in the U.S. are gambling. More than two-thirds of the sample – 68% – gambled in the past year. Also, 11% of respondents gambled twice per week. This study also found that more than 6% of the sample included at-risk problem gamblers, and more than 2% already were pathological gamblers.

“We know that the vast majority of Americans and Canadians who gamble do so recreationally without adverse consequences. By encouraging them to “Keep it Fun,” we remind them to play responsibly and to keep gambling what it should be – entertainment. Ultimately, though the U.S. and Canadian approaches to responsible gaming differ, I believe that we both have made a significant impact. And there still is quite a bit of work to be done. We must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to ensure that people gamble safely and responsibly. I look forward to our continued dialogue and to the success and discovery we have still yet to achieve.” said Frank Fahrenkopf Jr.

Fahrenkopf said attention in the gaming industry is focused on what he said would be the biggest gaming industry story of 2010 -- online gambling. In the group's survey, 39% of the respondents thought the legalization and regulation of Internet gaming would dominate the news. There are two bills in Congress concerning the topic.

Online Gambling In Israel Seized

2009-11-18T22:52:00.000-08:00

Last Monday, a force of more than 300 police offices and investigators from the Jerusalem and Southern District Assessors Offices raided the homes of 36 suspects nationwide. Scores of gamblers have been summoned for questioning, and property worth tens of millions of shekels has been seized.

In a statement released on Monday, The Israel Police National Economic Crimes Unit and the online gambling taskforce have darkened the screens of online betting site betbet.us a formerly bet555.net online casino site, which generated $90 million dollars revenue since May 2007. During the early hours over 300 police officers and tax authority officials performed coordinated raids at homes of 37 suspected gamblers and seized assets worth tens of millions of money.

An elaborate hi-tech support network enabled the site's ongoing operation, police said, including a Web site construction team, a technical support team, and betting agents. The original investigation had launched due to suspicions over money laundering and organized crime. The possibility of more serious, violent crimes stemming from the gambling operation.

The police said that online gambling is one of the main activities of organized crime gangs in Israel. It also leads to other serious crimes, including extortion, violence, money laundering, tax evasion, and harming the public coffers.

In early 2008, intelligence was obtained that the chief suspect, a 38-year old resident of Or Yehuda was operating an online gambling site, bet555.net. The investigation found that the site had a turnover of hundreds of millions of shekels during the two and a half years that it was in operation. Profits rose from an initial 3 percent of turnover to more than 5 percent, amounting to millions of shekels. 70 million transactions were made on the website between April 2007 and June 2009, including both entering the website and placing of bets.

Twenty court orders authorizing the Tax Authority to seize the vehicles and assets of suspects had been made available before the raid, and 160 bank accounts have been frozen. "We employed techniques to monitor the Web site that are very similar to eavesdropping, Internet gambling is one of the severe crime phenomena among Israeli crime organizations, It brings with it other forms of serious crimes, like aggravated extortion, violence,money laundering, tax offenses, and theft of moneys from public funds." a police said.

Oregon In There Worst Gambling Revenue

2009-10-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

The casinos and lotteries in most states are reporting a downturn in revenue for the first time, resulting in a reduction in the money collected by state and local governments, according to new state data. The decline comes as states are rapidly expanding gambling in hopes of stemming severe budget shortfalls, and it indicates that gambling is not insulated from broader economic forces like recessions, as has been argued in the past.

And the most affected of the downturn here is the Oregon that has the largest percentage drop in its take in the nation over the last year. Oregon's gambling revenues dropped to 15.2 %, just beating out second-place Illinois, which had a 14.6 % drop, according to the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute Of Government.

The deterioration has led some gambling experts to wonder whether the industry is reaching market saturation, whereby a limited number of gamblers with a fixed amount of money to bet is being split across a growing number of gambling options.

States that have been invested in gambling the longest have been hit hardest. Illinois reported a $166 million drop in tax revenue in fiscal year 2009, from 2008; Nevada had a $122 million drop, and New Jersey $62 million.

However, unlike some states, Oregon gets all of its gambling revenue from the lottery, and in particular the high-income video slots you see in restaurants, bars and taverns around the state. A big part of the drop, of course, is the economic collapse that has hit gambling across the country.

The said recession has a couple of reasons why the gambling revenues are drop in an unexpected time is the ban of smoking in restaurants, bars and taverns that took its effectivity last January 2009.

The reduction in gambling cash is a particular problem in Oregon, which relies on the money more than all but 6 other states, according to the institute. However, despite the downturn, revenue from casinos grew this fiscal year, producing $2.9 billion in taxes and fees in 12 states compared with $2.7 billion the year before, a 6.7 % increase.

SEGA Enters Online Casino World

2009-10-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

It is always exciting when a new company play a part in an online gambling world. By bringing in a ground-breaking online gaming experience so, online casino players have an opportunity to range over a new characters, new exciting games for their enjoyment as the iconic console and game developer SEGA is planning to launch a new online casino and poker room. Coming in October 2009, the casino and poker room will feature their proprietary brands.

SEGA would be a powerful entry to the world of online casinos and poker with a wide range of characters, that a lot of people grew up with in the 1990s, that would be perfect for online casino game themes. Plus, SEGA has considerable experience both in technology and multi-media gaming.

According to a SEGA spokesperson, “The Alderney Gambling Control Commission provides the most comprehensive gaming regulations with the strictest requirements and as such is recognizes as the most reputable online gaming jurisdiction.” The sites for online gambling will disseminate the SEGA name, such as SEGAcasino.com and SEGApoker.com.

The online enterprises are licensed by Alderney and offer a “one user account” facility through the SegaPass e-wallet platform. The poker operations are part of Playtech's iPoker network.

The highly regarded online casino and poker site offers a full player facilities including 24/7 support, a loyalty program, player community activity through a player's lounge and both download and web-based gambling.

The SEGA online casino will be using their own software, and will be using the characters that gamers have come to know and love in their video games such as Sonic the HedgeHog, Virtua Fighter and House of the Dead - themes familiar to video gamers around the world that already being one of the top companies when it comes to video gaming, this could completely change the way the online casino industry is viewed.

Players will be able to look forward to playing the slot machines in order to see their favorite character. As always slot machines tend to have themes and many are based on popular video games, comics, and movie characters. So players, keep an eye out as Sonic runs across the slot reels. Hopefully the games will even have special effects based on the video games.

Harrah's Entertainment Next Target: Eastern Europe

2009-10-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

For the second time in about 30 days, Harrah's Entertainment has decided to expand more casino gambling by an international project. There may be a new level of casino gambling as Harrah’s Entertainment’s systematic takeover of the entire civilized Western world: it would appear that the world’s largest casino company is now creeping into Eastern Europe as well.

Harrah's Entertainment has signed a non-binding letter of intent with TriGranit, a Hungarian developer, to manage casinos and hotels that would be part of a $2.2 billion mixed development known as "Metropolis" outside of Bratislava, Slovakia.

Harrah's has made several preceding attempts to her foot in Eastern Europe, but so far has not been able to secure entry. A plan to partner with a Slovenian company to develop a casino there was uphold over last year.

“Under the plan, Harrah's would contribute less than $50 million to the project, there is still no guarantee the deal will go through. Harrah's involvement is dependent on TriGranit receiving the necessary governmental approvals to proceed with the development. Even if it succeeds, it could some time before the project breaks ground.” Harrah's senior vice-president of communications Jan Jones confirmed the report.

The “Metropolis” development plans covering a retail mall, adventure and water parks, a golf course and hotels and casinos. The project is slated to begin in 2010, and will take shape in phases over the following subsequent 5 years. Part of its first phase would be the openings of 3 hotels and a casino, slated for the first quarter of 2012.

Moreover, the “Metropolis” is planned for 74 acres outside Bratislava. It would be within 137 miles of 4 international airports that handle 40 million passengers a year.

Harrah's senior vice-president of communications Jan Jones believes the region offers an enormous embryonic market with access to gamblers from Russia, Norway, Italy and Austria. While gambling is legal in many Eastern European countries, few large casino resorts have been approved there.

Harrah's is still negotiating the financial terms of its involvement with TriGranit, which owns and is developing projects in 7 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. It was closeness to countries as diverse as Russia, Britain, and Italy, while enjoying much more lax government control.

Nicaragua Entering The Online Casino World

2009-10-14T00:56:00.000-07:00

Today, The Beneficial Holdings, Inc., a casino investment and management holding company, announced that it has contracted for getting hold of 7 gaming locations in Nicaragua that has light out an phenomenal number of press releases on its land activities this year, has propounded a progress in finding a white label online casino provider, constricting its search down to two companies.

The management has decided to ditch its bona fide intention to set up in Costa Rica owing to tax and regulatory changes in the pipeline of the country. Instead, it will focus on forming a collaborative venture with an established casino operation that already maintains the proper licensing for online casinos.

The Beneficial Holdings' press release last July 22, 2009, they had announced that they've planned on developing or acquiring a presence in the highly profitable online casino sector. The Beneficial Holdings' primary plans were to handle all customer service matters in house by way of a central location in Costa Rica.

However, during the past several months, Costa Rica's executive department has issued a distinct regulations that make it more challenging for gaming establishments to operate and, as to online casinos, they have issued a diversified highly-priced new taxation system.

The Beneficial Holdings are determined that the proper course of action would be to form a joint venture with an established casino operation that already maintains the proper licensing for online casinos. After viewing various proposals entertained by the Company, and after extensive due diligence and research, Beneficial circumscribed its search down to 2 vendors.

Each vendor would provide all programming and maintenance of the online casino, process all transactions, and provide various technical support. The casino would be built to Beneficial's standards and brand, while continuously providing a thoroughgoing access to all transaction data.

In exchange, the casino developer-processor would receive a commission ranging between 20 and 30%. The Beneficial Holdings is in the final stage of negotiations and expects to announce its final decision within the next 3 weeks. At that time, the Company will decapitate all the required contracts and proceed forward. It will take approximately 60 days to complete the online casino.

Online Gambling To Be Legalized In Illinois

2009-10-12T23:57:00.000-07:00

Illinois has become the most recent in a rapidly growing number of states looking to oversee online gambling within state borders. The state Senate is considering legalizing horse race through online gambling or by phone.

State residents of Illinois USA are now able to wager online. Lawmakers in the State legislature decided that it was a good idea to let people in Illinois place there bets from the comfort of their own homes. Approving a bill which had already advanced through the Senate will let participants bet on horse races at online casinos and sportbettings online.

Members of the Illinois Racing Board say allowing online betting that could raise as much as $2 million for the state, with less than one proposal, which awaits action by Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois horse racing tracks could partner with online casino sites, which would then act as electronic off-track betting parlors for the tracks.

All players could set up accounts and wager on races on their personal computers or hand-held devices. Losses would be deducted from the prepaid accounts and wins would be added to the accounts.

Under a related plan, officials at the Illinois Lottery have asked for an opinion from the U.S. Department of Justice about whether it's legal to let people pick lottery numbers and buy their tickets over the Internet.

Illinois online gambling accommodates players to place their bets and play online without threat of legal problems. Illinois residents have many options when it comes to online gambling. Online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms are how Illinois residents will do their gaming. Regardless of which route they take, big fun and perhaps reward is to be found through one of these venues

The US Department of Justice asserts that all online gambling is illegal, however, it was allowed on a number of domestic companies to take Internet wagers without intrusions and the all far off online casinos have met head on US investigations and prosecutions.

The lawmakers thought proceeds from the slot machines would bring an approximated $375,000,000 every year into state tax coffers. However, there is no comment that was contactable from the US Attorney General Eric Holder or his representatives.

Kansas Court Reveals That Card Games Are Illegal

2009-10-12T00:43:00.000-07:00

A Kansas judge declares that a card game known as "Kandu Challenge" is predominantly a game of chance and consequently illegal under Kansas gambling laws. The case went to trial last month with the accordance of Judge Timothy Lahey for the Sedgwick County that promulgated a written decision in favor of the state attorney general’s office in a lawsuit filed by the game's inventors and the owners of Highlands Gastropub and Cardroom in Wichita.

The Kansas attorney general’s office grapple with Kandu Challenge is an illegal poker game. Last June, the office ordered Highlands to stop running and advertising games or face legal action. However, the business owner Cobra Crew Llc and the inventors Three Kings LLC to sue, going in pursuit of a ruling that it is a game of skill and not illegal.

The Kandu Challenge's co-creator, Shane McCullough, had substantiated that it is a game of skill because players get a peek at the cards for three to five seconds before they are dealt.

The state had cross swords that Kandu Challenge is just Texas Hold’em poker with a different name, a different terminology and a rule modifications.

The inventors and club owners had sought an exhortation to ward off the state from prosecuting them for playing the game.

“All the elements of a lottery under Kansas law — consideration, chance and prize — are met after the completion of each game of Kandu Challenge as defined by its rules,The court finds that Kandu Challenge is predominantly a game of chance and prohibited by Kansas law.” said the Judge Timothy Lahey in his decision that all three elements of illegal gambling take place within the framework of Kandu Challenge therefore, he denied the request.

“We are pleased the court agreed with our view that this game was just another creative form of illegal gambling,” said the Kansas Attorney General Steve Six in a statement that he agreed with the Sedgwick County district attorney’s office, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission and the city of Wichita that Kandu Challenge was illegal.

The Highlands is the only business licensed to offer the game, but other businesses had begun offering the card game at their establishments, according to testimony.

Australia Rolls Out Free Online Gambling Counseling Service

2009-10-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

The Australian government publicized the concoction of an online gambling counseling service draw up to give help to problem gamblers anywhere in the country. Gambling Help Online will offer round-the-clock assistance to individuals seeking help for gambling disorders and troubled behavior.

The new initiative would help gambling support services to stride with new technologies, such as online betting. A new online gambling counseling service will provide support and advice to gamblers and their families across Australia.

The Federal Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said Gambling Help Online was an advantage of the Ministerial Council on Gambling (MCG), funded through an agreement between the Rudd Government and State and Territory Governments.

The free service will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So the online casino players have the option to look for some gambling assistance anonymously or to register so they can keep a record of their discussions.

“Gambling Help Online will provide a cooperative national approach to help people take control of their gambling, wherever they are in Australia, Making the decision to seek help about problem gambling can be difficult. Providing 24-hour anonymous assistance will encourage those concerned about their gambling to seek the help and support they need,” said Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin.

At the commencement of Gambling Help Online at St Luke’s Anglicare in Bendigo, Victorian Gaming Minister Tony Robinson said Victoria had taken the lead on the development of Gambling Help Online and was responsible for its ongoing management.

“The Government is taking action to tackle the personal and social cost of gambling by ensuring problem gamblers and their families have access to a comprehensive range of support services, Gambling Help Online provides a safe, confidential and non-threatening environment for problem gamblers and those affected by gambling to get the support they need to take control.” Minister Tony Robinson said.

Tony Robinson also discuss about the Gambling Help Online features to lead the way nationally on tackling problem gambling, introducing measures including:

Reduced maximum bet limits and spin rates
A ban on gaming machine advertising
Restricted gaming machine signage
Banning ATMs from gaming venues by 2012
A commitment to introduce a pre-commitment mechanism for gaming machines to enable a person to pre-set time or loss limits
Increased penalties for allowing minors to gamble
Mandated responsible gambling Codes Of Conduct for venues.

Gambling Help Online provides a free counseling service for people with gambling addictions. The counseling is confidential and non-judgmental. If gambling is a problem for you or someone you know, they can help you.

PokerStars Sponsoring The Irish Poker Championship

2009-10-08T04:08:00.000-07:00

PokerStars.com, the world's largest online poker site, declared that they will throw their substantial weight behind one of Ireland's major poker festivals, The Irish Poker Championship IPC, as part of the new PokerStars.com UK and Ireland Poker Tour.

The 5 day festivities will take place from December 10-14 at the Radisson Hotel in Galway, the €2,000 buy-in main event will be screened by 3 side events, each with buy-ins of €550, €350, and €250. The overall prize pool is approximated to be over €750,000, with the first place winner guaranteed €250,000, plus a free seat to the 2010 European Poker Tour EPT London event.

PokerStars business development manager for European events Kirsty Thompson stated, "The Irish Poker Championship has become one of the biggest events on the Irish Poker Calendar and we are delighted to be sponsoring it. Poker players appreciate good hospitality and a good party atmosphere and there is no better city than Galway to provide it."

One of the largest poker events in Ireland, and the world for that matter is, fittingly enough, the Irish Poker Championship. So, if you find yourself in or around Ireland, get ready for it! The 2010 event is right around the corner.

Several trailblazer poker professionals are confirmed to take part at the Irish Poker Championship, including Andy Black, Surindar Sunar, Jon Kalmer, Marty Smyth, Marcel Luske. Speaking of Poker Stars, they are sponsoring the Irish Poker Championship, and will be hosting satellite online poker events beginning one week from tomorrow into December.

Moreover, there are clubs and casinos to have a chance to join in hosting their own live satellites for the event. The Eglinton Casino, Galway and Pokerstars.com will provide assistance to organizers longing to run satellites to the Irish Poker Championship in the form of merchandise as well as publishing satellite dates and venues on the official Irish Poker Championship's website, www.IrishPokerChampionship.com.

This year's field is currently tops off at 400 runners but organizers foresee this number will certainly be beaten. Online qualification begins exclusively on Pokerstars.com on October 15th 2009. PokerStars players can also buy seats in advance online through their own player account.

Irish Poker Championship Schedule :

*December 10, 2009 Thurday, there will be a Player's Party at 6 pm and the 330 Euros Buy-in starts at 8 pm.
*December 11, 2009 Friday, the Day 1 Main Event starts at 4pm with 2,000 Euros buy-in.
*December 12, 2009 Saturday, the Day 2 Main Event starts at 2pm with 2,000 Euros buy-in
with 550 Euros Side Event Day1 (Day 1 of 2)with 50 Reg Fee at 7pm.
*December 13, 2009 Sunday, the Day 3 Main Event starts at 2pm with 2,000 Euros buy-in.
with 550 Euros Side Event Day2 (Day 2 of 2)at 1pm.
with 350 Euros Side Event Day2 (Day 1 of 2)with 50 Reg Fee at 7pm.
*December 14, 2009 Monday the Day 4 Main Events starts at 2pm with 350 Euros Side Event Day2 (Day 2 of 2)at 1pm and 250 Euros Side Event Day3 with 25 Reg Fee at 3pm.

Nova Scotia Gaming Ads Featuring Young Athletes

2009-10-07T00:18:00.000-07:00

In Nova Scotia, ads have been running that show young athletes playing their sports. The reason for the gambling ad is to show people that their gambling money is being used in a positive manner.

The children in the ads have received funds from gaming revenue to help in their training. It is part of the reason that the gambling system is in place, however, an anti-gambling group is making waves over the gambling ads.

A group speak out against gambling and wants Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation officials to step down after the lottery company featured a series of ads including youthful athletes. Although the athletes were not characterized as gambling, several demonstrators say just placing young people in a gambling ad violates lottery gaming standards.

The gaming company is owned by the province of Nova Scotia, and operates the lottery, as well as 2 casinos and video lottery machines. It is generally acclaimed as being among the leaders in responsible gaming, including its part in developing Betstopper software to allow individual PCs to shut off online casinos.

The controversial gambling ads showed regional athletes who sporting programs were helped financially with over $6 million raised through the gaming corporation. The athletes were shown as a display of how gaming has benefited Nova Scotia, not as an attraction to children to try gambling.

Nevertheless, GameOverVLTs director Terry Fulmer says the lottery operator is "Using underage and youth athletes to promote gambling." The gaming website emphasizes the company's commitment to community responsibility, and marks the more than $150 million provided to the province by gambling revenue. But the people against to the gambling ads say that Nova Scotia intended to trick people saying that video lottery machines aren't harmful.

"All the ads are showing is that gambling funds are being used to help the children of Nova Scotia, It is no different than lotteries that are set up where the funds go towards education." sai Darryl Grant, a gambling analyst.

Nova Scotia officials reckons that the Gaming Corp. is violating their own rules by featuring youth athletes in the gambling ad. There has been no comment yet from the Gaming Corp.

About Nova Scotia- HaliFax: Nova Scotia Casino in Halifax features an entertainment lounge, ballroom and amphitheatre.

There are More than 600 slot machines ranging from $0.01 slots to $100 machines with ticket-in, ticket-out technology with 32 table games including Blackjack, Roulette, Mini Baccarat, Let it Ride, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker and Midi Baccarat, 8 Texas Hold'em and Omaha Poker tables.

It also offers restaurants including Paradise Buffet and Trapeze Grille and Bar and complimentary alcohol in the designated high-limit areas.

Poland Sports Minister Quits Over Casino Scandal

2009-10-06T00:24:00.000-07:00

Poland's sports minister resigned yesterday over a lobbying scandal that has begun to drag through the mud of the image of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's ruling centre-right Civic Platform. The Sports Minister Miroslaw Drzewiecki is one of several high profile officials accused by an anti-graft body of acting on behalf of businessmen trying to water down a bill on higher taxes on the gambling business.

The minister, Miroslaw Drzewiecki, tendered his resignation after his name appeared on transcripts in connection with an anti-corruption investigation with the code name “Operation Blackjack”. The transcripts, of recorded conversations between a Parliament member and the owners of gambling companies.

Miroslaw Drzewiecki said in a statement he had done nothing wrong but that he had stood down to ward off the scandal harming important projects, especially the EURO 2012 soccer championship that Poland is due to co-host with Ukraine.

"I believe that when the media frenzy dies down and all the circumstances relating to the gambling bill have been clarified, it will turn out that I have been falsely accused, But I cannot allow this situation to affect the Euro 2012 preparations or my beloved Orliki project," he said, referring to plans to build soccer stadiums for children.” Miroslaw Drzewiecki explained.

The contemporary law foresees to aggravate taxes on the gambling industry to help smother the costs of the European soccer championships, which Poland will host along with Ukraine in 2012. Preparations for the tournament were obstructed by delays that led European soccer officials to consider relocating the event.

He has also affirmed that the casino bill will shortly come before parliament and that it will include hikes in gambling taxes to help net more cash for Poland's strained state coffers.

Yesterday, an opinion poll published in Dziennik newspaper had shown more than two thirds of Poles thought Drzewiecki should quit over what Polish media has dubbed "Blackjack-gate."

Political analysts said that the scandal is unlikely to undermine, which is underpinned by Poland's relatively robust performance in the global economic crisis.

Poland is the only European Union member state to escape recession. Regardless of a growing budget deficit, the government has signaled it will adjourn any significant tax hikes or spending cuts aimed at refurbishing order to the public finances until 2011.

Pennsylvania Succeeded To Expand Casinos

2009-10-05T00:08:00.000-07:00

There is no denying that the casino gambling occurrence is gliding across the US, and there is a main reason why it has nothing to do with revenue.

In Pennsylvania, the revenue potential of expanding the casinos are nearly $700 million annually, estimated $540 million from video poker and $156 million from table games.

In recent years, Pennsylvania has established off-track betting parlors for horse races, hitched the lottery to the multi-state Powerball game, and, in 2004, cleared the way for casino-style gambling with the legalization of slots play.

But Governor Ed Rendell and a number of legislators believe there is more money to be made from gambling.

Governor Ed Rendell would like to permit as many as 5 licensed video poker machines in every bar and tavern in Pennsylvania. He put forward to tax the proceeds to pay for tuition breaks for low- and middle-income students enrolled at state-owned colleges and community colleges.

A bill proposing the legalization of table games has been introduced to the state legislature, and the measure has received bi-partisan support.

With Pennsylvania, being a state which provides with high level of tax on gambling games, the investors are still showing interest in this place, because, this is one of the many proven markets.

Though several states specifically Las Vegas And Atlantic City catch a glimpse of to deteriorate the revenue in gambling, luckily, Pennsylvania has successfully had grossly gained 30% due to the expansion of casinos.

The expansions in Pennsylvania whip up over $172,000,000 in the month of September this year. By legalizing the expansions in Pennsylvania, the lawmakers have fabricated a worthwhile source of revenue, and continue to have hard cash that erstwhile had crossed the border to the Atlantic City.

In addition, the lawmakers have acknowledged the need for additional jobs in the state. Unemployment is up, as it is in most states because of the recession, and lawmakers see expanded gambling at casinos as a way to counter the unemployment rate.

However, casino owners in Pennsylvania are also faint-hearted that the budgetary pressures will make expanded gambling the softest landing spot for lawmakers worried about raising taxes.

BetOnSports Chief Withdraws Guilty Plea

2009-10-02T00:08:00.000-07:00

The former chief of Betonsports, David Carruthers, has been hold in custody for 3 years under house arrest, but after 3 years of being under house arrest, David Carruthers, decided to withdraw an arranged guilty plea just days before he was due to be sentenced by a US court on federal racketeering conspiracy for violating US' swaggering restrictions of online gaming including repeated mail fraud, Wire Wager Act violations, operation of an illegal gambling business and money laundering.

Carruthers declined comment after the court hearing, but said during the proceeding that he initially was unaware online gambling was illegal when he was hired byGary Kaplan in June 2000. Carruthers' attorney, Scott Rosenblum of St. Louis, did not return phone calls seeking comment. However, the company itself, based in Costa Rica, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in May 2007.

David Carruthers' arrest took place in Dallas airport after coming in from Bahrain. Carruthers was supposed to land in Costa Rica, where the operational base of the company was located.

The purpose and intentions for Carruther's withdrawal of his guilty plea stay behind uncertain. According to a spokesperson for the US attorney’s office in St Louis, Missouri, the prosecutors are not willing to talk about the case. The company’s founder, Gary Kaplan, along with other Betonsports executives, is still pleading guilty.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, BetonSports agreed to supply evidence and witnesses in the cases against Carruthers and the company’s founder, Gary Kaplan, in exchange for which the company was released from the threat of criminal prosecution.

This recent development is expected to catch on the hop the supporters of Carruthers, who have been keeping their fingers crossed on his return home on Friday, at which point he was expected to be permited to return to the UK having already been in U.S. custody for more than three years.

Federal agents have been investigating offshore sports gambling since 1997, and BetOnSports since 2001. After a short legal filing, the court has granted the “motion to set aside David Carruthers' guilty plea.” The hearing for the “change of plea” is scheduled meanwhile for October 14.

Delaware Sports Betting Appeal Denied

2009-10-01T00:53:00.000-07:00

The state of Delaware’s appeal of a ruling that its plan to allow betting on professional sports violates a federal ban will not be heard, a federal court ruled on Tuesday, reports the Reuters news agency.

Thomas M. Hardiman, one of 3 judges who ruled unanimously in August that Delaware’s plan to allow point-spread bets on individual games in all major sports from 3 racetrack casinos violated federal law and initially ruled that Delaware's betting plans infringe on a federal ban, wrote that the state's en banc petition was given to all active judges of the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals and a majority decided not to rehear the case.

The state has one more avenue of appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court. However, Governor Jack Markell's spokesman called that route as "unlikely". Instead, for the predictable future and maybe permanently, Delaware will be limited to "parlay" bets on the outcome of at least 3 National Football League NFL games.

The state's 3 racetrack casinos have been offering such wagers at their betting parlors since Sept. 10, opening day of the NFL season. Governor Jack Markell did not comment straight away. But in a written statement, legal counsel Michael Barlow.

Michael Barlow said, "Obviously, we are disappointed with today's ruling. We realize that it is rare that the Third Circuit will hear cases with all 12 active judges, but this was an important issue for the state of Delaware and we thought the state should have a chance to make its case at trial."

Governor Jack Markell spokesman Joe Rogalsky said the state was still reviewing its options, but was unlikely to appeal to the only higher judicial body, the Supreme Court.

"I'm extremely disappointed," said Bill Fasy, president of Delaware Park, which along with Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway spent a total of about $15 million on fancy sports betting venues at their casinos.

"In the big picture this is a blow to any potential growth in our already saturated market." While Delaware, which expects to bring in for about $249 million in state revenues from its casinos this year and also preparing to offer table games such as blackjack and roulette in the spring that Atlantic City casinos have long offered them.

Delaware sports gambling will be limited to parlay bets on the outcome of at least 3 National Football League NFL games. About $946,000 has been bet so far.

Massachusetts Casino Will Hold Over Until 2010

2009-09-30T00:51:00.000-07:00

The legislators in Massachusetts have been announcing foregoing of casino gambling for some time, but now it's being aforementioned that any contemporary law will likely have to wait until 2010.

However, the government took a firm stand that they were desperate for revenues to fund a very indispensable services that are seeming to find endless detours on the route to expanding gambling to create those revenues, and Massachusetts is no exception.

As Robert DeLeo, the State House Speaker is now saying that there's a contemporary law licensing casinos in Massachusetts probably won't be finished until after the holidays. He put out the statement at the end of the meeting with Senate President Therese Murray and Governor Deval Patrick. All three have announced support for the use of casinos and gambling to generate state revenue.

Last June 2009, when the deliberation comes as Governor Deval Patrick signs a fiscal 2010 budget sharply cutting government services and also raising the sales tax by 25%. Gambling upholders said that those moves underscore the importance of capturing some of the estimated $900 million in revenue thought to be gambled each year by Bay State residents at Connecticut casinos.

Massachusetts Speaker Robert DeLeo said Monday that House lawmakers could vote on legislation to expand gambling before the end of the year — the surest signal yet that casinos or slot machines may be coming to the state.

However, a bill by the Representative of Massachusetts, Barney Frank that settling online gambling is bog down by the need to first address the economy, so too does the state measure find itself blocked by more urgent concerns.

Governor Deval Patrick says that the casino debate shouldn't be triggered while attention is still needed to target on economic repossession.

On the other hand, Robert DeLeo did said that there would be a public hearing being held in October, to answer questions as to what gaming options lawmakers are examining and measure public concerns.

Robert DeLeo said that there are too many alternatives need to be weigh up the pros and cons to properly prepare a bill for the fall agenda. The number of licensed casinos, where they would be placed, tax rates, and the suggestion to locate slots at race tracks all are to be considered.

888's Successful Deal In South Africa

2009-09-29T00:32:00.000-07:00

Online gaming company 888 has come into the limelight again after its second deal in a month. As 888’s business-to-business division has signed a joint venture with Tsogo Sun Gaming Group, of South Africa, which will help the brand expand into online gambling.

A collaborative company will be formed ahead of the launch of sport betting. This will be followed with the launch of online casino, online poker, and bingo products.

888 said the deal was the first of many such future partnerships in regulated markets. It follows news earlier this month that 888's software was to be used by a renowned US casino Harrah's Entertainment in its expansion into the UK.

As the Senior Trader of Accendo Market, Charlie Menegatos stated, “We have noted the consistent progress at 888's B2B division Dragonfish in sealing affiliate deals and generally expanding the reach for the company as a whole”.

On the other hand, Gabi Campos, managing director of 888 Dragonfish said of the partnership, "This partnership is the first of many targeted at regulated markets, where Dragonfish's partners operate under local licenses and enjoy the benefits of such regulatory arrangement"

Dragonfish will supply back-end services such as business analytics, customer relationship management, call center, payment processing and technology. The company will market the 888 brand in the country as well as a newly-developed brand for Tsogo Sun Gaming.

The Tsogo Sun Gaming has a notable reach across a wide turnout of people in South Africa, with average annual footfall across the group's 7 casinos go beyond the bounds of 21 million people.

The chief financial officer of the Tsogo Sun Group Marcel Von Aulock said, “Tsogo Sun Gaming is a dynamic and innovative leader of gaming in South Africa so our move into online gaming is a natural progression for the business. Dragonfish has a proven pedigree in online gaming technology delivery and this partnership provides an excellent platform to expand our offering.”

Through the help of the mutual partnership, the shares in 888 Holdings rose 1% in early trading this morning and the South Africa has been in the process for corroborating online gambling regulations now.

New Lottery Tax Hits New Hampshire

2009-09-28T00:13:00.000-07:00

Federal taxes always take off large sums off the top of lottery winnings, however, New Hampshire has added a new series of taxes to lottery winnings. New Hampshire has decided its large cut of lottery sales isn't enough, and now taxes gambling winnings an additional 10%.

A letter published in the Nashua Telegraph emphasizes the dilemma that the government can cause for themselves by attempting to drain even more from gambling.

In the letter of Leonard Jean, a current Florida resident from New Hampshire, Jean but he still getting hold of his Powerball tickets from the Granite State, as a show of his loyalty to the state. However, now that the New Hampshire is dealing with a 10% tax on winnings greater than $600, he is reconsidering his choice.

That means, any player winning over $600 dollars will also be subjected to a state tax, amounting to 10% of the winnings. While not much, the 10%, on top of the federal tax level of almost half of the winnings of a bunch sum is excessive.

The New Hampshire, though a small state, had faced a hefty revenues from the lottery. Though this came from the sales of the tickets rather than taxes collected, the recent addition to the state's government is likely to be found to be money-making.

Though some players, specifically big winners, may bemoan about the new tax, however, it is worth referring to that the lottery's proceeds fund the state's education system.

While a large numbers of players may disagree with the 10% tax, the truth is that it is here, and it will not be going away.

What do you do if the state you live in is scheduled to implement a new 10% tax on lottery winnings? Will higher taxes have the wrong effect- and reduce its revenue to the state?

Lottery's revenue have seen a fall off in recent months, and while New Hampshire's sales remain strong, this new 10% lottery tax may prove to be a burden rather than a cash crop. It is tounge-in-cheek, however, that the state who's motto "Live free or Die" would inflict such a tax.

UK Online Gambling Revenues On The Rise

2009-09-25T00:35:00.000-07:00

According to several recently released reports, the online gambling industry can look forward to a period of explosive growth.

In spite of the US ban in online gambling, the outlook for UK online gambling is a bright one with the market forecast to grow rapidly this year and according to figures extricated by the United Kingdom's Gambling Commission, the online gambling market whipped up over $1.4 billion in revenue last 2008. The numbers were collected utilizing reports from a number of government agencies, as well as regulatory reports submitted by online casino operators.

By the team up of all UK gaming industry created profits to a greater extent of $ 15 Billion on both betting and gambling grand total by casino lovers amounting to $134 Billion it's nearly the amounts came from the National Lottery.

During this period and in addition to the impact of the UK online gambling sites, the market has benefited from other developments too. The latter has certainly proved beneficial to the UK's online gambling which have enjoyed an immense growth rate in the net expenditure for 8 consecutive years.

The Gambling Commission also took into account that all licensed online casino sites increased from 300 to 328. Moreover, the commission pay attention to majority of gaming sites that are based and controlled overseas, a detailed quality by tons of gambling analysts to the high taxation to domestic operators.

However, the asymmetrical business conditions here have gave rise to different leading casino operators, in such online casino sites as William Hill and Ladbrokes and any other online casino gambling sites will be hoping for is that their peak at least remains its existing share in the world of the gambling industry and to aim its operations in other jurisdictions.

Online gambling in the UK, which encompasses; casino, bingo, poker rooms and even sports betting sites, holding up a 7800 jobs with over 6 million player accounts were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the UK - it's much more positive to the gambling industry that has been the major broadening to which online gambling services are now accessible.

Luckily, UK online gambling remains both a safe bet and a largely untapped market that is growing at a healthy entertainment.

Colorado Casino's Revenues Declined

2009-09-24T00:11:00.000-07:00

There is a strong sentiment around the country that economic hard times brings more problem gambling. Experts will claim that people try and get financial freedom by gambling, but revenue figures from casinos around the country do not support this claim.

However, the Colorado revenues saw a subtle rise from gaming sources last July and August from the accomplishment of looser gambling restrictions at state casinos. But for now, a jump in problem gambling forecast by some gambling rivals go on the blink to materialize.

In the month of July, the income of three casinos in Colorado attained $76.2 million after its minimum bet by adding an online casino games such as roulette and craps and authorizing a 24/7 operation. However, in the month of August, it falls off into $69.2 million.

The Black Hawk, that consists of 20 casinos had a record $54.4 million in July adjusted gross proceeds (AGP), up 19.11 percent from $45.7 million in July 2008.

The Cripple Creek with 16 casinos reported a $15 million in AGP for July which resulted being the third-best month ever for the town’s casinos — up 8.8 percent from $13.8 million in the prior-year month. Revenues rose 26.1 percent from $11.9 million in June.

The Central City with 6 casinos generated a $6.6 million in July revenues, up 9.2 percent from $6 million for the same month of 2009. Last month’s AGP increased 29 percent from $5.1 million in June.

Its history back when in the month of February 2008, the revenue was $715.8 million in 2008, down from $816.1 million in 2007.

Gambling revenue is calculated by the division as adjusted gross proceeds, which is the amount wagered by bettors less payouts by casinos.

AGP does not include non-gambling revenue sources, such as food and beverages. The gaming-division figures do not include the state’s tribal casinos.

Most of the state's share of revenue from the enhanced gambling is to support Colorado community.

According to the Center for Dependency, Addiction, and Rehabilitation, they initiated an increase and expecting in problem gambling-related several phone calls never took place. But in some manner, the executive director of the center, Franklin Lisnow, sees the good news as not so good.

The recession, contrary to what many believe to be true, is causing less gambling in the US, not more.

Online Casinos Are Now Accepting Payments Through Phone Bills

2009-09-23T00:26:00.000-07:00

An expanding method of depositing funds in online casino accounts for U.S casino players is using a service that places the charge for the deposit amount on home phone billing!

This ground-breaking method to fund online casino accounts, without worrying about filling credit card or bank account information to third-party processors. Just through a land-line home phone, online casino players can now use 900Pay to place up to $50 into online casino accounts per transaction.

When you're ready to play, simply choose 900Pay as your method of payment, enter the amount you wish to deposit, and then from there you'll be asked to read a list of terms and conditions and then click to get under way and wait for verification.

With 900Pay, all you need to have is a telephone to call and securely bill the cost of the purchase to your phone bill. There are no hidden fees or long-distance charges when using 900pay. 900pay is currently available in the United States and Canada only.

Online casinos will allow you to deposit up to $5000 per month to be made. Some online casinos and online gambling sites are required to have a 900Pay depositing be made through ewalletxpress accounts. The ewallet service is a sister company of 900Pay, which both owned by Navaho Networks.

Withdrawals from online casino accounts set up through 900Pay are paid by bank draft. The phone payment method duck out of the hassle of deciding which credit cards will allow gaming deposits, a task sure to grow more difficult with the looming implementation of the UIGEA.

You can then choose to fund your account with 900Pay. Once this is done, you can simply transfer to your favorite online casino sites with no problems. This is actually a very safe and effective method.

To check it, there is a toll-free test. All you have to do is to call 1-900-993-4141 to find out whether you can get through to 900-numbers. In a case that 900-calls are blocked on your line, all you have to do is to contact your phone company to have this feature changed.

Lucky 18 Casino: Blacklisted!

2009-09-22T00:12:00.000-07:00

As a side effect to the growth of online casinos, a number of unethical operators have unfortunately found out that online gambling can be used for their own ends.

Such casinos are not always easily spotted, as many of them actually have a very professional provision and look. Some online casino use certain hoax over and over again, while others constantly make up new reasons and explanations to dodge paying legit winnings to a customer.

Luck 18 casino was then one of the best reputable online casino, however, a shocking news came up, as they were in the blacklisted and now one of the list of the most fraudulent and dishonorable online casinos.

The draw conclusions here is that they have not been paying their winning players. Not paying out to players has consent to them to increase their signing bonuses and bring about interest in their site.

Sadly, the Lucky 18 Casino is charged by two distinct players who tried to cash out with their winnings and were not met with a response. They are now operating under Real Time Gaming software, who have picked up the problem and may end up having to constraint them to pay their players.

Surely this knowledge has affected traffic to the site and with good reason. Until this is resolved, staying away from Lucky 18 Casinos seems to be the best option for online gamblers.

About Luck 18 Casino: Launched in 2008, Lucky 18 Casino is offering online casino games through Real Time Gaming software interface and have a well designed casino and website.

Emails are getting ignored by them and Lucky 18 Casino appears to be a "deposit only" casino anymore.

The casino offers over 100 games, and the picture bar near the bottom of the homepage illustrates some of the games grouped as Craps, Roulette, Slots, Video Poker and Blackjack. By clicking on the image of the games, you’ll get two text links offering you to play either for Real Money or in Practice Play mode.

Lucky 18 Casino claims to be a "self-standing online casino with no ties or connections to another operator".

European iGaming Congress' 3 Day Online Gambling Fair

2009-09-21T00:39:00.000-07:00

The perfect place to hear more and discuss the arising i-Gaming business opportunities. With the Nordic countries always at the forefront of the gaming industry.

The World’s biggest iGaming congress provides more conference and expo hours for EiG 2009. The world's largest iGaming congress is a must-attend affair for professionals in the European dealing with online gambling industry, as confirmed by the most contemporary expo that took place from September 15-17, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Pulling a strong assemblage of the online gambling industry's most primary professionals and the foremost names in the business, not to mention a large numbers of up-and-comers and full-time industry affiliates, EiG Expo endures to merge the European online gambling industry.

These happened at 3 consecutive days of panel discussions, networking sessions and talk-backs, EiG's 2009 itinerary offered a little of everything.

At day one, the discussions are included with multiple "speed networking sessions", a welcome address and opening keynote emphasizing global business, presided by eCOGRA's active Chariman, Micheal Hirst, an "Industry Pioneers" panel discussion that numbered among profitable information about investing in the European online gambling industry, and a network launch of Bodog's new online poker network.

At day two was the most expected of the expo, offering panel discussions that included a "State of the Industry" conference with CEO's of leading online gambling brands, such as Party Gaming, Bwin, 888, Betfair, Ladbrokes and William Hill, giving a full day of strategic marketing panel discussions concerning to achievement and ownership new markets, legal & business affairs, as well as online marketing and affiliate activities and the same covered over the coures in day three.

The top leaders of the online gambling industry were pretty optimistic that the U.S. would also turn its policies around and open the door in legislation to oversee online gambling in the near future.

While the big-time names in an online betting industry invest their resources into markets that will either make or break the online gambling industry's fullest capacity, it's the players who keep on making wagers and keeping the industry in business.

The online gambling industry can move forward as a whole, offering a quick look into the future of the state of online gambling and it is here to stay.

Anette_15 Of Betfair's Ad Banned For Age Confusion

2009-09-18T00:35:00.000-07:00

The advertisement for Betfair flaunted a photo of a young woman with the tagline “Online experience is measured in games, not years. Join the new breed. Annette_15″.

“It was likely to have particular appeal to children and young people, and that, by representing a successful young poker player with the implication she was 15 years old, it could encourage young people to gamble and was therefore irresponsible” as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ratify a complaint against Betfair's online gambling ad.

The advertisement was sent out in an email for an online poker site and pointed out that Annette Obrestad, who is genuinely a 20 years old and a poker champion. “Annette_15” is her online nickname.

The ASA says Betfair's advertisement using World Series of Poker Europe winner Annette Obrestad might confuse children because it uses her online ID, "Annette_15."

The ASA also challenged the ad as contrary to a Committee of Advertising Practice code which states no one under 25 can appear in a gambling ad in the UK.

Betfair argued it did not target its marketing at under 18-year-olds, Obrestad is currently 20, and won the WSOPE at age 18. But the ASA's written requirements demand all persons appearing in gambling marketing be at least 25.

Betfair responded that Obrestad was chosen because of her standing as a poker professional and champion who had had a profound effect on the game. The online gambling operator precluded her young age was in any way a factor in her selection.

Despite claiming it would effect Obrestad's dexterity to extract earnings from sponsorship deals, Betfair stated a comprehensible instructions that had been given to its marketing department not to use her again in marketing material directed at UK consumers.

"We noted the code stated that no one under 25 years of age should be featured gambling in a marketing communication, or playing a significant role, Because Ms Obrestad was 20 years old and because, as a professional poker player, she played a significant role in gambling in the ad, we concluded the ad breached the provisions of the code." Said the ASA.

Top Class Gambling Companies Thrash Out Risk and Opportunities

2009-09-17T01:04:00.000-07:00

The crowd turned out for the first panel discussion of second day of the European i-Gaming Congress in Copenhagen' Bella Centre by listening to the 7 of the industry's top class executives spout to a series of issues affecting the forthcoming of the gambling industry.

Gigi Levy, the 888.com's CEO pointed out that a world of some $350,000,000,000 still encompassed only an 8% online gambling leaving a plenty of room for diffusion.

The panel be composed of Gigi Levy of 888.com, Petter Nylander of Unibet, Norbert Teufelbeger of Bwin, David Yu of the Betfair, Ed Andrewes of Ladbrokes eGaming, Jim Ryan of Party Gaming and Henry Birch of William Hill online casino. The common consent seem to be that legal and regulatory developments and the world's markets legally and "through the front door".

"Regulation, and in particular the recent ECJ verdict, is the big thing facing us, it is the one thing that could change the industry altogether on the European side." As Gigi Levy pointed out on the recent ECJ ruling in favour of state monopolies under certain circumstances in the Bwin case.

"This will benefit local operators too, and will create a very tough time for the pirates,” Norbert Teufelberger of Bwin stated that despite the fact that the face value, The ECJ ruling was not helpful to his company, instead he remain idealistic about European's regulation.

He also plead for online gambling on one factor of the court's finding, and that is the e-gaming was dangerous. Describing that this is totally off target. He also believed that by protecting the monopolies may lead on pirate operators like in Holland.

"Consumers have created the markets already," he said. "Now the [various] governments have been left to catch up." Unibet's representative, Petter Nylander says that the customers don't want monopolized state gambling as is declared by incessantly developing demands regardless of the restrictions.

They also discussed the circumstances of America, clear enough to know that if legal hindrances could be prevail over and go on to the biggest market and allured to lots of companies.

Like other members of the panel, Gigi Levi seemed to hold the view that ultimately the US market would be regulated, presenting great opportunities but the danger of a protectionist system in a commercial sense.

He also reveled that >888.com had had to undergo a tough investigation and approval processes before being chosen recently as Harrah's Interactive's software partner in Europe.

Jim Ryan of Party Gaming keep an eye on the Harrah's deal would not be the last in the American context, and in the wake of his company's exemption from prosecution deal regarding pre-UIGEA activities, he appeared confident that Party Gaming would be back in the USA through one form of deal or another in the future.

Henry Birch said the US market was appealing, perhaps through partnership deals, but that he was prudent regarding the possibility of a protectionist and discriminatory approach to licensing.

Betfair has already secured a footprint in the USA through its deal with horse-racing group TVG, said David Yu, dwelling on his company had a conservative approach to legal issues. He said that the demand from consumers was clearly there.

Ed Andrewes said that Ladbrokes focus remained on the UK market, but that it would not ignore partnerships that might open up the possibility of US business.

Norbert Teufelberger discoursed questions on the Asian market, revealing that his company was making a multi-million dollar, within a 3 year effort in the region and was trying to entice governments to regulate online gambling.

"We need to keep building - the potential is there", Gigi Levy said that online games spend in the USA was probably of the order of 15 to 20%, leaving room for supplementary development. Early generations now coming into the market had fewer moral reservations about gambling, and had a more clear-cut view of the industry especially in the poker and bingo sectors.

The panel also discussed stabilization and the ramifications of major media companies entering the industry, which bring about various of opinions.

Gigi Levy inclined towards the idea of integrated betting, Jim Ryan felt that a media strategy was momentous over the next 5 years, and Henry Birch and David Yu affirmed the possibilities but felt that online players had a strong inclination for known brands in the business.

The point was made that existing online gambling companies have had to flourish strong anti-money laundering and problem and underage gambling systems and were probably stronger in this field that most e-commerce or media companies.

The initiative, insistence on professionalism and legality and generally positive approach to industry issues was again clearly present among the panel members, providing the audience with stimulating discussion and hope for the time to come.

Delaware Adjures Ruling On Sports Betting

2009-09-16T00:29:00.000-07:00

Lawyers for Delaware last Monday appealed a federal court ruling that severely restricted the state's sports-betting plans. The legal move requests to bring back the Diamond State's effort to take bets on a line-up of pro and college sports and on single games. It grapples a three-judge panel madean acute fallacies when it's deciding Delaware could undertake only multigame wagers on National Football League action.

That ruling came in late August, just days before Delaware's 3 racetrack casinos were to begin taking bets they hoped would make the state an East Coast mecca for sports bettors. The federal appeals court and dealt another body blow to Delaware's plans for a new sports betting lottery, saying it must be limited to parlay bets on professional football games.

The appeal says that sports betting in Delaware would violate a 1992 federal ban on such wagering, basically obstructing the state's plans to start taking bets on September.

State officials had planned to offer single-game wagers as well as bets on other sports, but that plan was shot down. The appeal was filed last September 14, 2009. Lawyers for the state assert the appeals court ruling is opposed to previous rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court. Delaware was absolved from a federal ban on sports betting because it conducted an NFL sports lottery in 1976.

Delaware officials were looking forward to offer single-game betting on a variety of sports, not just the National Football League, because it would be more advantageous.

However, lawyers for the major sports leagues and the NCAA, led by the National Football League, sued Delaware last July and successfully argued that the state's plans violated a 1992 federal law that banned sports betting.

The law that was known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) , exempted Delaware and 3 other states, but only "to the extent" that they offered sports betting previously. Delaware authorized parlay betting on NFL games in 1976, but it was such a failure that it shut it down after one season.

The sports betting launched at Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway & Casino Sept. 10, but officials are unsure how much revenue limited parlay wagering will generate. The state was banking on tens of millions of dollars in revenue each year, and the tracks spent millions of dollars to upgrade existing race books that previously offer only full-card simulcasts.

Under a deal with horsemen, the racetracks will pay 9.6% of revenue from sports betting to purses. Horsemen receive 9% of revenue from VLTs; legislation awards purses 4.5% of revenue from table games when they become operational at the tracks.

Estonia Welcomes Online Casinos In 2010

2009-09-14T23:54:00.000-07:00

Technology changes quite briskly, and Estonia don't wanna fall off far behind. That is why starting on January 1, 2010 Estonians will experience to play online casino games online such as online blackjack, roulette, craps, keno, bingo, slots, video poker and more for free and real money.

A 1995 Gambling Act - rather recent, especially when taking into consideration such an outdated Wire Act (1961) that is somehow still relevant in the USA... - was recently updated by Estonia and will make online casinos legalized in the country as of January 1st, 2010.

The legalization of online casinos and online gambling in Estonia is a great escalation for the online casino industry. As hundreds of countries tag along behind one another's footsteps to legalize and regulate online gambling industry to become more accepted and more rewarding.

As Estonians embraced online gambling in a regulatory framework that welcomes rather than excludes foreign operators, but there are strict conditions attached:

Background and probity checks on the company and its senior management.
The implementation of precautions against underage and/or problem gambling.
Servers and other equipment within Estonian national boundaries to enable inspection as required.
Acceptable financial systems compliant with international requirements to guard against fraud or money laundering.

The newfangled Estonia Gambling Act will make out the licenses of online casino operators within the European Union. However, offshore casino operators located outside of the European Union will not be authorized to allow Estonian players.

Foreign casino operators will have to apply if they want a license to operate their online casinos in Estonia. Licensing will be based on a number of factors. In order for a gambling operator to apply for a license they must be properly incorporated and well funded and they must submit to a background check.

Estonian officials have warned that illegal online gambling activity with Estonian nationals will be regarded as illegal, and have implied that financial measures and ISP blocking will be deployed against illegal operators.

Estonia is going to enforce strict rules for casino operators to comply with to ensure their gambling license is valid.

Harrah's Online Casino Negotiation With 888 Soars High

2009-09-14T00:31:00.000-07:00

The 888.com, one of the U.K.’s second-largest online casino company, that soared high to 14%. The company’s Dragonfish business-to-business unit will provide poker and casino services to Harrah’s in “a multimillion dollar” deal, 888 Chief Executive Office Gigi Levy said.

The deal that they have signed is to provide online services to a unit of Harrah’s group, thus it could be the way of a potential re-admission into the US market.

“Harrah's leasing of online software from 888 subsidiary Dragonfish shows an acceptance by Vegas gaming operators that buying software may be a better route than developing their own product.” said Jerry Boyle, a Las Vegas gambling observer.

“It’s going to be the big U.S. players that take advantage of the situation,” he said. “The easy entry for us, being that all these companies require infrastructure and services, is on the Business-to-Business side.” Gigi Levy said.

As Harrah’s, one of the powerful casino company in the world, has been lobbying the US Congress to consent to already licensed gambling operators in the US to take online stakes from US residents. 888 have seen this as an opportunity to come into possession of an earlier foothold in the US market if online gambling is legalized in the States.

The 888 will offer support services in gaming and payment software for Harrah’s World Series of Poker and Caesars Casino brands their support services in gaming and payment software within the UK. 888 are also deliberating about business contracts with other US companies, and they are not in the casino industry. They are also looking to make an acquisition for the business unit in the near future.

It was surprising that Harrah’s preferred to partner with 888 that has so far declined to seek a settlement with the Department of Justice over its operations in the U.S.

888 is also discussing additional business contracts with a “few other U.S. companies and not just in the field of casinos,” Levy said.

He also count upon making an acquisition for the business unit “in the coming quarter.”

Free Beer For A Year At Vegas Red Online Casino!

2009-09-11T02:46:00.000-07:00

Oktoberfest is a typical party style, that's why Vegas Red online casino celebrates with their beloved players a FREE BEER! Vegas Red online casino players can win a year's worth of beer with their new promotion!

The Oktoberfest promotion runs from September 22 to October 5,2009 and all Vegas Red players who make a deposit of €100 of more will be entered into the special prize draw. Even better, the more you deposit, the more entries you can have, so if you deposit €300 you’ll get three entries. And all of this is on top of the usual deposit bonuses that Vegas Red offers.

If you choose to take advantage of the Vegas Red Oktoberfest promotion you will have a chance to win one of three prizes. First prize is a one year supply of free beer for a year.

That’s right! enough of the amber nectar for twelve whole months, and every drop of it will be delivered directly to your home so that you don’t have to worry! Should you miss out on that stunning prize, you have a chance of winning a stack of “Oktobercash” if you come second or third.

Players can win a top prize a lavish $3,000 cash for one lucky winner! Other prizes includes:

$500 for the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th place
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By playing in this very special promotion not only could you win and have enough Oktobercash to be able buy a year’s worth of beer but you could be the most popular person in town – the drinks are on you!

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The possibility of winning the free beer, on top of the huge winning payouts made by Vegas Red mean that members are enjoying an extra thrilling and rewarding month at the casino.

If you like your beer as much as we do, get yourself over to Vegas Red!

Kentucky Appeals Court Blocks Seizure Of Online Gambling Case

2009-09-10T01:13:00.000-07:00

A recent law suit in Kentucky has allured world-wide attention because it could create a very fraught with danger case – the application of local law to the domain name system and websites that are available globally.

The issue that started last September 2008, when a Kentucky trial court came into an order proclaiming to seize 141 domain names allegedly involved in gambling.

The Kentucky pleaded the courts to give it control of over 140 gambling-related domains in an attempt to obstruct Kentucky residents from accessing online gambling sites. There are a number of poker sites were named in the request.

The first judge in the matter agreed, saying the online gambling sites named had to block access to their properties by Kentucky residents within 30 days or forfeit ownership of the domains. A brief and successful appeal stayed the order, leading to the current hearing in from of the State Supreme Court.

The basis of the order was the allegation by the state of Kentucky that online gambling violates Kentucky’s state laws regulating gambling. A succeeding amendment to the order would discharge online gambling sites that installed a “geographic filter” restraining access by Kentucky residents.

Today, The Commonwealth of Kentucky has implored an Appeals Court for more time to respond in a highly disclosed case dealing with its flop attempt to seize 141 online gambling domains.

A Motion for Enlargement of Time is being petitioned in order to file for a Reply Brief. The ruling do away with an October 22, 2009 decision made by Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate that the declared online gambling domains could be seized by the state because online gambling domains constituted illegal gambling devices that were constrained by Kentucky law.

At first Beshear and the state of Kentucky seized 141 online gambling domain names, as they claimed that the online gambling sites were operating illegally in the state. However, an appeals court made the ruling that the laws in the state of Kentucky against devices used for gambling did not apply to the Internet.

Among the sites targeted online casinos and poker sites by Kentucky were PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, Bodog , Slotocash and several renowned sports betting sites. Leading the case against Bashear in court is the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association.

The Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association filed a lawsuit in opposition to the state of Kentucky, as they have claimed that the domain name seizure was unconstitutional. Kentucky has appealed the case the ruling all the way up to the Supreme Court and they will hear a build up in this case near the end of October.

Enjoy New Promotions At Vegas Casino Online

2009-09-09T00:46:00.000-07:00

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Online Casinos From British Columbia Put On The Market On 2010

2009-09-08T00:20:00.000-07:00

There's a whole new ball game on the go around the world in the online gambling industry. As Michael Graydon, the President and CEO of the British Columbia Lotteries Commission (BCLC), currently sent out a very thought-provoking press release, alluding to British Columbia Lotteries Commission's target to get ready for online casino games through its website, PlayNow.com by the year 2010.

The move by British Columbia to offer blackjack, poker, roulette and other online casino games will be the first such move in North America."Rather than it all going to offshore places like Antigua, there's an opportunity to keep it here in British Columbia," Michael Graydon said.

Michael Graydon also declared with confidence that the BCLC has what it takes to remain competitive with the most successful and established online casinos in business.

Moreover, The British Columbia Lotteries Commission also offers online sports betting, lottery and horse-racing bets. The inclusion of government regulated online casino is a new and conspicuous move and is the first of its kind in Canada, as well as the first in all of North America.

The move however is being debated, since the PlayNow.com website which is primarily owned by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation has divulged plans to jack up the weekly play limit to $10,000 from $120. This came with much high-priority press from various sources.

The changes was announced in presentiments of the online casino offerings. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation feels it will be able to gain part of the estimated $87,000,000 that gamblers in the province already spend on unregulated or taxed offshore operations.

In conformity with the introduction of online casino games in 2010, the British Columbia has also been rolling out a ground breaking responsible gaming program, which will number among online and television messages.

Other jurisdictions around the world are starting to catch on to the large revenue stream that can be created by online casinos. They are starting to believe it is better for them to receive the money, than some offshore operation.

Costa Rica Gets Everything Set For Online Casino Tax

2009-09-07T00:02:00.000-07:00

While the Central American country Costa Rica is a dwelling place of more than 200 online casino companies than any other in the world which cater to the North American sports bettor, online casino and poker player. By the bid to step up the aptitude of online gambling industry, The Costa Rica Finance Ministry is hoping to the Legislative Assembly to come up with a 2% tax on income earned by the online casino industry.

For several months of assertions that have been on going in the legislature both for and against the need for taxation of the online casino industry in Costa Rica. The Costa Rica Finance Ministry place confidence that it can bring about $100,000,000. However, due to the recession, the Costa Rican government is determined to get it right this time.

Two years ago, the Partido Accion Ciudadana lead off a bill that would tax sportsbooks and other electronic betting operations based on the number of employees on their payroll. The yearlong tax starts at firms with 10 employees with a fee of 10,000,000 colons a year and get through the top of the scale with a tax of 28.4 million colons for companies with more than 61 employees.

The only dilemma is when the Costa Rica began charging a licensing fee some years back, only a handful of the most reputable online gambling firms paid and the others did not and ended up to leaved Costa Rica.

Jorge Hidalgo, The Vice President of the Costa Rican Association of Casinos, said that the industry is among the hardest hit by the recession. "Activity has fallen about 35 percent, and in addition to that we have fewer work hours and have had to let go about 500 employees," he said.

Generally, there are about 250 online gambling firms registered in Costa Rica, and according to the US State Department. In the news, the online gambling companies are not constrained by either taxes or particulat licensing fees, despite the fact that they are out of bounds from acquiring bets from Costa Rican resident.

Rival Gaming Put Out Spy Game I-Slot

2009-08-21T00:56:00.000-07:00

One of the most amusing online slots in creation is simply called the I-Slot also known as an "interactive slot machine", the I-slots captivate players with an unfolding storyline that plays out in sync with the amount of time spent and success earned spinning the reels.

Rival Gaming’s new video slots game is the next generation in the I-Slots series with an outlandish graphics, a high definition animation and fascinating theme.

Spy Game still keeping up the high quality of slot gaming that they have been producing for the last 3 years. This I-slot has sleek, state of the art graphics, with a cool theme and great bonus rounds.

The game is inspired by movies such as the James Bond series or the recent Bourne Identity. As you start the game a few scenes of espionage and cunning are displayed to set the mood for the game.

The 5 reel of the game then appear full of guns, rockets, briefcases, high-tech gadgets and the double-0 agen and the shaken-not-stirred martini.

Spy Game is a 15 payline video slot. Players can wager up to 5 coins per payline. The coin denomination range varies from 0.01 to 0.50. The maximum jackpot is paid when five girl symbols appear in an enabled payline.

This jackpot pays 800 coins. If the combination is made with the help of the wild symbol then the payouts are tripled. And in free spins the payouts are multiplied four times. Hence the maximum payout that Spy Game can offer is 9,600 coins. At five coins of 0.50 each the maximum payout works out to 24,000 credits.

A growing handful of I-slot titles, Rival Gaming powered online casinos offer a complete gaming package with some of the best welcome casino bonuses suited for slots play. Some licensees, like Superior Casino, also offer bonuses that can be used to play table games, like Blackjack, as well.

The objective of this I-slot is to complete all the missions. It may seem strange to the novice to hear that a slot machine has missions. The I-slot is a new development in slot gaming, with evolving plots as the player spins the reels. SPY GAME has 3 missions that are played during the bonus rounds. Performing well in these mini-game bonus rounds rewards the player with very high jackpots.

The i-Slots have been recognized as the most ground breaking of all online slots. The games usually have outstanding graphics and the bonus rounds are second to none. Spy Game is not a take umbrage at already being considered among the best of the i-Slot games by insiders who have viewed the slot. As for "Spy Game", it will be available at all of Rival Gaming's licensees.

Play slots now at any Rival online casino and find it in the i Slot section. Spy Game is definitely one of the best online slots we’ve seen in a while. Go give it a try!

New Tournaments at Go Online Casino

2009-08-20T02:38:00.000-07:00

Have you been searching for a casino tournament lately? Search no more! Go Online Casino wants your attention. As the title states, Go Online Casino is offering new tournaments throughout the month of August. This company has really been so eager to allure casino players with their wow tournaments and wow jackpot prizes.

Starting August 21, various fresh tournaments begin. For a $10 entry fee, players can compete in a leader board competition on the Funky Chicken online slot and will have the chance to win the whooping 20k guaranteed weekend madness until August 25.

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Remembering a Legend would definitely be the big tournament at Go Online Casino. Speaking of a Legend, who wouldn't guess MJ or shall I say Michael Jackson? Yes, this will be an MJ-themed Event. Since his death, he's being fantasized again and his remnants are taken advantage in every way, including in the online casino business.

Though I am not certain to what Michael Jackson has to do with online gambling, but to Go Online Casino, it would all be business. MJ can never be forgotten despite all the bad things he has done, yet hearing all his remarkable pieces reminds us of his greatness and that is something we follow even if it requires us to play online casino.

Remembering a Legend runs from August 21 to August 29 following MJ's birthday. It's a freeroll tournament which means no entry fee, however there is a $9 rebuy.

11 New Casino Games Launched By Casino Plex

2009-08-19T03:15:00.000-07:00

The most sought-after online casino is high and mighty to shout from the rooftops nthe 11 new casino games into their far-reaching line up of games.

The games include a new and improved Video slot machines such as Arctic Treasure,Safari Heat, Sparta, Dolphin Reef, Azteca, Captain's Treasure Pro, and the Golden games.

Also added the 2 finest calssic slots like Reel Classic 3 and The Reel Classic 5 and a whopping new arcade game the Fortune Keno have been sum up to Casino Plex's Classic Slouts collection.

The game Sparta is one of the modern and up-to-the-minute online casino games launchs and the highlights of the game are Spartan heritage inspired. The 5 Reel 30 line video slot machine give the full works of a Spartan soldiers as the Wild Symbol and the Wild Card is an unravelled Warrior that is seen to be much more entertaining.

Moreover, the animations, graphics and the sound programs are without a doubt an out of this world!

Another game like Azteca will defintely take you on an adventurous escapade to find out and uncover the secrets of the ancient civilization. With a 5 reel 20 line slot machine game and some of the reel symblos include gold masks, aeroplanes, backpack and numbers and letters.

A lot of players will be dazzled with the graphics and sound effects and will get the drum into to next level of your gambling experience!

In the long run, the Panther Moon will take you into the jungle of Africa where lives a otherworldly panther. With the combination of black reels and a purple and pink colors that jump out the sleek and a highly endeavour teme. The animationsand the graphics are breathtaking that players want to win more to hear an exquisite superior sound effects!

About Casino Plex: Casino Plex is a new online casino and the best progressive slot games has already established a great reputation among players that is powered by Playtech that gives players an opportunity to live through realistic atmosphere of all their casino games.

Casino Plex offers more than 120 games, including all time favourites such as Roulette, Craps, Tequila Poker, Jacks or Better, Derby Day Horse Racing, Casino War, Blackjack,Wall Street Fever, Gold Rally, Cinerama and Queen of Pyramids.

Casino Plex accepts EUR, GBP and USD currencies and provides a wide variety of Payment Methods for players around the world.

Casino Plex offers an impressive 100% Welcome Bonus for joining, with a total maximum bonus of 100 EURO and a minimum of 20 EURO.

Casino Plex will have no doubts that this online casino knows how to entertain their clients.

Casino Plex is already paving its way as a leader with an alluring and enticing online casino site with an extraordinary graphics and user-friendly functions. Plus, the option to play just for fun is a great way to master online casino games and get a feel for what they have to offer without putting it all on the line!

Website: http://www.casinoplex.com

Welcome to the CN Casino News authority blog!

2009-08-18T04:37:00.000-07:00

This blog will bring you the most recent and update-to-date casino news, events and happenings wherever you are in the world. Plus, we provide you resources, recommendations, tips and anything related to casino and gambling. Be one of my daily visitors and be updated with fresh casino news available.

Lucky gambling to you!