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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.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.

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'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.

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.

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.

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.