Representative Barney Frank said that he would introduce legislation to lift a U.S. ban on online gambling.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, passed last October, prevents U.S. banks and credit-card companies from processing payments to online gambling businesses outside the United States. This led to the selling of their U.S. operations in companies such as Sportingbet PLC and Leisure & Gaming PLC.

Frank, while speaking to a group of bankers, said that his reason to repeal the online gambling act was purely libertarian. He said, “Why anyone thinks it is any of my business why some adult wants to gamble is absolutely beyond me.” He was largely supported by the crowd, as US bankers are the parties directly held responsible for funds transfers to foreign gambling operations under UIGEA.

Eric Goldman, the assistant professor of law in Santa Clara University, has ranked UIGEA as his number 8 Worst Internet Law in an article for InformIt. He commented, “Congress did not specify (in this law or elsewhere) what constitutes illegal Internet gambling," He further said, “yet the law requires third-party money sources to block the flow of money to illegal gambling operations. Thus, just like Kafka might write it, Congress deputizes private actors to block illegal activity without deciding for itself what constitutes illegal activity.”

For more related news, click the links below:

• Lawmaker wants to repeal Web gambling ban

• Democrat says expect online gambling bill Thursday

• Bill Introduced to Repeal Online Gambling Ban

• Barney Frank Pushing for Net Gambling Repeal

• US: Bill introduced to repeal online gambling ban

• Internet Gambling: Barney Frank to Repeal UIGEA with support from the European Union

Cryptologic has decided to de-list its shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ, and the Official List of the UK Listing Authority. According to the report, Cryptologic, the leading e-game software developer and supplier, it has also decided to cancel its trading of shares with London Stock Exchange's EEA Regulated Market.

The company will now relocate from Canada to Dublin so as to come nearer to its large European base.

For more news, click here

Aristocrat Technologies has released newest games in Cashman Tonight featuring Mr Cashman along with a Double Standalone progressive jackpot.

Cashman Tonight is the new extension of the most famous Mr Cashman brand. Sean Evans, Aristocrat Technologies' Vice President of Sales said, “Mr. Cashman has always been a hit with players and we're making game-play even more exciting by adding two standalone progressive jackpots with Cashman Tonight”

You can visit their site by clicking here

For more related news, click the links below

• Aristocrat unveils newest game concept with its Cashman Tonight

• Aristocrat Releases New Games

• Aristocrat Proudly Unveils Newest Game Concept in its Double Standalone Progressive Line: Cashman Tonight

Get ready to hit the gold at Sun Poker. A one week event has been organized by Sun Poker for its player. Golden Cup Series Of Poker (GCSOP) will begin on Monday, June 4th and run through till Sunday, June 10th 2007.

In this event players will be able to win prize pool and will get triple chips (4500) and 10,000 chips in the final event.  So, grab this opportunity and prepare yourself to get the gold.

For more details of the games, click here

Harrah’s, which operates 50 casinos in 13 states has signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with PokerTek. According to this agreement, Harrah's will make PokerTek its exclusive provider for live, player-banked, automated poker tables. Not only this, but PokerTek will now also be able to market a World Series of Poker brand tables to all its customers.

In a press release, Gerry Tuthill, Corporate Vice President of Table Games for Harrah’s said, "We believe that there is a market for automated poker throughout our properties," He also said, "Poker continues to boom and many players who have learned the game enjoy the fast paced action PokerPro tables offer."

PokerTek, which has got tables in casinos in Florida, California, Michigan, Arkansas, London, Australia, South Africa, has got a fully automated system which does not require any cards, chips, or dealers. It has a touch-screen monitor which is located in front of each player.

"The World Series of Poker is a prestigious brand and we're excited to work with it," said James Crawford, President of PokerTek.

For more related news, click the links below:

• Harrah’s Selects PokerTek as Its Exclusive Supplier for Automated Poker

• PokerTek lands Harrah's contract

• Harrah's Selects PokerTek for Automated Poker

• PokerTek Signs Agreement with Harrah's

• Harrah's Signs Deal With PokerTek

• PokerTek signs agreement with Harrah’s

• Harrah's Selects PokerTek as Its Exclusive Supplier for Automated Poker

In light of the vigorous state actions against gambling in the United States and in many European States, it is interesting to note that the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, speaking in the House of Commons after Machester's selection as location for UK's first Super Casino, said one must recognise "that in a world where there is online betting, where there are huge opportunities for people to bet, that casinos are not something that are against the proper norms of society but can, in places like Blackpool and Manchester, bring much needed private investment in (and) regeneration that will provide jobs and higher living standards." He was reacting after the government plan to establish 17 new casinos was rejected by the House of Lords on morality grounds.He announced that a new plan will come after the May 3 elections.

Read more:

Blair calls Manchester casino decision a 'pity'

Blair defends casino policy

Casino plans 'still alive' after Lords defeat

The Times Online reports that Betex, the Aim-listed IT company providing lottery scratchcard and gaming software to the Chinese market requested a temporary suspension in trading in its shares after two of its senior staff were arrested by the Chinese police, while a third is reported to be on the run. Their product is related to a service provided for China's daily lottery draw. The company believes that the alleged illegal activity "relates to conduct by these individuals and does not call into question the legality of the Company's software product, or the conduct of the Company."

Read more..

With the increase in number of the gamblers in the UK, doctors have warned the rise of health problems in serious and novice gamblers. They have also said that problem gamblers have increased due to the increasing number of casinos.

According to the BMJ paper, by Dr John Middleton of Sandwell Primary Care Trust and Farid Latif, a doctor at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital, “Gambling affects physical, social and mental wellbeing as well as creating debt.”

The physical health of the gamblers deteriorate too as they don’t take care of their eating habits. They eat badly neglecting the early sign of illness. According to the doctors there are some who even turn to criminals and become violent to their partners.

For more related news, click here

You always wanted to play video poker but you were not confident enough to try your hand at this game. Do you want a guide on how to play video poker?

Your answer lies here. Online-Casinos.com has introduced to the players a video poker training tool where you can play as many video poker hands till you are confident enough to play for real money.

The players do not even have to download as the game is available in flash version. What’s more, if the player makes any mistake, the poker machine will correct the player. When the player makes the correct move, green checkmark lights up and red cross warns the player that the move is not correct. The player can keep track of all the moves he had made and also reset the game at any stage.

Isn’t this a great news for all those who have strived hard in playing their hand in video pokers? So start learning to play the game here

To read more news on this, click here

A major crackdown in operation has led more than 100 casinos in China to close down. According to the China Daily paper, the number of casinos has now gone down to 28 whereas in 2005 the number of casinos was 149 mostly illegal.

Gambling has become a way of life for the people in China who even bet on horse races, football matches and the list is endless.

 
The officials feared that the casinos were misusing government funds and earning money out of it. Zhang Jun, from the ministry's anti-gambling team said, "We expect the number will continue to drop this year."  He also said that foreign cities have helped in banning Chinese citizens from entering their casinos.  In their early campaigns, the power and water supply to the casinos and phone lines were cut off.

To read more news on this, click the links below:

• China border casino crackdown

• China cracks down on casinos
  

The Silverton Casino and Hotel has become a Las Vegas Destination Resort with a new gaming lounge, casino expansion, spa, pool, additional restaurants, concert amphitheater, convention space, parking garage and a giant, 25-story hotel tower. Come June, and Silverton casino will begin its expansion and renovation costing more than $500 million.

Silverton truly has what it takes to become a Las Vegas destination resort. With 4,000 tropical fish, string rays and sharks, mermaid shows, 500-gallon jelly fish aquariums etc adds another feather to its cap.

The expansion is estimated to be finished in nineteen months and by the year 2009, all constructions will get completed.  The expansion is expected to be completed in nineteen months, and all construction is scheduled to be finished in 2009. Not only this, this casino will get bigger by another 30,000 square feet of gambling space, a 25,000 square feet restaurant, a $15 million spa and an 1,800 space parking garage.

For more news, click here

Gamblers like to believe that USA would soon make gambling legal in the country, or at least that is what a survey of kinds says.

777.com, an information  portal on online gambling carried a survey, and according to that, about 75% of gamblers thought within the next 3 years, gambling will again be legal in USA.

The portal apparently had an opinion poll where they asked visiting online gamblers to voice their opinion on the reversibility of the UIGEA, which was made effective from October 2006.

About 42% of people said that by the end of 2007, online gambling will be reinstated in the USA; about 25% were not sure. 13% of the people opined that the ban would be made void by 2008, and 9% voted for 2009 and the remaining 11% said that by 2010, UIGEA would not exist anymore.

Leading provider of interactive entertainment and technological services for soon to be released platforms including iTV/IPTV (interactive TV) and broadband Internet.

PixelPlay, which is a provider of interactive entertainment and technological services for upcoming platforms like iTV/IPTV have entered an agreement with online gambling company Slingo Inc., which has online casino games like table and slot machine games.

PixelPlay will be featuring some games developed by Slingo as part of an exclusive, international iTV partnership. Among various online games, Slingo Classic and 5-Card Slingo will be the first games on offer on PixelPlay's 'DishGAMES' subscription service on the Dish Network.

The government of China is soon to turn to moral policing as well. It will soon consign "virtual cops” to see to it that illicit activities like online gambling and pornography are kept at an arm’s length from people’s access to the Internet.

The move is expected to be effective by the end of June, when “virtual patrols” will closely monitor every major portal and online forums across China, reports Online Casinos.com

In the country, there are about nine other government departments and other MPs will attempt to dig out what the Chinese government considers "harmful material and information" and "illicit activities" on the Internet, starting this month.
 

Virtual cops occurred for the first time in 2006 in Shenzhen, where the police had a floating cartoon icon of a cop inserted on major portals and websites. The sites are linked to the local police stations and have an alarm system. The success of that program prompted the MPS to take it nationwide.

The move is also aimed to keep illegal online lotteries, contraband trade and fraud at bay in the country.

From the look of industry reports, it seems that 49er Casino has decided to close down, not merely from the US market, but all markets in general, says Online Casino.com. The report suggests that 49er Casino told its players, who desired to seek information regarding games, that its closure will affect all players.

Online casino.com further said that the casino’s message to its players is further supported by the fact that when other players tried to login with non-US IP addresses, they received error messages.

The casino news site further reports that online casino marketing affiliates were advised earlier this week that the RTG-powered 49er online casino would close its virtual doors to US players with effect from April 23 2007. However, it did not say that the casino would also close its door to the non-US players as well.

The casino’s marketing company stated that the recent changes in the last few months have made it difficult for it to process financial transactions to its players.

UKash e-wallet has made its launch in Europe, for offer online gamblers a chance to secure their services. Online casinos such as PartyPoker, 888.com, Bwin and Ladbrokes have already accepted this payment processor as a means of making online payments.

Ireland, Germany, Spain and the UK were original issuers of UKash, but the latter has expanded to include 16 additional European countries. Adding to its list are Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Czech Republic, Latvia, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia, Finland, Estonia and France.

To use UKash, online casino gamers are required to fill a pay-in slip at their nearest bank branch. Once completed, an email will be sent out with an individual 19-digit UKash voucher number, which can then be used at any top online gambling website.

Mark Chirnside, CEO of UKash said that after the success of UKash in the first there countries, it is sure of finding a strong ground in the rest of Europe as well.

A new Playboy Online Casino has been launched for Canadian and UK Casino players. Despite the law has been passed to ban Internet gambling, there has been no looking back for online casinos till date.

Heigh Hefner has introduced the all new Playboy Online Casino. This casino was released after the deal was made by Playboy UK with Cryptologic last year.

The players will be able to choose to sign up either as a “Guest Player” or “Real Player.” The graphics of the game including the flash across the screen gives a great look to their casino.

What’s more, there are two new games which has been specially added for this casino which features naked Playboy Playmates. The players also get a chance to win trip to the mansion. The other prizes include meeting Playboy Playmates as well.

For more news, click here

Pokerstars.com has announced that Edward Ihre has been chosen as the new Director, Partners and Affiliates. Ihre will now be expanding as well as identifying and optimizing the PokerStars worldwide portfolio of affiliates and commercial partners for new growth and opportunities.

Ihre had worked for Ongame/Safeplay Ltd and fluently speaks the language of Swedish, English as well as French. His responsibility would include the delivery of traffic to PokerStars.com through a variety of online and offline marketing activities.

" I’m thoroughly looking forward to joining PokerStars.com. It’s an exciting time to be working with such a well regarded and progressive company. We have a fantastic product and I intend continue maximising the possibilities for growth across the international marketplace," he said.

For more related news, click the links below:

• PokerStars.com Appoints its Latest Star

• Pokerstars.com Announces Appointment of Edward Ihre

U.S. government are still unsure about the legality of virtual gambling after FBI investigators visited Second Life's Internet casinos at the invitation of the virtual world's creator Linden Lab.

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world which was opened in 2003 and has a total of 5,257,253 people from every nook and corner of the world. Here the players can buy, sell, or even trade with other residents. It has its own economy and currency, known as the Linden dollar, which can be exchanged for U.S. dollars.

Reports have found that there are many casinos in ‘Second Life’ that offers poker, slot machines and blackjack. It has also been found that the three largest poker casinos are earning profits of a modest $1,500 each per month.

The surge in Second Life gambling coincides with a crackdown in the real world by the U.S. government, which has arrested executives from offshore gambling Web sites. There are some lawyers who agree that placing bets with Linden dollars likely violates U.S. anti-gambling statutes, which cover circumstances in which "something of value" is wagered.

Ginsu Yoon, Linden Lab's vice president for business affairs, said, “We have invited the FBI several times to take a look around in 'Second Life' and raise any concerns they would like, and we know of at least one instance that federal agents did look around in a virtual casino.”

Britton said Linden Lab could potentially face criminal charges under the 1970 Illegal Gambling Business Act or the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

Sean Kane, a lawyer at New York's Drakeford & Kane who has studied the legal issues of virtual worlds, commented, "If you're buying money on the Lindex (a virtual currency exchange) and utilizing it for gambling purposes, Linden could have a much higher level of responsibility.” He further said, “If they would be found in violation, that's difficult to say, but I can see a much stronger case being made."

So, let us wait and watch to see the consequence of this virtual world gambling.

For more related news, click the links below:

• Linden Calls In FBI to Probe 'Second Life' Gambling

• FBI Still Undecided on 'Second Life' Gambling
  

Everest Poker has received the prestigious 2006-2007 High Roller Award. It has received this award in the April issue of Gambling.com. magazine. The High Roller Awards are given by the voting by the Platinum Members of the magazine and also to those gambling site which offers the best experience to players.

Jonathan May, Everest Poker's property manager, said “We're extremely happy to be given this award. Gambling.com's Platinum Members are the true elite among online gamers and being recognized by them is an honor.”

He further said, “We'd like to thank all of our players for their votes. Without the support of our dedicated members, Everest Poker simply wouldn't exist.”

To read more news on this, click here

Javaid Aziz, formerly the CEO of IBM in the UK has been elected as the new president and CEO of Cryptologic Inc. He was appointed because of his extensive international experience. He has served 30 years in the information technology industry. Aziz is also the founder of a leading wireless application service provider.

Robert Sikeman, chairman of Cryptologic Inc., said, "In Javaid Aziz, CryptoLogic has chosen an experienced leader in both the management of an innovative technology company and a global business based in Europe."

"As the pioneer and leader of the global e-gaming software industry, CryptoLogic is one of the world's great technology success stories," Javaid Aziz said.

"I'm excited to lead the CryptoLogic team as we set a course for continued growth and expansion in the U.K., Europe and Asia."

For more related news, click the links below:

• Online Casino Software Provider Cryptologic Inc. Gets New CEO
• Cryptologic names new CEO
  

The World Trade Organization (WTO) published Friday 30 March 2007 a Panel Report saying that the US federal laws including the Unlawful Online Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was signed by President Bush last October and target the offshore casinos, are unfair as long as they are not equally applied to American operators offering remote betting on horse racing.

However, this ruling does not yet end the dispute between the mighty USA and the tiny Caribbean islands

Antigua and Barbuda. This dispute started 2003 when the WTO received from the twin-island an offical Request for Consultations under the title:

United States – Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services.

A Request for Consultation is the first official step in the Dispute Settlement Process of the WTO followed by the setting up of a panel consisting of three to five experts from different countries chosen in consultation with the countries in dispute.

The WTO members including the USA have accepted to apply the dispute settlement mechanism of the organization for settling disputes between countries related to trade instead of taking unilateral actions. They must abide by the agreed procedures and respect the judgements.

“A dispute arises when one country adopts a trade policy measure or takes some action that one or more fellow-WTO members considers to be breaking the WTO agreements, or to be a failure to live up to obligations”.

In this particular case, the Request for Consultation was based on the understanding of Antigua and Barbuda that as a result of various measures of the US Federal and State governments such as the “Wire Act”, the “Travel Act” and the “Illegal Gambling Business Act” cross-border gambling and betting services between the twin-island and USA will be considered illegal under the US law. It was followed by the establishment of a panel which published its report November 2004. The Panel found that the three US federal laws mentioned above do prohibit cross-border gambling and betting services between the two countries and were, therefore, not consistent with the US commitment concerning market access defined in their GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) Schedule. It also found that the United States failed to demonstrate that these three laws were “necessary” in the interest of “public morals”.

The USA appealed against certain legal interpretations developed by the Panel. The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of WTO set up an Appellate Body (AB) which came out with its report April 2005. The AB did not upheld all the findings of the Panel, but, and that is crucial and critical for the current and future US legislations, confirmed that “ in the light of the Interstate Horseracing Act (which appeared to authorize domestic operators to engage in the remote supply of certain betting services), the United States had not demonstrated that its prohibitions on remote gambling applied to both foreign and domestic service suppliers, i.e. in a manner that did not constitute "arbitrary and unjustifiable discrimination" within the meaning of the chapeau”. (Summary of Key Panel/AB Findings).

The DSB adopted April 2005 the Appellate Body Report and the Panel Report, as modified by the AB Report. The United States agreed to implement the DSB’s recommendations in a manner that is compliant with its WTO obligations. However, after a series of bilateral discussions and neutral arbitration, Antigua requested the DSB May 2006 to establish a Panel . The panel should find that the US has not taken measures to comply with the DSB rulings. The USA, on the other hand, requested the Panel to reject the claims of Antigua in their entirety and find that measures taken by US comply with their GATS’ obligations.

The report of this Panel published last Friday states:

“For the reasons set out in this Report, the Panel concludes that the United States has failed to

comply with the recommendations and rulings of the DSB in this dispute.”

The report makes clear that the United States can allow restrictions on online gaming provided they also apply to American operators who offer remote betting on horse racing.

It is not yet known whether the United States will accept or appeal the findings.

The ruling opens the door to possible commercial sanctions against the United States. Antigua and Barbuda, whose online casino providers have severe revenue breakdown because of the US measures, may seek sanctions by withdrawing protection for US trademarks or copyrights. Such sanctions will be legal under WTO rules.

To avoid penalties, USA can remove exceptions for remote betting on horses, e.g. via Internet, from the 1978 Interstate Horseracing Act to comply with the DSB ruling.

Or it may allow Americans to gamble over offshore sites!

Quo Vadis USA?

Shares in London-listed gaming rose as the news spread, reports Times Online.

Read more:

• Panel Report WT/DS285/RW
  United States – Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services.
  
• DISPUTE SETTLEMENT: DISPUTE DS285
  United States – Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services.
• Understanding the WTO: Settling Disputes
• Summary of Key Panel/AB Findings
• Los Angeles Times: US loses ruling on offshore betting
• Times Online: WTO rules against US web casino crackdown
• Washington Post: WTO Rebuffs U.S. on Internet Betting Ban
  
• Washington Post: U.S. Ban on Web Gambling Rejected
  

Many online gambling businesses have elected to advertise in U.S. print media as well as with online websites. So, Moneycasino.com has come up with a gripping new video “The Interrogation” where it shows a ruthless young woman and her stubborn captive. The video has a action-thriller storyline and also the background score is quite up to the mark.

This video debuts the next generation of Money Casino's marketing vision. It has been made with one purpose in mind and that is to reflect the money casino experience. The videos can be viewed either by downloading it or by visiting their site.

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