Online Casino and Gambling News: August 2009

The return to work from the summer recess of the Malta Parliament will see a renewed drive to complete debates on a new set of gambling regulations aimed at regulating video lottery terminals and other gambling arcades that have mushroomed around the island, reports the Malta Independent newspaper.

The Irish Examiner carried an alarming article at the weekend, reporting that the number of people attending Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meetings around the country has doubled and in some places trebled over the past six months as people can no longer afford their betting habits.

One of Australia's favourite gambling vehicles - poker machine games commonly referred to as 'pokies' - are at the centre of a new row building downunder. Eight of the 134 games approved since December 2007 have a level of volatility which is higher than that recommended by the Australia/New Zealand Gaming Machine National Standard, but their identities remain secret, reports news site News.com.au.

Utah's strong stand against gambling came to the fore over the weekend with reports from the Salt Lake Tribune that police had arrested 50 employees and gamblers in a swoop on an Internet cafe.

There are reports from Toronto that the apparently error-prone Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation could be in for a shake-up as politicians vie for kudos in straightening out the state company. And it appears that claims of extravagance with the taxpayer's dollar may exacerbate the accusations faced by the OLG Board.

Monies that were seized by federal orders on their way through e-cash companies and banks to pay US online poker players will not be released, a US District Judge in San Diego ruled as the week came to a close.

The Daily Mail ended the week on a controversial note with an article claiming that Bet365 director and football club owner Peter Coates had paid a "...£100,000 'thank you' to Labour after his firm benefited from the controversial decision to relax the (UK) betting laws." The relaxed laws enabled online casinos, bookmakers and betting websites to advertise on TV.

Interviewed by reporters and analysts during the release of Party Gaming's half year results this week, CEO Jim Ryan made some interesting comments about the direction in which his company is headed - the French online poker market and more acquisitions.

Online gambling software provider Net Entertainment reports that an as yet unnamed player on Betclic online casino site has hit a €1,033,438 jackpot on the Arabian Nights progressive video slot. Betclic is member of the Mangas Gaming group.

Anthony Argila (52), a professional poker player from North Bellmore, has admitted in court to being the boss of a multimillion dollar international gambling operation centred on Costa Rica.