Online Casino and Gambling News: May 2010

The call by the Spanish EU Presidency earlier this week for member nations to come together and frame a common definition for 'illegal gambling' has been answered with unusual speed by Brussels politicians. According to the publication EuroActiv, ministers have already studied the presidential request and - despite opposition from Malta - agreed a common definition of illegal gambling, taking the first step towards possible European collaboration.

According to mandatory filings regarding its quarterly lobbying expenditure, the American Gaming Association, a trade group representing the interests of US land casino operators, invested a further $430,000 in government lobbying in the first quarter of 2010.

There was bad news for Intralot investors this week as the world's second-largest lottery systems provider reported a 31.5% drop in first-quarter 2010 net profit. The Reuters news agency reported that the dip was attributable to a less lucrative than expected Turkish contract and the worsening economic situation in South Eastern Europe.

The Gibraltar-based online gambling group 888.com had disappointing news as the week ended, noting that it expected full-year profit to be significantly lower than market expectations. The online betting company rationalised the drop in trading by pointing to the impending soccer World Cup, which is expected to exacerbate a situation in which the number of internet poker players at 888 sites has declined and currency movements have had an adverse effect.

After an operational life of around 2 years, the management at Klub8, a Playtech-powered online casino and poker room, has advised players that it is to close at the end of June this (2010) year.

Veteran online gambling software provider Microgaming has announced the submission of three significant operator applications to the National Regulatory Authority of the French online gambling market the ARJEL, two of which are in collaboration with 888 Holdings plc.

Addressing the company's annual general meeting in London today (Thursday), Playtech plc chairman, Roger Withers, said he was delighted to report another year of growth and progress by the company.

Friday sees the start of the 2010 World Series of Poker at the Rio in Las Vegas, where top players from around the world are already starting to arrive. They'll be pitting their skills against their contemporaries in some 57 tough events through to July 17, along with the external action and prop bets that invariably form a part of poker's biggest vibe.

Online gambling operators who have been anxiously watching the progress of the new French regulator ARJEL will be relieved to hear that it is confident it will "deliver first agreements to operators in the first two weeks of June," meaning that French betting on the World Cup will be possible.

Trying to bring clarity to the increasingly complicated European online gambling legislative scene this week, the Spanish EU Presidency has urged that a common definition of illegal gambling is vital to the coordinated and effective regulation of gambling throughout the trading bloc.