Online Casino and Gambling News: December 2008

Spencer Bachus, the anti-online gambling representative from Alabama, was quick to respond to last weekend's 60 Minutes program on Internet poker, posting a statement on his website.

The Toronto Sun newspaper has joined the chorus of criticism mounting against claims in the recent 60 Minutes television program that Internet gambling is illegal in the United States and Canada.

The Miami Herald reports that a bid by an ex-beauty queen to claim a half share of her husband's Florida Lottery $600,000 syndicate win was turned away this week by Dade Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Bailey with the suggestion that a divorce court might be a better venue to resolve the dispute.

A US land-based casino that accidentally sent vouchers to more people than it could afford to has been forced to ask thousands of customers to give it a break, reports Associated Press.

The repeated and unequivocal use by the recent 60 Minutes television program of the claim that online gambling, and specifically poker, is illegal in the United States was made despite the producers receiving advice to the contrary from legal expert Professor I. Nelson Rose of Whittier College, it emerged this week.

The latest annual National Annenberg Survey of Youth shows that the incidence of youthful Internet gamblers remains at the low levels experienced following last year's "precipitous decline."

Two California gamblers who sued the Google and Yahoo search engines in 2004 for carrying gambling ads after they lost $100000 at the tables were defeated in a California court last week.

Isle of Man based online gambling software provider Microgaming has released what it claims is the industry's first ever customisable online slot game, demonstrating groundbreaking technology and innovation with its brand new product "MySlot".

Software innovation on the game allows players to create their own truly unique slot machine, importing their own personal pictures, colour and music. MySlot uses the popular 5 reel, 9 pay-line slot game template and empowers the player to design his or her own slot using totally unique components from his or her hard drive. Whether its personal snaps of the family, friends or pets, players can utilise their own personal picture gallery, as well as favourite colours, sounds and music via MP3 download.

Network World reports that the US Tennis Association used web filtering software to halt Internet betting access on its website.

The December 1st meeting of EU member nations, called to discuss a "harmonised" approach to the regulation of online gambling within the trade bloc as reported previously seems to have stalled on the best way forward