Online Casino and Gambling News: January 2009

The controversial attempt by the state of Kentucky to seize and ultimately confiscate or use 141 international domain names as leverage for "settlements" with online gambling firms failed in the Kentucky Court of Appeals recently but is still very much a live issue.

The respected online gambling information portal MajorWager published a must-read interview with Antigua's legal adviser this week, updating and covering the many interesting aspects of the Antigua vs. the United States disputes in the halls of the World Trade Organisation.

The week started with an interesting article from Associated Press, which reports that as many as 14 U.S. states may be considering an expansion in gambling licenses to help plug widening gaps in state budgets.

Reports from Mechanicsville, New York last week told the story of a cleaning woman who cleaned out the main prize in a local lottery, winning a million dollars when the odds were more than usually against success.

The controversial regulations supporting the U.S. Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, rammed through in the dying days of the Bush administration and only recently effective, are already causing waves where they were not intended, it appears.

Canadian online gambling software provider Chartwell Technology has released version 7.0 of its online casino software, featuring new games and the most extensive back office enhancements in the company’s history.

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive for Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), has raised the profile of online gambling by asking the Irish government to consider taxing all offshore online and telephone betting. The horseracing industry in the Emerald Isle has been taking a beating due to the adverse economic climate, recording its first decline in business in more than 15 years, reports the Irish media.

The Isle of Man based Internet gambling software provider Playtech plc has reported a solid set of numbers for its full year and Q4 2008 activities.

Gamblers in the Saskatchewan province in Canada may have to swipe a personalised card before they can play a video lottery terminal at land locations in the future, reports CBC News.

GamCare, the UK's problem gambling support organisation, has appointed former Head of Gambling at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy McLellan as its new Chief Executive Officer. McLellan commences his new role on February 1st and replaces Geoffrey Godbold, who has been CEO since February 2006.