Online Casino and Gambling News: March 2009

The recent non-binding vote in the EU Parliament on the Schaldemose own-initiative report has resulted in some critical fallout for Malta' 5 MEPs.

The non-binding vote approved the concept that the regulation of online gambling in Europe should be left to the individual member states instead of hewing to a pan-European set of regulations. The vote effectively suggests that for Internet gambling, the broad EU principle of free movement of goods and services between member nations should not apply.

The US based poker legalisation pressure group Poker Players Alliance has endorsed a new study titled "Statistical Analysis of Texas Hold 'Em" released this week, which provides raw data showing the outcomes of games are predominantly determined by the players' decisions, and not just chance.

West Australians could soon enjoy the convenience of Internet betting on state lotteries if a proposal now nearing completion and due for submission to the provincial government soon is accepted.

French online gambler Alain M. is riding high this week after hitting Playtech's Beach Life progressive slot jackpot for €1,812,394 at Europa Casino - and he had only been playing for 20 minutes in the session!

In an interview with casino management, Alain recounted: “I was shocked when I saw the reels and I still don’t believe how much money I have won. I love online gaming, it’s better than land based casinos as you can’t smoke or drink in them anymore and its more convenient, I play online everyday”.

Associated Press reports that Delaware legislators anxious to raise more cash for state coffers by legitimising sportsbetting now face opposition from the powerful National Football League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Hackers protesting the secret censorship blacklists of the Australian government exposed by Wikileaks caused the online censorship board's web page to be taken briefly offline Thursday, reports the Wired.com blog.

Dow Jones business news service reports that the 27 nation European Union trade bloc has announced the completion of its 12 month investigation into US anti-online gambling practices, reaching the conclusion that the US government is in breach of international trade rules.

Land betting shops in the Czech Republic are taking strain following the government's decision earlier this year to regulate and licence online gambling, reports the Prague Post. Local companies welcomed the move to free up the Internet and enable them to compete with offshore firms, but initial indications are that it has led to a decline in land business.

Collaboration with betting companies that highlighted suspicious betting patterns has enabled UEFA to single out and take action against the Macedonian football club FK Pobeda on allegations of match fixing.

Top British gambling industry executives have warned the British government that tax increases and tighter regulation on fixed odds betting terminals could have a detrimental effect on the industry that could be manifested in closed shops and lost jobs, reports The Telegraph newspaper this week.