Online Casino and Gambling News: 2010..

Online gambling companies and the European Commission have been wrestling with the 16 states of Germany for years in attempts to liberalise the nation's market in line with more progressive countries in Europe. The problem is that the states, all signatories to a treaty keeping competition out, have no intention of relinquishing their lucrative monopoly - especially on lotteries.

S490, a bill seeking to legalise intrastate online gambling in the state of New Jersey, may have been temporarily delayed by small tax tweaks, but author Senator Ray Lesniak is determined to maintain its fast progress through the political system.

This may be the season for giving, but it does not appear from the respected publication ESPN that the legalisation of US online poker will be among the gifts below the online gambling industry Christmas tree.

An e-mail promotion run by Profitable Play Ltd t/a Jackpotjoy and headlined "Find out why we're Britain's best value night in!" was found to be misleading by the Advertising Standards Authority.

With the recent French and Danish tax furores probably still resonating with their members, three prominent gambling trade associations joined together this week to appeal for a common sense approach to taxation in the drafting of online gambling regulatory legislation in Spain.

The European Commission launched a formal investigation Tuesday into whether Denmark's proposed low tax regime for online gambling sites gives internet operators an unfair advantage over bricks and mortar casinos, reports the Dow Jones news agency.

Australian broadcaster ABC's current affairs program The World Today tackled the contentious subject of the Australian government's ban on internet gambling this week, revealing that that there has been little enforcement and highlighting government's refusal to accept the recommendation of the Productivity Commission that the pastime be legalised and regulated.

Media reporting from the state of New Jersey late Monday confirmed that Senator Ray Lesniak's S490 proposal to legalise online gambling has been temporarily delayed by late tweaks to its financial provisions.

Online gambling group Betfair has unveiled half-year results to the end of October 2010 showing an upward trend in key performance indicators. The group reported revenues up 12.3% to £188.5 million, whilst EBITDA hit £31.2 million, soaring 24%, with underlying profit after tax up 49.8% to £14.4 million.

Sports betting firm Centrebet has extended its relationship with the Australian NRL's Manly Sea Eagles . The AUD$ 1 million sponsorship deal will see Centrebet's logo on the back of the maroon and white jersey of the Manly Sea Eagles for the next two seasons, with an option for a third year.