Singapore (Reuters) - Bahamas-based casino operator Kerzner International plans the world's biggest aquarium, stocked with beluga whales and manta rays, as part of its SGD 5.28 billion (USD 3.33 billion) bid to build Singapore's second casino resort. Tobin Prior, president of Kerzner's international division, said that with 24.2 million gallons of aquatic attractions at the proposed entertainment complex on the resort island of Sentosa, it would be bigger than SeaWorld Adventure Parks in Florida, which is currently the largest water-based theme park with 19 million gallons.

Mesa - The attempted robbery of USD 2 million from a casino on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community east of Phoenix sounds more like a Hollywood movie than a real-life incident, according to newly released court documents. Officials are charging Ismar Kabaklic, Adnan Alisic, Bakir Mujkic and Daniel Mujkic with conspiracy, interference with commerce by threats, violence and robbery, and use of a firearm in a crime of violence in the July 21 attempted robbery of Casino Arizona at Talking Stick, according to their indictment.

The race for Singapore's second casino licence has intensified as bidders unveiled further details of their bids, including plans to build the world's largest oceanarium, robotic animals and plants and high-end spa resorts. Bahamas-based casino operator Kerzner International and Southeast Asia's largest property group CapitaLand introduced a futuristic design for the "integrated resort" project on Sentosa island, depicting what the legendary city of Atlantis would be in the year 3000.

When Peter Morton opened the Hard Rock Hotel in 1995, he created a sex-and-rock-'n'-roll atmosphere that helped transform Las Vegas from a town of dated lounge acts and fanny-packed tourists to a celebrity hangout for the hip and beautiful. The iconic property was a marketing milestone but only marginally profitable - breaking even on expensive rock acts and cashing in as much on top-shelf alcohol as on slot machines.

In contrast to the United States government's criminalisation of online gambling, the South African government is legalising the industry in an attempt to regulate and control it. Online gambling - said to be worth millions -- is currently illegal in South Africa, but the Department of Trade and Industry has given a draft amendment Bill (which will allow for the licensing of online casinos in South Africa) to the Cabinet for approval.

Trinidadian Prime Minister Patrick Manning has announced that his administration will stand firm in opposition to casinos and gambling businesses. He refused to back down on plans he announced in the budget to put the squeeze on the industry, with the eventual aim of phasing them out. Mr. Manning added that the gaming industry will be restructured so that it would comply with the law.

The Court of Appeal of Munich (Oberlandesgericht München), in its decision of 26 September 2006 (case no. 5 St RR 115/05), on an appeal on a point of law, affirmed exemption from punishment for transferring sporting bets on the basis of the current legal situation and practise. The Court of Appeal of Munich explicitly abandons the former case law of the Bavarian Supreme Court of Appeal (Bayerisches Oberstes Landesgericht). In its reasoning, the court invokes the Gambelli decision of the European Court of Justice and establishes.

Gambling services represent a multi billion market. Given the legal barriers still in force, this market is still very much fragmented on national as well as regional levels and far from being able to be called an internal market. The Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McGreevy pleads for the enforcement of the freedom to provide services in this market as well. The European Commission had asked the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law to carry out a study into the sector ("Study of Gambling Services in the Internal Market of the European Union"), which was recently published in its final version.

Online gambling group Sportingbet is expected to make losses of more than GBP 300m in the current financial year after it is forced to write off a string of now almost worthless US acquisitions following a clampdown on unlicensed internet betting by American legislators. The London-listed group yesterday announced it had sold Sportsbook.com, the largest online bookmaker in the world, for just GBP 1 (54p) to an unnamed private consortium only hours before President Bush signed into law a draconian anti-gambling act. The division's management team will also acquire a stake.

Washington (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Friday signed legislation to help protect U.S. ports against catastrophic September 11-style attacks as part of an election-year push on domestic security sought by both political parties. By signing the Safe Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006, Bush set in motion an unrelated ban on Internet gambling, drawing protests from a group representing the gambling industry.

Beleaguered Sportingbet has sold its US sports betting and casino business for USD 1, it revealed last night. The decision by the online gaming company came as President George Bush prepares to sign into law the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Bill today. Sportingbet's share price has been in freefall since US authorities arrested Peter Dicks, its then chairman, in New York last month in a crackdown on internet gaming. Last night, the company said the deal with Jazette Enterprises allows it to discharge excess liabilities of USD 13.2m (GBP 7m) and avoid a closure bill of USD 14m.

If Fred done has his way, the British betting shop could become as common a sight on the Spanish high street as outdoor cafés and tapas bars. The multimillionaire owner of Betfred, the fourth-largest betting chain in Britain, is planning to set up the first betting shops in Spain, starting in Bilbao. Other British betting firms, including William Hill and Stanleybet, are also drawing up plans to raid the Spanish market, where gambling laws are being liberalised.