One of the main priorities of the new gaming law regulation should be to protect the interests of the common good. This is regularly mentioned in the decisions of the German Federal Constitutional Court and the European Court of Justice in connection with the liberalisation of the gambling market. The main aspects of this are prevention of gambling addiction, the proper and transparent operation of gaming (based on the idea of transparency in the Law of New Media), the prevention of associated criminality (e.g., the referee scandal in Italy and the Hoyzer-betting scandal with Oddset in Germany) as well as the protection of youth and consumers. Given the level of profit generated, the desire to continue to develop popular sports with revenue from the organisation of gambling (in particular, from sports betting) must also be considered.

It was hoped that the decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) would put an end to the uncertainties surrounding the German sports betting market. From an examination of the legal situation regarding the sports betting monopoly, before and after the March-decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court (Case no. 1 BvR 1054/01), it would almost appear that things have been worsened by the decision. In an article in the Berliner newspaper, some months after the decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court, even the German Federal Minister for Justice, Brigitte Zypries, admitted that there are many uncertainties as to the legality of private bookmakers. Therefore, “a stable legal practice is not yet ascertainable”.

Ministers want a betting limit to apply in Ireland’s first legalised casinos and the installation of CCTV cameras so that gardai can study footage when required. The measures were discussed by the cabinet last week, which made Michael McDowell, the justice minister, scrap his plans to close Ireland’s gaming clubs. A regulatory commission will now be set up to oversee a legalised gambling industry.

As David Carruthers, the ex-Ladbrokes bookie, sat in an American jail yesterday accused over an alleged USD 4.5 billion (GBP 2.42 billion) illegal gambling racket, he must have wondered why he had been quite so brazen. BetOnSports, which claimed to be the world’s biggest gambling website, seemed to enjoy nothing better than goading US prosecutors.

Casinos are to be regulated rather than outlawed under new government proposals. There are presently around 20 gambling clubs in the State and, although technically they are illegal, the 50-year-old laws covering the area make it difficult to close them down. Minister for Justice Michael McDowell signalled his intention to enforce outright prohibition of casinos only last month.

More than 300 workers at Casino Windsor are being laid off due to a slowdown that owners blame on a provincewide smoking ban and the strong Canadian dollar. Revenue at the casino is down by 20 to 30 per cent, according to spokeswoman Holly Ward. Casino officials blame the provincial smoking ban that came into effect May 31 for a drop in customer traffic.

The government of the Macao Special Administrative Region has no plan to allow the import of casino croupiers, local media reported Monday. The Macao Post Daily quoted Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance, as saying that under current government policy guidelines on the import of labor, "non-resident workers" are not permitted to work as dealers in local casinos.

Charges of illegal gambling levelled at BetonSports and David Carruthers, its chief executive, may be only the first in a series of prosecutions against online gambling executives setting foot on US soil, federal officials warned on Tuesday. The Department of Justice, which released a 26-page indictment against the UK-listed company and 11 individuals, said internet gambling was illegal and those who ran US operations did so at their own risk.

Washington (Reuters) - The indictment of BETonSPORTS executives for racketeering should add momentum to U.S. legislation that aims to ban broader types of Internet gambling, two Republican backers said on Tuesday. The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill earlier this month that would prohibit most forms of Internet gambling and make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites.

Casinos, betting shops and gambling websites will be allowed to advertise on television and radio for the first time next year under guidelines published today. Under draft rules announced by the advertising standards watchdog, advertisements will be permitted if they are "socially responsible" and do not target the young, the vulnerable or promote gambling as an alternative to employment.

Nevada gaming authorities took initial steps last week toward repealing the state’s anti-money laundering regulation, saying they will turn that aspect over to the federal government. After more than a year of discussion, Gaming Control Board members said they expect to remove Regulation 6A from the books by next July. The three-member board plans to vote on repealing the regulation during its meeting next month in Carson City. The Nevada Gaming Commission will then have the opportunity to follow suit.

Kerzner International Ltd, one of four bidders for Singapore’s second casino-resort, plans to submit a proposal with an investment in excess of USD 1.5 billion, Chairman Sol Kerzner said. The owner of the Atlantis casino-resort in the Bahamas, which has tied up with Singapore’s CapitaLand Ltd for the bid, yesterday named Frank O. Gehry, designer of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, as the architect for the proposal, Bloomberg News reported.