In two decisions of the 22nd of December 2004 (Case Nos.: 3 Bs 405/04 and 3 Bs 28/04), the Upper Administrative Court of Saxony (Sächsisches Oberverwaltungsgericht (OVG)) assumes a wider applicability of the decision of the Hessian Upper Administrative Court (VGH) of the 9th of February concerning the market expansion strategy. The OVG goes on to say: „The amendment (Note.: to the decision of the Hessian VGH of the 9th of February 2004) by the decision of the 27.10.2004 – 11 TG 2096/04 – followed solely because the EC Treaty provisions were not applicable to the local provider of bets with residence on the Isle of Man.”

An Italian court, the Tribunale di Larino, has, in its decision of the 8th of July 2004, submitted the questions already raised by the Gambelli Decision, whether and under which conditions a restriction to the freedom of services guarantee can be justified, to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). There was a need for clarification after the Supreme Court of Cassazione (Corte Suprema di Cassazione) went against the Gambelli Decision (which the court referred to) in April 2004 in its “Bruno Corsi” decision(Case no.: 23271/04).

In recent weeks, the regulatory authorities, supported by the state interior ministers, have been proceeding solidly against sporting bet providers. The authorities are justifying this, in particular, by alleging that the Gambelli Decision has not changed anything and in any case has absolutely no relevance for Germany.
What will the year 2005 bring for bookmakers and sports betting providers?

Due to the international tendency we offer you in our BREGENZ OPEN 2005 tournament week mainly Texas Hold'em No Limit events. But also for the 7 Card Stud players we are staging 2 tournaments. We will take great efforts to provide you an exciting week and are looking forward to welcome you in Bregenz!

The 2005 editions of ATEI and ICE/ICEi, which took place across 25, 26 and 27 January at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre, were the most successful on record, according to the three-day attendance figures issued by show organisers, ATE.

To facilitate comparison with previous periods, this report contains selected preliminary key figures in a pro forma consolidated form and also using the at equity method.

The Kiel-based gaming specialist FLUXX AG (ISIN DE0005763502) concluded the 2004 financial year with a substantial rise in revenue and earnings. On the basis of provisional, unaudited figures, consolidated earnings rose by 46 percent, from EUR 626 thousand in 2003 to EUR 916 thousand.

NEW YORK – (BUSINESS WIRE) – Miami Beach in the Fifties: an unforgettable blend of urban savvy and tropical style. The nostalgia of this era is captured at American Chance Casinos’ (ACC) newest hot spot in the Czech Republic, Dolni Dvoriste “Route 55”, just across the border approximately 45 minutes from Linz, Austria.

betandwin Group breaks magic barrier and thanks customers with campaign of millions.

The betandwin Group, continental Europe’s leading provider of Internet sports betting, is giving away a million euro cents (EUR 10,000) in cash to sports fans and betting enthusiasts. Anyone placing a bet with the betandwin Group on the Internet between 15 and 31 January 2005 qualifies to take part in this unique million draw.

The world market leader in multi-player systems and interactive live games is once again at the forefront of gaming with ground-breaking innovations

London: A study completed by the consulting firm MECN takes a detailed look at the investments in the gambling industry and analyzes in particular the opportunities for state operators. Since the returns from other investments and business activities (other than the core lottery and pari-mutuel business) are usually not included in calculations of gambling duties/taxes or similar levies, returns from such other investments can account for as much as 40% of some lotteries’ total profits.