Thirty-eight Russian regions have banned all gambling activities, as the new federal law restricting gambling in the country comes into effect. The Primorye region, which is one of the four gambling zones to be left in Russia by July of 2009, has not entirely banned gambling, but has introduced far-reaching restrictions. The law, which was passed by the State Duma in December 2006, put a requirement for a casino’s minimum area to be 800 sqm.

Casino and bingo club operator Rank has warned that the smoking ban coming into force next month is likely to hurt profits in the second half of the year. The owner of Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos said it had seen a "solid start" to the year with 5pc growth in like-for-like sales in the 25 weeks to date. Operating profits also rose, helped by cost-cutting. However, the impact of the smoking ban, which comes into force in public places in England from July 1, is "likely to hold back profit performance in the second half of the year", the company said.

Brussels: The EU threatened France with court action on Wednesday unless it changes a law banning foreign gambling advertising — a ban that stopped a Unibet.com cycling team from taking part in this year's Tour de France race. The European Commission also told Sweden to end limits on sports gambling services, and said the two countries effectively block companies based in other EU countries from doing business there.

The State Government will consider reciprocal bans on shady gamblers after revelations that the brother of notorious drug lord Tony Mokbel is among Queensland's biggest casino punters. Horty Mokbel, brother of the captured crime czar and an alleged drug trafficker, has been barred from Melbourne's Crown Casino because of money-laundering fears. But he has been revealed as a high-roller at the Gold Coast's Jupiters Casino in a secret list of Queensland's biggest gamblers obtained by The Courier-Mail.

Only the signature of President George Maxwell Richards remains for the Finance Bill that will ban slot machines to become law, as it was passed in the Senate after midnight yesterday. Among its many measures, the bill is meant to amend the Gambling and Betting Act that will phase out slot machines which are used in casinos and private members clubs.

Harrisburg - The Senate approved a statewide smoking ban with an amendment that carves out exemptions for smaller liquor licensees, private clubs and 25 percent of the casino gaming floor space where slot machines are located. It is expected to cast a final vote today on the legislation sponsored by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery. The House is poised to consider a smoking ban bill sponsored by Rep. Michael Gerber, D-Montgomery.

Trenton, New Jersey - More than a year after New Jersey's wide-reaching public smoking ban went into effect, the state Senate voted Thursday to close its biggest loophole, which allows smoking in Atlantic City's casinos. The Senate voted 35-0 to eliminate the exemption that allows gamblers to light up in casinos and horse race simulcasting facilities. The Assembly has yet to consider the bill.

When the Victorian Government introduced smoking bans in gaming rooms across the state in September 2002, Tabcorp was caught unawares. "It came very quickly and we didn't have the in-depth customer research that we should have," recalled former chief executive Matthew Slatter. "The impact was very dramatic."

At last year's online gambling convention, there was a three-storey bar staffed by augmented blondes in miniskirts and orbited by casino execs toasting their future riches. In its place this year is a booth with pamphlets on gambling addiction. The annual Global Interactive Gaming Summit & Expo in Montreal is a whisper of its past incarnations, thanks to recent u.s. regulations banning gaming.

Denver -- It's official. Colorado casinos will be going smoke-free on Jan. 1. Gov. Bill Ritter signed that bill into law, among 14 other measures, Friday afternoon. House Bill 1269 expands the statewide ban to include casinos, which had been exempt. The bill covers the 44 casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek starting Jan. 1.

Springfield, Illinois -- The Illinois Senate early Friday voted down a measure that would have allowed casino patrons to continue lighting up next year even as smokers in all other public places in the state are forced to snuff out their cigarettes. However, proponents of the idea could try again today.

Groningen – The Holland Casino in Groningen does not need to ban smoking. The court has rejected the demand from a casino worker was calling for a smoke-free workplace. The man says he has respiratory problems after having to work in a smoky environment. The court said it would be too drastic a move to require the casino to ban smoking since it is a part of the hospitality industry.