Tourism Ministry officials have recently closed a deal with the Israel Land Administration to apportion 12 acres of land on Eilat's northern shore for Israel's first legal casino. Hotels, commercial trading centers and other tourism venues are expected to be established in the area. Tourism Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch expressed his faith in the project and said this first casino would be the harbinger of additional legal gambling institutes in Israel.

The national airline PLL LOT and the Airports Authority (PPL) are in a quandary whether to restructure, boost equity and dispose of gambling company Casinos Poland, or just sell it without any restructuring. According to Puls Biznesu, both investors have a 33.3% stake worth zł.60-65 million, possibly putting the total worth of the gambling entity at zł.90-105 million, which includes licenses, brand and five attractive casino locations.

The bidding war for a new casino licence in Nelson Mandela Bay will start in earnest this week when South African and international groups make presentations to show their level of interest in the plan. City-based empowerment group the Embo Project Management consortium said yesterday it would hold meetings tomorrow in its search for a partner in its licence bid.

Der Verfassungsgerichtshof Bayern (Urt. v. 18.12.2007 - Az.: Vf. 9-VII-05) hat entschieden, dass die Regelungen zur gewerblichen Spielvermittlung verfassungsgemäß sind: Leitsätze: 1. Die Regelungen der gewerblichen Spielvermittlung (§ 14 LotterieStV) verletzten nicht die Bayerische Verfassung. 2. Die Länder sind für diesen Regelungsgehalt sachlich zuständig, da der Bund von seiner Annex-Kompetenz keinen Gebrauch gemacht hat. 3. Die unterschiedliche Behandlung von Glücksspielanbietern einerseits und den gewerblichen Spielvermittlern andererseits...

Following accusations that the Maltese government was dragging its feet over a proposal by US-based Cala to develop an offshore undersea casino, the government said it had not received any serious proof of financial standing, according to Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech. Cala, doing business as UnderSea Resort and Residences, last year announced it was planning to build “landmark” casinos offshore.

Refusal of permission for a casino at a Leicester landmark could cost the city up to 250 jobs, it was claimed today. A court refused to grant a casino licence for St George's Tower just before Christmas because it felt there was not enough demand. It is believed the applicant, Clermont Leisure, is considering an appeal. Amir Zarbafi, the building's owner, said without the GBP 8.7 million casino, a hotel planned as part of the GBP 33 million redevelopment of the building would employ substantially fewer people.

The Seminole Tribe paid USD 50 million to the state Monday, as required under its gambling agreement with Gov. Charlie Crist, after the controversial deal became official. "Today's transfer of USD 50 million to the state of Florida is just the beginning of revenue that will potentially provide billions of dollars to Florida's schools during the next 25 years," Crist said in a statement.

DeSIA – Deutsche Spielbanken Interessen - und Arbeitsgemeinschaft - Der 8.Februar ist nicht nur für Sie ein wichtiger Tag – daher unser allerherzlichsten Glückwunsch zu Ihrem Zehn-Jährigen – sondern auch für die deutschsprachige Glücksspielbranche, der Sie mit Ihrem Online-News-Portal (wie es auf neudeutsch heißt) eine heute nicht mehr wegzudenkende Informationsplattform geschenkt haben.

President Vladimir Putin last week signed a law that will close casinos and slot-machine halls in major cities in Russia and force them to relocate into four gambling zones throughout the country. Putin’s signature on the bill was expected following almost unanimous passage through both houses of Parliament of a measure he introduced. The bill calls for the creation of four zones for legal gambling in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad...

Las Vegas Sands informed that the company has entered into a credit agreement which provides financing of up to USD 3.7 billion for the development of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Borrowings under the credit agreement will bear interest at a spread of 2.25% above the Singapore Dollar SWAP Offer Rate for a selected maturity of one, two, three or six months. The current Singapore Dollar Swap Offer Rate for a maturity of three months is approximately 2.16%.

Genting Highlands Resort defeated many a familiar name in the casino business to win the prestigious International Travel Award - The 2007 World Travel Award for the World’s Leading Casino Resort at the 14th Annual World Travel Awards Gala ceremony. The local resort was nominated along with world renowned Ceasars Palace Las Vegas (USA), D’Oreale Grande, Emperor Palace (South Africa), MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Vegas (USA), Park Hyatt Mendoza (Argentina), Star City Hotel & Casino, Sydney (Australia) and The Venetian (Macau).

Last week, Montevideo council started receiving offers from private businessmen interested in the tender of Hotel Casino Carrasco, according to the Director of Supplying of the Council, Néstor Fernández. Last Wednesday 26th, the government passed the law which authorizes the council to put to tender the operation of Casino Carrasco to casino or hotel companies.