London - Aristocrat Technologies Europe will have an expanded presence at this year's ICE show by extending a warm welcome across the forecourts of both Earls Court 1 and 2. Olga Pleguezuelos, Marketing and Communications Manager for Aristocrat Europe, explained: "Last year we increased the size of our stand to raise profile and incorporate a wider display of product. In 2008 Aristocrat is reaching further with the aim of getting our message across to visitors even before they walk through the doors."

The Financial Times has reported a deal signed late last month between the United States and three fellow World Trade Organisation (WTO) nations seeking compensation in the wake of an online gambling dispute has been revealed as less meaningful than was first hoped. The dispute arose last year after the Americans lost a WTO dispute with Antigua and Barbuda over discriminatory legislation covering online gambling.

R.D.Tuttle, Nepal’s Casino King, has been granted rightful ownership of the Nepal Recreation Center (NRC) by a competent Court in Hong Kong. The NRC is running eight casinos in Nepal’s five star hotels. Tuttle’s ex-employee, Rakesh Wadhwa-the Indian national was only three weeks back awarded the rights over the NRC by Nepal government’s Company of the Registrar office arbitrarily.

Crown casino chiefs have been ordered to go to trial over claims they allowed a banned problem gambler to blow USD 30 million. Supreme Court Justice David Harper today ruled that the Southbank casino had a case to answer in its explosive dispute with millionaire Gold Coast property developer Harry Kakavas. Mr Kakavas, 40, alleges he lost USD 30 million playing baccarat in a 14-month gambling spree starting in June 2005.

Carson City, Nevada (AP) - A major Nevada casino group filed a court challenge Monday against a ballot initiative by teachers calling for higher taxes on the biggest resorts to get more money for the state's K-12 school system. The Nevada Resort Association, in a complaint filed in Carson City District Court, argued that the Nevada State Education Association description of its initiative is "misleading, false, and fails to inform voters of all its material consequences."

A decision in the marathon High Court case involving Betfair's challenge to Western Australia's anti-gambling exchange laws is now expected within six months. After three days of argument last month, counsel for Betfair, Stephen Gageler SC, returned to Canberra yesterday to wrap up his case. He has argued the WA laws breach Section 92 of the constitution, which protects freedom of trade between the states.

International Casino Exhibition 2008, which opens its doors to the public on January 22-24, 2008 in Earls Court convention center in London, celebrates its sixteenth birthday with a record of products and services for the casino sector. Clarion Gaming, ICE organizers announced at the beginning of November that the 2008 event will experience a growth of 12,1% regarding 2007, which was also an event which broke several records.

High Court judges were shown how to punt AUD 10 online on the AFL as they began hearing a challenge to laws restricting the reach of internet gambling exchange Betfair. Betfair, part owned by the Packer family, is seeking to have the court strike out West Australian laws that prohibit its residents from placing bets using the online exchange, which has based its Australian operations in Tasmania.

The online ticket registration facility and visa application helper for ATEI, ICE and ICEi (Earls Court, London, UK, 22-24 January 2008) has gone live. Industry buyers preparing to attend the co-located, double award winning, business-to-business events, which attracted over 25,000 visitors from 117 nations in 2007, can do so by completing the relevant registration form at atei-exhibition.com, ice-exhibition.com or icei-exhibition.com.

The European Commission will set itself on collision course with France, Sweden and Greece today when it orders them to end lucrative state-run sports betting monopolies. Paris and Stockholm will be given a final chance to change their legislation or face court action, while Athens will receive an initial warning. Sweden has hinted at a willingness to compromise with Brussels, but the French say that they will defend state gambling operators against competition from the internet.

States of Alderney Head of E-Commerce, Robin Le Prevost, has described London’s ICEi 2008 as a place to meet “evermore diverse and increasing number of potential licensees from all corners of the globe”. States of Alderney, who have recently added their name to the growing list of companies and organizations signing up for ICEi 2008 (January 22-24), are among the UK Gambling Commission’s recent “white list”, which allows only those territories who meet a stringent set of guidelines to advertise on TV, radio and in print media, subject to UK advertising rules.

ICEi 2008 will be 40 per cent bigger than its 2007 predecessor, the biggest in the show's six-year history, and will include at least 13 first-time exhibitors, organisers Clarion Gaming have announced.