The Isle of Man Treasury Department has proposed to bring forward a Bill to update and simplify the law dealing with the excise duty aspects of gambling law. The Bill will replace the existing Betting Act 1970. The Bill would enable a single Act to deal with both online gambling and on and off-course betting and pool betting. It is not intended to deal with the regulatory aspects of the social law governing gambling (including licensing, under-age and problem gambling) or with any anti-money laundering aspects.

Providence, Rhode Island (AP) - Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri has vetoed a bill allowing the state's two slot parlors to operate around-the-clock on weekends and holidays. The bill would also allow Newport Grand and Twin River in Lincoln to close at 3 a.m. on weekdays. In a statement issued Monday, the Republican governor says local residents deserve a say in whether they want more gambling.

The local government is investigating the possibility of ending its monopoly on gambling and allowing foreign firms to advertise and operate legally. Speaking on radio over the weekend, Kristian Jensen, Minister for Tax for Denmark, stated that it is currently illegal for foreign gambling sites to market their products in the Scandinavian nation. However, he said that his office is investigating the possibility of opening up the market to allow non-Danish gambling companies...

A compulsive gambling counsellor from the United States is raising the red flag about the possible harmful impact of the introduction of casino gambling to Jamaica. Arnie Wexler, who served for eight years in New Jersey as the executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling, is not opposed to the Government's decision to give the green light for casinos, but he is imploring the authorities to put in place measures to tackle a major danger. Wexler fears more Jamaicans could become hooked on gambling.

The Problem Gambling Foundation is shocked and saddened at today's announcement that the Gambling Helpline is closing down. CEO John Stansfield says that gamblers need a telephone referral service to make sure they get the help they need when they need it. He says his organisation will do everything they can to see this continues. "Problem Gamblers and their families live risky and stressful lives," he says.

Taiwan’s economy is lagging, and the one thing that can help is casino gambling. The new President-elect, Ma Ying-Jeou is ready to unlock the doors to the gambling world. Ma Ying-Jeou has made his intentions very clear. When he is sworn into office on May 20th, a new age of gambling will begin in Taiwan. He has stated that he wants individual local county governments to have the right to issue gaming licenses.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding took a bold gamble this past week with his decision to license casino gambling. Indeed, even one of the staunchest Church critics acknowledged the move as an act of political confidence. Speaking on the Nationwide current affairs programme, Impact (TVJ) Wednesday night, Rev Peter Garth remarked that the prime minister must be a very confident man as he would be fully aware of the position of the Church against casino gambling.

Two-thirds of gambling companies have failed to contribute anything to a fund for supporting problem gamblers, the BBC has learned. Only 1,000 of 3,200 licensed gambling firms have donated money, says the Responsibility in Gambling Trust. The trust has reached its target of GBP 3.6m in voluntary donations - but says many firms have not given anything. The culture secretary has previously said the government may introduce a compulsory levy.

Operators Paddy Power and InterCasino have become the first gambling companies to have campaigns banned by the advertising watchdog since laws were relaxed last September. The Advertising Standards Authority has banned four TV ads by InterCasino and a national press ad by Paddy Power for breaching its new code on advertising by gambling companies. The code, introduced on September 1 following the relaxation of ad rules under the Gambling Act 2005...

An Italian draft decree on the regulation of remote gaming which lays down requirements for remote (online) gambling operators seeking to do business in Italy has raised concerns from Malta, in the form of a Detailed Opinion. The European Commission has also expressed reservations on a number of aspects of the decree particularly on games, IT and consumer protection.

According to numerous media reports this week, Poland looks set to be preparing a framework for the regulation of both online gaming and betting that could be up and running by the second half of 2008. Marek Kapica, Deputy Minister of Finance, stated that the nation is prepared to legalize online gambling before providing suitable legislative changes that it would then send “to the European Commission within the required notification procedure”.

According to figures published by the Norwegian Gambling Commission, the online gaming market in Norway grew by 6.1% in 2007, with an estimated 244,000 people gambling online. The Commission said Norwegians spent 961 million euros online, of which 82.9% or 797 million euros went to foreign operators, with Norsk Rikstoto and Norsk Tipping accounting for another USD 258 million.