As already mentioned in our press release of 31 January 2008, the Administrative Court of Schleswig-Holstein (VG Schleswig-Holstein) decided to stay the main proceedings brought by Hambach & Hambach Law Firm, its subject matter being the validity of a European license for a sports betting offer in Schleswig-Holstein and to refer the relevant Community Law questions for a preliminary ruling by the ECJ. In the course of the oral hearing the Administrative Court of Schleswig Holstein already voiced its legal opinion that a sports betting monopoly can only be justified by the goal of fighting compulsive gaming...

Seaside arcades and amusement centres are among thousands of businesses that have lost more than a fifth of their income because of the impact of gambling legislation on gaming machines, industry leaders told MPs on Tuesday. Reduced stakes on gaming machines and limits on the number of machines allowable in each entertainment venue are two of the little-noticed measures...

The international Internet gambling dispute continues. Costa Rica and Antigua separately filed for World Trade Organization arbitration, seeking compensation from the United States as a result of the US withdrawal of its commitment on cross-border gambling services. The new arbitration requests could potentially derail the settlement for compensation agreed to late last year by the US and the EU.

In France, the Court of Appeal of Versailles has called into question the compatibility of the nation’s gaming legislation with European Union law and placed the burden of proof on authorities to justify that their regulatory framework is consistent, proportionate and justified. The Court’s ruling followed a request by Didier Dewyn, the former Chief Executive Officer for Mr Bookmaker, a gaming company licensed in Malta...

Sports gambling could be the answer for casinos in Atlantic City. The question would be how to help revenue in the city’s casino. Legislators have once again started discussions to legalize sports gambling in Atlantic City. The discussions have taken place several times in the past, but never has legislation been passed. With the struggles the country is having with the economy, legalizing gambling on sports in Atlantic City casinos would be a sufficient way to raise revenue.

The construction of Azov City, a city in the style of Las Vegas to be developed in the South of Russia, will be iniciated in 2009, according to the Administration of Krasnodar region. “The main investment agreements will be signed in the following months, and the construction will begin the following year", says the press release issued by regional authorities.

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is betting USD 81 million that the Kansas courts ultimately will approve the casino gambling law enacted by the Legislature last year. That’s how much gambling revenue she has put in her budget recommendation for fiscal year 2009, which begins July 1. The Democratic governor, who released details of her budget Tuesday, wants to spend the gambling revenue on debt reduction and construction projects.

In America, a survey conducted by the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) has revealed that only 3.7 percent of people in the state have gambled online in the past five years. The Nevada Gaming Control regulatory body commissioned the study as it looks at the possibility of sanctioning online gambling in the state and employed UNLV to gauge interest among residents.

Frankfort, Kentucky - A Northern Kentucky legislator whose suburban Cincinnati district is within miles of Indiana riverboat casinos said yesterday that he doesn't see the rash of social problems that some opponents of expanded gambling predict.Rep. Arnold Simpson, D-Covington, questioned casino gambling opponents during their testimony to a House task force on the issue.

Washington: Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Finance and the Economy Dr Errol Cort held wide ranging discussions on the internet gaming dispute in Washington on Thursday with his ministerial counterpart from the Office of the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Susan Schwab. "Clearly this is first and foremost about establishing lines of communication at the government-to-government level.

The European Commission plans to decide within weeks whether to step up legal action against Germany over that country's recent move to ban online gambling, a spokesman for the commission in Brussels said Tuesday. The German law came into effect on Jan. 1, banning Web-based betting, with the exception of wagers on horseracing, and restricting other forms of gambling to state-run operators.

Das britische Staatsministerium für Kultur, Medien und Sport hat bestätigt, dass Tasmanien künftig auf der sogenannten White List jener Länder enthalten ist, die auf den Britischen Inseln für Onlinespielangebote werben dürfen. Gleichzeitig wurde dies den Antragstellern aus Kahnawake und Antigua verweigert. Eine Begründung für diese Entscheidungen steht noch aus.