The UK Government today announced its intention to introduce new legislation that would call for all remote gambling operators with British customers to obtain British licences, irrespective of where those companies are based. Clive Hawkswood, the RGA’s Chief Executive commented that: ‘Now that the Government has confirmed its intentions…

The Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya) has filed appeals to the Supreme Court (sp. Tribunal Supremo (TS)) against two judgments of the High Court of Catalonia (sp. TSJC), which nullified two decrees in the field of gaming adopted by the government headed by Pasqual Maragall (former President of Catalonia).

Virtual casinos take advantage of a regulatory void, but not for much longer, writes Julius Baumann. Online casino Silversands’ days may be numbered with the introduction of SA’s online gambling regulations coming a step closer to reality. Under the proposed regulations, which were published in the Government Gazette for public comment in February…

Britain’s leading bookmakers have warned the Government that any attempt to increase taxes or regulation at the Budget will lead to betting shop closures and job losses, as well as further undermining their ability to compete with offshore rivals. In meetings with Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport, and Angela Eagle, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, some bookies have also hinted that any regressive move from the Government could force them to relocate parts of their business offshore.

Gangtok (Sikkim) – Keen to improve tourist inflow into the State, the Sikkim Government recently launched a casino. With an annual increase of 20 per cent in tourist inflow in recent years, Sikkim is the only state in the country offering land based live casino facilities and complete casino gaming to tourists. The first casino was opened at the Royal Plaza hotel and was named ‚Casino Sikkim‘.

A critical step in the process of establishing casino gaming in Jamaica was taken Tuesday with the tabling of a ministry paper on the proposed legislation in Parliament. Ministry Paper number 3/2009 introduced the basis for the legislation, the new Casino Gaming Act, with provisions for a regulatory framework to be administered by a casino gaming commission as well as for a taxation regime.

The government aims to increase games of chance in the country by the latest term of its mandate. It plans to open 13 gambling venues, mainly slots, which would be added to the existing 34, and to local casinos of Carrasco and Parque Hotel. Most of the new casino will be operated through a mixed operating system between the Casino General Direction of the country and private businessmen which present projects of tourist and commercial interest.

Dithering has always been part of Britain’s political culture but time is rapidly running out for amusement arcades and the wider pay-to-play leisure industry. Delays in policy decisions are putting nearly 30,000 jobs in the industry in severe jeopardy. More and more businesses are forced to close every week — especially seaside arcades. Far from heralding a liberalisation of the gambling laws, the 2005 Gambling Act has introduced greater regulation for land-based operators…

Government revenue collection from the casino clubs in terms of Betting and Gaming Levy has seen a rapid increase from USD 509,380 in 2003 to USD 2,5 million in 2006 according to information provided to Parliament last week. Information was revealed to the House by Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya in response to a question by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake in this regard.

TabCorp is pleading for immediate government intervention through tax cuts and increased protection for licensed tote operators in order to halt the slide of business towards its Northern Territory-based online rivals. According to a piece in The Age newspaper, Tab took USD 36.5 million in bets on the main Melbourne Cup thoroughbred horse race last week, which was 10.3 % more than on last year’s event.

Singapore’s government may form a venture with CapitaLand Ltd to take over one of the island’s two casino resorts if Las Vegas Sands Corp fails to stave off loan defaults, CIMB-GK Research Pte has said. Las Vegas Sands, the gaming company that said last week it may default on debt and face bankruptcy, reiterated last Saturday that it’s committed to the USD 4 billion Singapore resort. The company has drawn down at least SGD 2 billion (USD 1.3 billion) from a SGD 5-billion credit facility by several banks for the project.

Las Vegas (AP) — Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Friday that officials from the Singapore government and senior executives from the resort developer met to discuss the completion of the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore amid continued concern about tightness in the credit markets. Las Vegas Sands said discussions included construction and marketing efforts to bring more conventions and exhibitions to Singapore.