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.

Televisa demanded the Mexican government to take legal measures against owners of illegal gambling and betting houses that proliferated in the whole country. A 20 % tax on games and draws was approved by the congress last September, as part of a fiscal reform proposed by President Felipe Calderón. It is expected to have a harmful effect in the sector in which Televisa has just entered.

Manchester threatens to take the government to court over Gordon Brown’s decision to scrap a Las Vegas-style super-casino promised to the city. Legal advisers told the Labour-controlled city council that it has strong grounds to seek a judicial review of the prime minister’s U-turn over the gambling act, the Financial Times said. Sir Howard Bernstein, the council’s CEO, said yesterday: "We will look very carefully at how we protect our interests. I wouldn’t rule out legal action."

Tourism Minister of Jamaica, Edmund Bartlett, aims to promote tourist in the island through the construction and exploitation of already existing resources. One of the industries would be the entertanment industry, with the construction of hotels to receive more tourists as well as bigger cruises. The minister has already received offers from important investors who with to plan hotel developments in the island.

The state may get a second casino after Star City was believed to be near a deal giving away its exclusivity rights. Talks between the state government and Star City's owner Tabcorp stalled, with the gaming giant granted a second month-long exclusivity extension to continue the talks. However, it is believed they are close to agreement which would result in a lower gaming tax rate if Star City relinquishes its sole NSW casino operator privilege.

The Victorian government has broken a 54-year monopoly on the state's lottery market, awarding licences to both Tattersall's and Intralot. In opening up the market, the government hopes to reap more money - from more gambling. Today's announcement coincides with a report clearing the state government of any bias in its gaming tender process. The report, by a review panel chaired by retired federal court judge Ron Merkel QC, said the two gaming giants had been treated equally and impartially.

Blackpool's regeneration is a Government priority personally endorsed by Gordon Brown, a special Westminster debate was told. Responding at the end of an hour-and-a-half long discussion in Whitehall about the future of the resort, a junior minister said he would take issues raised back to the heart of Government. Ian Wright, Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: "This is a major priority for my department and other departments with the personal endorsement of the Prime Minister, and I don't think that will be ending."

Taipei -- The government will not open up the casino industry for the moment due to the absence of relevant legal framework and a lack of public consensus, Ho Mei-yueh, chairwoman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), said yesterday. Ho was responding to a question from opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Chiang Yi-hsiung during a Legislative Yuan committee meeting.

Britain's bookmakers have warned they will mount a legal challenge against any decision by the Government to sell the Tote to the racing industry "on the cheap". The racing consortium, which includes Tote management and staff, the Racecourse Association and the Racehorse Owners Association, slashed its latest bid for the bookmaker last week from GBP 400m to GBP 320m, citing jittery credit markets.

According to weekend reports in Gambling News Review, 4Flush and Launchpoker, the Norwegian government minister responsible for matters gambling is planning a Norwegian equivalent of the US Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The US law has caused so much grief in the industry by inhibiting financial transactions with online gambling companies. In an unsourced, but seemingly authoritative report, the portals claim that Norwegian culture Minister Trond Griske may be taking a page from the US legislation book on hamstringing online gambling in the Scandinavian country.

Gaming is big business the world over and Jamaica is no exception. As the industry grew here, thegovernment recognized a need for regulation, and so in 1975, it created the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission. In an interview with JIS News, Executive Director of the Commission, Derek Peart explains that the purpose of the Commission is to regulate the gaming industry. "The Commission has the responsibility of regulating them, licensing or approval being given and also to ensure that only persons who are licensed or receive approvals are able to participate.

Victorian Gaming Minister Tony Robinson has dismissed claims a deal has been struck to award a state lotteries licence to global gaming consortium Intralot. The Victorian government is in the middle of a gaming tender that could see Tattersall's lose its lottery monopoly in the state, if Intralot is allowed to enter the market. The tender process has attracted several controversies, and is the subject of an upper house inquiry.