Heading into the 2009 NHL play-offs season, calls continue for legalized, sports betting, both in Canada and in the United States. In July of 2008, the Ontario government released a letter it had sent to the federal government, seeking an amendment to the Criminal Code that would permit single game sport betting.

Banned since 1946, the games of chance could be approved again in Brazil. The bill, that plans the return of casinos, bingo halls and video lotteries to the country, has been treated in the Chamber of Representatives and was already approved in the Commission of Economic, Industry and Commercial Development.

Last week Raymond Lesniak, a New Jersey state senator, filed a federal lawsuit to permit sports betting in every state. As the recession’s impact in the United States grows, it appears the interest in legalizing sports betting is also on the rise. Currently, sports betting is legal in four states - Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon - but only offered in the first two. Lesniak is not alone in his quest.

Last March 5th, French Minister of Finance Eric Woerth gave the broad outlines of the bill on opening the Internet gambling market to competition. It will concern horse racing, sports betting and for casino games, only poker has been retained since roulette games, blackjack and slots have been officially put aside, the reason being that these are considered too addictive. The online gambling market should be legalized on 1 January 2010.

Legislators in the American state of California are so intent on legalizing online poker that they are reportedly looking to attend an upcoming iGaming conference in order to meet with prospective operators. According to a report from online news portal Gambling911, the western state is looking towards online poker as a way to help solve its troubled economy, which has the second highest foreclosure rate in the country and near double-digit unemployment.

With unemployment and economic concerns mounting some lawmakers are looking at new ways to bring in revenue, even if it means legalizing gambling. Today both sides argued their case on the controversial subject. Hawaii and Utah are the only two states in the country without some sort of legalized gambling or lottery, and chances are it will stay that way. State Senator Donna Mercado Kim introduced a bill that would legalize slot machines and video poker...

Galveston, Texas (Reuters) - First came Hurricane Ike, then the tidal wave from the U.S. economic collapse hit. The steamy Texas island city of Galveston, an historic port known for palm trees, Victorian buildings and shipping cattle and oil to the world, now finds its economy clinging to a life raft. Some leaders believe the only hope for the city of about 45,000 -- down about a third from its pre-hurricane population -- is to legalize gambling and open casinos that would lure in tourists.

Advocates for legalizing poker in Texas are endorsing legislation this session to regulate the game, which they say would bring revenue to the state and allow them to play in safety. The hundreds of illegal poker rooms across Texas – which can rake in USD 3,000 on an average night – have become robbers’ easy targets. But these players aren’t folding yet.

Taipei, Taiwan -- Casinos may be set up on offshore islands after the Legislative Yuan legalizes gambling before it adjourns for the winter, the Council for Economic Planning and Development said yesterday. “We have done all the necessary preparations,” a CEPD official said. “All we are waiting for is the adoption of a gambling bill,” he added. Lawmakers have completed the second reading of the bill.

Taipei (Taiwan News) – The Presidential Office denied media reports Monday it was setting up a taskforce to study the legalization of casino gambling. The Presidential Office completely respected the right of the cabinet’s Council for Economic Planning and Development to take initiatives on the subject of gambling, presidential spokesman Wang Yu-chi said. Building casinos has long been seen as a way to stimulate the economies of outlying islands like Penghu and Kinmen...

The Gaming and Raffles Subcommittee of Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies has its proposed legislation ready in order to legalize casinos, which includes a series of safeguards in order to prevent money laundering and fines of up to USD 219,702 on establishments that violate the regulations. According to Armando García Méndez, who chairs the subcommittee, the project will be presented during the current regular session...

The Commission of Economic Development, Industry and Commerce of the House of Representatives approved the legalization of gambling houses in Brazil. The text, belonging to Representative Vicentinho Alves, will have to be treated by other commissions. Betting income generated is planned to be allocated to the Health sector. In the proposal presented before the representatives, casino operation would be limited to the North, North-East and Central-West of the country...