The conflict on the regulation of the opening of casinos in Mendoza showed the political and economic interests of these businesses, that generate millionaire winnings. Nowadays, the Chamber of Representatives has a new commission to define gaming policies, headed by a representative which is against the government position. From February, the new Commission of Gaming Policies of the Chamber of Representatives will start defining the new policies on the matter...

Finance Minister Audley Shaw has announced that Cabinet is on Monday expected to approve policy governing casino gambling in Jamaica. He says in order to further stimulate the local tourism industry Cabinet will give the green light to the policy. According to the Finance Minister, one major project is on hold pending the decision and approval by Parliament.

Taiwanese legislature is planning to discuss a proposal to legalize gambling and casinos on outlying islands close to China, while police say they will take tough measures against eventual crime linked to gambling. The proposal up for discussion at the Legislative Yuan’s Economic Affairs Committee comes from a small group of independent lawmakers, but the larger parties are likely to request changes.

Approximately ½ year have now gone by. As is customary for newly established governments, this period of time is sufficient to take stock of the success or failure of the route taken by a government or – in this case – of the success of a law. This is because the “legislative period” of the State Treaty on Gambling surprisingly also is 4 years and – just as a government – a law can also be overthrown before the end of this period. Regarding the route taken by the Merkel government:

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.

Bulgarian lawmakers rejected the controversial amendments to the country’s gambling laws proposed by the cabinet and criticized by the opposition and president Georgi Parvanov, Sofia News Agency reports. The amendments bill proposed to tax betting firms 10% of their profit, rather than 10% of their turnover, as it is now, and has sparked a heated debate on the parliamentary floor.

Mexican legislators approved in a commission a 20% tax to operators of bets and draws, a duty that could affect the profitability of several games and draws belonging to media company Televisa and entertainment firm CIE. In a press release sent by the House of Legislators, they said that the duty had been proposed as part of the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS), included in a tax reform which is being debated in the Congress.

Sacramento -- The Legislature removed a key hurdle to passing a state budget Thursday, agreeing to allow four Indian tribes to expand casino gambling in exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to the state. The action ended what had been a lengthy legislative logjam that pitted two special interest titans: labor groups vs. casino-operating Indian tribes. The tribes won.