The fragmented and diverse gambling regulatory regime in the Philippines could be the subject of consolidation and change following the introduction of House bill AB4192 by the representative for Quezon, Danilo Suarez last week. It is not yet clear whether this bill will also embrace online gambling licensing, although the general wording suggests this may be the case. Suarez proposes the creation of a National Gaming Commission...

In the Ukraine, the Ministry of Finance has begun a public consultation process on its proposals for the regulation of casinos and gambling advertising and has set a deadline for responses of July 9. According to numerous media reports, the government’s propositions would require operators to have at least USD 1.5 million in capital before opening a casino and lay out exactly what games may be played in the Eastern European nation.

The second talk held in the first day of ey!08 Encuentro Yogonet Panama, was “Online Connection, The model for Panama?”. In this opportunity, Karen Sierra-Hughes (GLI) and Dario Piccirilli (University of La Plata, Argentina) commented their knowledge to the public present. To start the talk, Karen Sierra-Hughes brought an overview on GLI functions, in which he commented that the lab performs tests since 1989 in more than 400 jurisdictions worldwide, with services available 24 hours and more than 400 employees in 11 labs worldwide.

Macao - The Chinese government is tightening regulations on the construction of new casinos in Macao, as well as restricting the movement of Chinese nationals to that area, fearing the booming casino industry may undermine Macao's economy and social infrastructure. A 48-year-old man who runs a restaurant in downtown Macao complained about the negative impact on his business caused by the buoyant casino industry.

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed that the newly-formed statutory board, the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA), is about to complete the legal framework to regulate the resort casinos in Singapore. Speaking at a Home Team Promotion Ceremony Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, who is also the Home Affairs Minister, said the CRA and its regulatory framework, would be fully operational this year.

Mr Sarkozy declared it publicly a few weeks ago: France will open its online gaming market. The process has thus now become irreversible. At the beginning of this month, the report issued by Mr. Bruno Durieux on the opening of the French online gaming market was given to the Prime Minister, Mr. François Fillon, and to the ministry of budget, Mr. Woerth. The President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, is due to “validate” it in a near future.

Around 3,000 casino workers could be fired in the following months, according to Jorge Hidalgo, Vicepresident of Costa Rica Casino Association, who commented that the cutback would be held due to the new regulations fixed by the government for this activity, through four decrees and a guidelines. They remark the prohibition to give away alcoholic beverages.

The Isle of Man Treasury Department has proposed to bring forward a Bill to update and simplify the law dealing with the excise duty aspects of gambling law. The Bill will replace the existing Betting Act 1970. The Bill would enable a single Act to deal with both online gambling and on and off-course betting and pool betting. It is not intended to deal with the regulatory aspects of the social law governing gambling (including licensing, under-age and problem gambling) or with any anti-money laundering aspects.

Macao (Xinhua) -- Except for the existing casino projects, the government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) will neither grant any new gaming concession or sub-concession nor approve any land for the building of new casinos in the near future, said the SAR's Chief Executive Ho Hau Wah on Tuesday. In light of China's central government's requirement and expectation for Macao to diversify its gaming-centered economy, the SAR government decided to tighten its gaming market regulation policy...

An Italian draft decree on the regulation of remote gaming which lays down requirements for remote (online) gambling operators seeking to do business in Italy has raised concerns from Malta, in the form of a Detailed Opinion. The European Commission has also expressed reservations on a number of aspects of the decree particularly on games, IT and consumer protection.

José Múcio Monteiro, Minister of Institutional Relations, who was put on pressure by trade unions to develop the approval of a proposal to regulate bingos together with the National Congress, decided to put the matter to debate in the Political Council of the Federal Government. “I want this issue to be treated. It is something controversial, but it has to be resolved. That’s why a development is necessary, but we all have to be involved in it”, said the minister...

Washington - Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, will hold a hearing in early April to explore the burden on U.S. financial institutions to comply with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). The law was intended to deter illegal Internet gambling activity. Meanwhile, support for legislation that would regulate Internet gambling continues to gain momentum...