The press representative for the Sächsische LOTTO-GmbH thinks “…that the new State Treaty will not lead to an extension of the black market, as gambling is not prohibited but only shaped and designed in a diminishing way…” In this context, it must be added critically that in particular the assumption that state-run lottery draws will cover the whole area of gambling is incorrect and that this assumption is not justified or based on any evidence!

Ladbrokes Plc, the world's largest publicly traded gaming company, can't offer gambling in the Netherlands without a permit, the Dutch Supreme Court ruled. The Harrow, England-based company violated Dutch law by allowing national residents to place bets on its Web site, the court said in a ruling today. The decision is contingent upon whether European Union tribunals rule the bloc's antitrust regulations supersede national gaming laws.

Trenton, New Jersey (AP) -- A New Jersey senator is vowing to fight a federal law that limits legalized sports gambling. Sen. Raymond Lesniak said Monday that he's asked Gov. Jon S. Corzine to file suit declaring the federal law an interstate commerce violation. The federal statute limits legalized sports betting to Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. If Corzine doesn't take action, Lesniak -- a Union County Democrat who heads a major law firm -- said he'll file a lawsuit himself.

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.

Brussels: Major online gambling companies fended off a legal challenge from French Open organizers who wanted to stop bets on the Grand Slam tournament. A Liege court ruled Tuesday that betting companies like bwin did not violate the rights of the French tennis federation by offering bets on Roland Garros matches. The federation had said online betting stained the reputation of the clay-court championship, especially in the wake of Internet gambling scandals.

Madrid Gaming Direction has granted Sportium the third license to operate sportsbooks in the region. The remaining two had been granted to Codere, that began to operate this week under the Victoria brand, and to Intralot Iberia. According to the company, the first Sportium center will be located on number 87, Paseo de la Castellana, and will be inaugurated under the name of Sportium Center. It is a 150 sqm space which includes exhibitors of betting tickets, panel of displays to show events, self-service terminals and displays or Betting Counters.

Victoria, the company born from an association between two leading operating companies as Codere and William Hill, introduce a new leisure and entertainment concept in the Madrid market with the opening of sportsbooks centers. The Financial Counsellor of Madrid Council, through the General Direction of Gaming, has granted Victoria the authorization for sportsbooks operations, becoming, this way, the first Spanish company in offering this new leisure and entertainment category.

Government authorities in New South Wales say Australian High Court approves of its plan to tax and regulate online betting exchange Betfair. NSW's revelation follows closely on the heels of last week's High Court ruling that a Western Australian law banning residents from wagering on betting exchanges is unconstitutional.

While the international gaming community talks about the multi-billion Gran Scala project, in 2008 two provinces of Spain - the Autonomous Community of Madrid and the Basque Country - will bear witness to the first licensed betting offices in the country preparing a sports betting revolution. Last month, developers received final approval to break ground on Gran Scala...

In Thailand, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is reportedly gathering evidence in order to track and shut online gambling and sportsbetting websites based in the Asian nation. According to a piece in the Bangkok Times, Permanent Justice Secretary Jarun Pakdithanakul stated that his Ministry had received new information on websites connected to betting on soccer matches...

The House of Representatives analizes the Bill 2429/07, from representative Luiz Carlos Hauly (PSDB-PR), which bans bets via data transmission, specially in Internet. The text excludes the prohibition of bets performed in federal and regional lotteries authorized by law. The project also bans banks and administrators of credit cards to transfer money for the payment of online bets. In case of an infringement...

Nowadays, in Madrid Council, seven companies expect to open this month the license that will allow them to open sports betting houses. In the Vasque Country, other three companies have been granted the licenses within a tender process. Bettors may do it in two ways: in person or via Internet, according to the gambling regulation approved in 2006 by Madrid government...