3 7 July 2004

News:

The United States has entered into negotiations with Antigua and Barbuda in an attempt to resolve its World Trade Organisation dispute with the island over US restrictions on online gambling.

Key members of a Russian gang involved in extortion and money-laundering were arrested on 20 July in a joint operation between the UK’s National Hi-Tech Crime Unit and its counterparts in the Russian Federation, the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit announced.

Betting exchanges will be permitted to operate in Australia and to be licenced by Australian States and Territories.

Features:

The United States continues to be the focus of guerrilla activity by the US Justice Department against the online gambling industry. In Congress manoeuvering is still taking place, while the US Government has entered negotiations with Antigua over the World Trade Organisation dispute. This article examines the latest developments.

When the European Union opened up its doors to ten new countries on 1 May 2004, the ramifications for every industry with any sort of operation in eastern Europe were potentially profound. No less the gaming industry, with the joining of the new members relevant for operators, suppliers and end users alike. This article looks at the approach to online gambling of a group of the new entrants.

Mention the Isle of Man and internet bookmaking is probably not one of the first things that springs to mind. Most people involved in the Gambling Industry will recall the pages of press coverage in 2001 when some the world’s biggest and best known Casinos obtained Isle of Man Internet Gambling Licences. In the glare of all that publicity and the Internet Gaming Industries very public rollercoaster ride it is easy to believe that Internet Gaming is the only form of internet gambling allowed on the Island and to forget that the Island is arguably the grandfather of internet bookmaking.

This article explains the approach that has been taken by the Isle of Man to software testing.

Curaçao is the largest of five Caribbean islands that make up the Netherlands Antilles. The five-island federation forms part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with full internal autonomy. The Netherlands Antilles is an OCT (overseas country and territories) of the European Community. The system of government of the Netherlands Antilles is a parliamentary democracy based on the Dutch model. Free elections are held every four years. The educational system is primarily based on the Dutch system, and schools on the island meet the high standards applicable to institutions in the Netherlands. Do note that Curacao is a multi-lingual society.

The future of remote gambling in the UK will depend very substantially on the tax regime that is introduced by the government.We publish here the position statement by iGGBA, the interactive gaming gambling and betting association on tax.