4 2 February 2005

News:

The Dutch Supreme Court ruled on 14 February that Ladbrokes cannot offer online betting services to Dutch citizens.

The fate of the UK Gambling Bill hangs in the balance as it heads for its second Reading in the House of Lords.

The US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana ruled on February 15 that internet portal, Casino City did not have standing to invoke the court’s jurisdiction in its case to seek a declaratory judgment that advertising online casinos and sports books is constitutionally protected commercial free speech under the First Amendment of the United States.

Features:

On February 15 the US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana ruled that internet portal, Casino City did not have standing to invoke the court’s jurisdiction in its case to seek a declaratory judgment that advertising online casinos and sports books is constitutionally protected commercial free speech under the First Amendment of the United States. Pat O’Brien, a partner at Greenberg Traurig and Casino City’s lawyer, analyses the significance of the Court ruling

One of the fastest growing areas in world-wide remote gambling has been person to person (P2P) gaming and, in particular, poker. It is a very adaptable game and works successfully on the internet, on interactive television (iTV) and in land based tournaments. Shocking as it may seem to those familiar with the dated view of bingo as appealing only to the silver haired, there is talk that bingo is on the way up and may be the “new poker” in the P2P space. Peter Wilson, a partner at Tarlo Lyons, considers and compares the legal framework applicable to both games opining on bingo’s prospects of rivalling poker’s popularity and success.

Nick Williams, Corporate partner and part of Hammonds Gambling team, discusses the issues which may face gambling companies seeking to float on the UK markets.

The reserve of the Mohawks of Kahnawake outside of Montreal in Canada, is one of the international centres for servers hosting remote gambling sites, Golden Palace and Carmen Media are just among its many clients. Michael D. Lipton, Q.C. and Kevin Weber Elkind, of Toronto law firm Lipton & Jacobs, examine the regulatory structure of this jurisdiction and its relationship to both Provincial and Federal Government.

In a world where legal wrangling risks leaving the iGaming industry out in the cold, it may be a great thing to do for many interested parties to take their bearings anew. Mario Galea, CEO, Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Malta and Anthony Axisa, Director, Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Malta take a look at the key issues in remote gambling regulation.

The German cours have considered a number of gambling related cases. Martin Arendts, Attorney at law, reports of the latest developments.

The incredible changes going through the industry in the last few months have refocused the debate on the issue of jurisdiction. The consolidation of the industry, the pressure to raise capital to compete and the arrival of new licensing conditions and even new licensing jurisdictions have made it increasingly difficult to discern the right location for companies. The advent of the UK Draft Gambling Bill has reopened the question surrounding jurisdiction and this article will explore the drivers for jurisdiction selection and what, if any, the UK Gambling Bill will impact on a company’s location decision.