4 6 June 2005

News:

Italian football club Juventus and Dutch club PSV Eindhoven have joined Real Madrid in taking legal action against remote betting companies for what the clubs claim is the use of their logos, name and players’ images without permission.

The TV sponsorship opportunities available to gambling operators following Ofcom’s lifting of restrictions from July 25 is the focus of World Online Gambling Law Report’s Emergency Briefing on TV Sponsorship, Advertising and Marketing.

The multi-billion dollar IPO for PartyPoker owners PartyGaming looks set for a successful launch despite a wave of press speculation concerning the vulnerability of PartyPoker to legal action from the US Justice Department.

Features:

Internet gambling is clearly an entertainment form for the 21st century; so one has to question why the US Department of Justice is using a law created more then 40 years ago to try to impede its growth. The strategy is not only ineffectual, it is wrong.

Ofcom’s new Broadcasting Code will extend the opportunities for commercial products and services to sponsor programmes. Victoria Gaskell, assistant solicitor at Olswang, assesses the opportunities for betting and gaming companies.

The Gambling Commission will replace the Gaming Board as the UK gambling regulator. Nick Nocton, partner and Charles Gerada, solicitor of Jeffrey Green Russell present a guide to the Commission

A United States Supreme Court ruling on wine distribution highlighted discrimination against consumers by state laws. Martin Owens, Attorney at Law, assesses how the decision could benefit US internet gambling.

Interactive TV offers betting and gaming companies a lucrative new medium for reaching customers. Belinda Palmer, solicitor with BSkyB, explains the legal issues companies must consider when launching a service.

The proposed Services Directive is designed to ensure the free movement of online services but excludes gambling. Thibault Verbiest, senior partner and Ewout Keuleers, senior associate of ULYS argue why this is contrary to ECJ caselaw

The wave of consumer identity theft and online fraud has spurred the introduction of a data security standard with which all online merchants will have to comply, or face tough sanctions. Claudia Vincenzi, associate at Simmons & Simmons analyses the standard designed to provide a streamlined solution to the problem.

Regulatory risk has been the focus of much news coverage in the run up to the PartyGaming IPO. Warnings about the threat from the United States and Canada abound.

Lindsey Greig, Managing Editor of World Online Gambling Law Report, was the only journalist to attend the June 12-14 North American Gaming Regulators conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He reports on the NAGRA conference.