4 8 August 2005

News:

Consolidation in the remote gambling industry has been reflected in the merger of the two UK based trade associations, the interactive Gaming Gambling and Betting Association and the Association of Remote Gambling Operators.

World Online Gambling Law Report is organising a half-day Emergency Briefing on Friday 16 September in London, in association with leading City law firm Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP, focusing on the significance of the Appeal Court decision in BHB v William Hill for both database rights holders and rights users.

The United States has been given until 3 April 2006 to implement the recommendations and rulings of the World Trade Organisation Disputes Settlement Body regarding the complaint by Antigua and Barbuda against the United States in the dispute “United States - Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services” (WT/DS285/13).

Features:

The remote gambling market is nothing if not dynamic. The last six months have been characterised by a rush to market accompanied by a move to snap up smaller players.

Consolidation in the online gambling industry is moving apace. David Collins, Head of Corporate Finance at Berwin Leighton Paisner, looks at some of the legal issues arising in the context of an M&A transaction in the online gaming sector.

The United States has been given until 3 April 2006 to implement the recommendations and rulings of the World Trade Organisation Disputes Settlement Body regarding the complaint by Antigua and Barbuda against the United States. Lode Van Den Hende, a solicitor from Herbert Smith, who have represented Antigua in the dispute explains the latest developments.

Distinguishing a skill game from a lottery, a game of chance, or a bet can be more complicated than it appears. Peter Wilson, partner at Tarlo Lyons, unravels the mystery about the legality of skill gaming.

With mobile phone penetration approaching 100% in the UK and other geographical markets, mobile gambling is an increasingly significant delivery platform with the potential eventually to take over from the internet as the leading remote gambling platform. Nic Nocton, a partner with Jeffrey Green Russell, looks at the key legal and regulatory issues.

Canada hosts GIGSE, the annual trade show for remote gambling. The Mohawks of Kahnawake in Quebec host a substantial number of online gambling servers. Yet the legal framework for gambling in Canada remains at best grey. Danielle Hough from Fasken Martineau in Toronto examines the legal and regulatory structure.

A French criminal court has ordered Malta based online bookmaker ZeTurf to stop accepting bets on horse racing from French citizens. Thibault Verbiest, a founding partner of Ulys, looks at the background to the case.