4 9 September 2005

News:

The US Financial Industry has intervened in the latest moves to introduce legislation in the US Senate that would criminalise the use of financial instruments in online gambling.

The Chief Executive of problem gambling charity Gamcare has called on the National Health Service to be incorporated into the partnership of those tackling problem gambling.

World Online Gambling Law Report is organising a half-day Special Briefing on Tuesday 18 October in London, in association with leading City law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, focusing on consolidation in the remote gambling market.

Features:

The cause of problem gambling remains a controversial subject. Yet that there are problem gamblers and that their numbers are likely to rise as more people gamble seems a proposition with which few can disagree.

The popularity of poker has encouraged and been reinforced by a growing number of TV programmes and some channels devoted to poker and gambling. John Enser, a partner at Olswang, looks at whether such programmes can be transmitted into the rest of Europe.

Decisions in the European national courts concerning online gambling are something of a state lottery. Thibault Verbiest, founding partner and Ewout Keuleers, senior associate of Ulys looks at the latest developments in the European Courts.

The Gambling industry, the Gambling Commission, the voluntary sector and the Health Service all have a role to play in tackling problem gambling. Jill Davidson, Chief Executive of Gamcare examines how these organisations can work together most effectively.

Enforcing and obtaining judgments in a foreign jurisdiction for payment of a gambling debt is not an open and shut case. Sarah Rees, a partner at Tarlo Lyons, looks at recent findings of the Malaysian and Singapore Courts.

Internet portal Casino City is continuing with its campaign to win a declaratory judgment that advertising online casinos and sportsbooks on the Internet is constitutionally protected commercial free speech. Pat O'Brien, a partner at Greenberg Traurig and Casino City's lawyer, traces the latest developments.

Senator Jon Kyl lost his most recent attempt to ban online gaming, but Senator Kyl is expected to try again. Rick Smith and Keith Furlong from the Interactive Gaming Council look at latest developments in the US.