The WTO panel is expected to issue its rulings and recommendations on the dispute between the USA and Antigua in late January or early February 2007.

“We believe that, notwithstanding the size of its economy, every WTO member has an obligation to play by the rules and accept and implement the outcomes of an established judicial process all members agreed to for resolving their trade disputes” said Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Finance and the Economy, Dr Errol Cort.

The battle began in 2003 when Antigua requested consultations with the US regarding measures applied by central, regional and local authorities in the US which affected the cross-border supply of gambling and betting services from Antigua and Barbuda.

China, the European Union and Japan continue to participate as “third parties,” and will be given an opportunity during the hearings to present their views on the USA’s claims of compliance.

CBC News reported yesterday the Gambling Watch Network filed a letter with Ontario’s ombudsman complaining scratch tickets are sold even after the top prizes have been won.

Ontario media reported that a national gambling watchdog group has claimed that current scratch card sale practices are unfair and misleading to the consumer. “People go on purchasing those tickets although they have no chance of winning, and it seems to us that this is a breach of the understanding one has in buying a ticket,” a group’s spokesman said.

This practice has been the subject of scrutiny and lawsuits in the United States, causing some state lotteries to include disclaimers on the tickets explaining that some prizes may already be won. Then they tell us that online poker is illegal.

A spokesman for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation said players can call a toll-free number printed on the back of each scratch and win ticket to find out which prizes are still available to be won. Ridiculous, what is the point, isn’t it called Instant Lottery?

microgaming, has released a bigger than usual monthly package of new games to its over 70 licensees.

microgaming’s latest video slots are at the cutting edge of gaming technology with some of the sharpest online graphics yet developed. Twin Samurai is a 20 pay-line video slot. Players can gamble with a range that goes from a cent to the maximum bet of 100.00, and the returns can be extraordinary - up to 50 000.00 if lucky free spin rewards are taken into account.

Summertime is a a 5 reel, 9 pay-line video slot where players can win up to 50.000.00 - the base game jackpot. Glory of Rome is a slot dedicated to the Roman Empire with 5 reels and 20 paylines. The ultimate payouts in this game are exceptionally high. Try it yourself at Roxy Palace still accepting US players.

West Virginia could become just the second state to offer games like poker, blackjack and roulette at racetrack casinos. There has been an increased push in West Virginia to pass table games legislation because of threatened competition from Pennsylvania coming online with up to 61,000 video slot machines.

At present Iowa is the first and only state that has table games at racetrack gaming establishments. Iowa first legalized table games at its racetracks in 2004.

“For some time, only slots were allowed at the racetracks,” Ehrecke said. “In 2004, various factors lined up and created a favorable opportunity for the state and the racetracks.” said Wes Ehrecke, president of the Iowa Gaming Association.

Delaware and Arkansas are taking a different route to introduce a new form of table games, unveiling electronic table games at its racetracks - a way to have poker, blackjack and other games without having to get new laws passed to approve them.

Sportingbet PLC incur a one-time charge of 252.4 million pounds (US$492.4 million; €373.7 million) after selling off its American operations.

Sportingbet bailed out of the once-lucrative U.S. market, selling its sports-betting, casino business and poker operations last month to Antigua-based Jazette Enterprises Ltd. the day that U.S. President George W. Bush signed a law that criminalizes fund transfers. US. bets accounted for about two-thirds of Sportingbet’s profit.

Betfair has completed the acquisition of Timeform, the publisher of horseracing ratings, form guides and analysis.

All Slots Casinohas unveiled its newest progressive wonder: Mega Moolah, a mega-sized progressive video slot game that offers four-tiered jackpots, with the biggest one starting at a sizzling $1,000,000.

James Giordano, one of those arrested in an FBI operation to break up an illegal online gambling ring worth US$3.3bn, has been refused bail at Queens Criminal Court in New York.

A new Pennsylvania bill allows gamblers more than one free drink while they are playing slots. Governor Rendell, who signed the bill says:”Virtually every gaming operation around the world has this amenity, but there are rules and regulations that control it and limit it.”

Then he went on about the possibility of him signing bills to extend gambling licenses for table games. “We have to make sure that over time, the expansion of gaming is successful, it works well, and whatever negative sides there are to it, that we control them. Until we’ve had a significant test period to see that in operation, I don’t think any of these bills should be considered and I wouldn’t sign them”.

No other state so far has passed a slots law and a table games law separately - Pennsylvania would be the first. The state appears to be basing many of its decisions with the emphasis on competing with surrounding state casinos. Well we have said time and time again how the traditional gambling industry in USA is booming after the UIGEA.

Frist announced Wednesday he will not be running for President of the United States in 2008. (celebration)

Frist became Senate majority leader in 2002 as he was President George W. Bush’s choice to replace Trent Lott. We all know that Frist came under heavy scrutiny in October for attaching a bill to outlaw online gambling to an unrelated “port security” act - leaving horse racing out of it in order not to compromise relations with horse racing lobbyists. Some also say that with the law he tried to please religious groups.

“In the Bible, God tells us for everything there is a season, and for me, for now, this season of being an elected official has come to a close. I do not intend to run for president in 2008” he said - does this sound slighty religious?

Frist will announce his decision later today, said the official, who spoke on the condition on anonymity.

As of early last week, “Second Life’s” Web site reported 1.5 million residents.
In this virtual world residents (not “players”) design their own online representations (called “avatars”), hold virtual jobs, go to virtual clubs and shop in the virtual world. “Second Life’s” programming allows residents to build their own virtual houses and other creations.

Ailin Graef has built up a massive property empire and her online equivalent (known as an avatar), Anshe Chung, buys large blocks of lands, improves them by adding housing and then sells them to other users for a handsome profit. Since joining the game in 2004 she has amassed a fortune of almost 300million Linden dollars (the game’s currency).

Uniquely, these dollars can be exchanged into real US dollars at online currency exchanges. With the rate at around L$275 to US$1, she has become a millionaire.

The cost of getting started: You can join for free, but you can’t do much. A one-time fee of $9.95 gives you more opportunities, but not as much as premium membership, for which you’re charged a monthly fee of $9.95.

Economic facts: The monetary unit here is known as the “linden.” Residents are issued 250 to 1,000 lindens when they begin, depending on whether they’re paying a basic or advanced subscription.

Funny: Reuters News has assigned a reporter to cover “Second Life” full time. To do so, it created an avatar who reports from the virtual world.

Yes you got it right ,but unfortunately we are not talking about online poker…sigh

State Rep. DeWeese, a top democrat, is planning to introduce legislation early next year that could legalize poker, blackjack and other table games in Pennsylvania’s new casinos - philly.com reports.

Various details of the bill are still being discussed, including whether to let local municipalities decide whether slots casinos should have table games.

“It used to be that slots made up 85 percent of [a casino’s] business. But that’s no longer the case anymore, we can generate significantly more dollars for property taxes.” said a spokesman for DeWeese. “There is no practical difference between putting $20 in a slot machine and putting $20 on a blackjack table” ah yes?so whats the difference between putting $20 online or putting it in a Pennsylvania casino?

Gambling proponents have said poker and blackjack are necessary to attract younger, more affluent gamblers since. Ok, but if I am not mistaken wasn’t the online gambling bill supposed to stop younger players from gambling easily? Sorry, I don’t follow it anymore.

Eleven states have legalized table games along with slot machines. States in the region, including West Virginia, Delaware and Rhode Island, have legalized slot machines at race tracks but have stopped there.

CryptoLogic is negotiating the renewal of its contract for casino games with William Hill. The companies have entered into a non-binding term sheet which reflects the agreement in principle.

“We have an excellent relationship with William Hill and look forward to even more success both through a new contract later this year and the new business opportunities that this exciting suite of non-downloadable games represent,” said Lewis Rose, CryptoLogic’s President and CEO.

Harrah’s Entertainment is in negotiations with a second buyout group including casino and racetrack owner Penn National Gaming. Last month two private equity firms bid US$15.5bn for Harrah’s.

Neteller are in the market to buy Moneybookers, a UK-based payment provider with 2.3 million account holders, valued at £100m.

online gambling operator Bowmans.com has announced that it will no longer service USA customers and that their USA based customers will receive will receive their online gambling services from US facing giant Bodog.com