Online Gambling News all over the world 10.10.2009

10.10.2009, Betting Exchange Controversy Heats Up / Gambling Help Online Launched in Australia / Online Gambling Sportingbet Increases Revenues / Malta Discusses Social Impact of Gambling / Online Gambling Coming On Strong in Moscow / US Decision a Must on Online Gambling

Betting Exchange Controversy Heats Up
Originally called "open-market betting", in June of 2000 it started a whole new era in the world of gambling. The name was changed, by the media and the associated industry, to "betting exchange".

Betfair embraced a pure exchange model with flare now controling a reported 90% of global exchange activity. Betfair's strength has been not come without critics and setbacks. It has broken the ice on the kind of bet a person can make. It empowers the punter one Betfair spokesperson said once. The advent of the betting exchange has given rise to new types of gamblers those who wager on all possible outcomes which includes a horse loosing the race or a team finishing last. Traditional betting firms in the UK maintain this type of betting attracts corruption and match fixing. Now betting exchanges are on the defensive once again this time in France.

The newest amendment to the online gambling laws from the French parliament has effectively banned betting exchanges. Among them one of the largest, Betfair. The Guardian newspaper reported recently, that this could have implications for other countries like Britain. The dislike for betting exchanges is obvious among traditional online books in the UK and now betting exchanges are been treated as 'different' on the continent.

Betfair, has described the amendment to the law as 'discriminatory.' Mark Davies, Betfair's managing director, speaking to The Guardian newspaper said, "We will consider our position. It is fairly clearly discriminatory against the biggest and most competitive online operator in Europe. It is a slap in the face for the consumer."

A 2007 report from the British Gambling Commission seems to be the base for the last minute amendment to the French online gambling legislation. This tactic worked well in the USA as a couple of senators slipped a change into the popular but unrelated port security act at the very last minute. The new prohibition on certain forms of gambling would become the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in the USA. It is expected that Betfair will seek legal council on the issue.

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Gambling Help Online Launched in Australia
Since Tasmania has finally made the bold move to let online gambling companies set up shop on the island and hopefully attract a significant job base they have also been pro- active in offering support for those who may have trouble keeping within their limits.

The 'Gambling Help Online' program has been just announced by the Minister for Human Services, Lin Thorp, in Hobart. Calling on all States and Territories to join in on the national launch of a world-first online gambling counselling and support service.

Thorp, said, "the new service would give Tasmanians who had issues with problem gambling the option of getting help online should they be unable or reluctant to do so face-to- face." As an initiative of the Ministerial Council on Gambling and after extensive research, Gambling Help Online is the first of its type to provide 24/7 free and confidential live chat, email counselling and support services. Professional counsellors with expertise in problem gambling. Also the option to seek assistance anonymously, or to register with the service to keep a record of online discussions is available. Web links for educational and self help content are made easily.

“We are living in an online world, and this is a fantastic new resource that will complement the range of existing services available to respond to problem gambling issues,” Lin Thorp said. She continued, “ The online self assessment tools are based on research on the common signs and consequences of problem gambling. It is acknowledged that for some it is difficult to know where to start, but these online assessment tools are a very positive first step.” A safe, confidential and non-threatening environment is a good place to begin talking. The website can help straighten out those sometimes confusing issues. Any attempt to help is appreciated by those who need it.

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Online Gambling Sportingbet Increases Revenues
Shares in Sportingbet rose as much as 9.2 percent this year with speculation that the increase in profits was driven by the addition of live sports Webcasts with more betting during sports such as soccer and tennis. More betting during games and the introduction of live streaming of matches in November, the company said was making up for a loss of revenues from poker wagering due to increased competition in the online gambling market. Sports is now responsible for 64 percent of the net gambling revenue, up from 52 percent two years ago. Chief Executive Officer of Sportingbet, Andrew McIver, was quoted in a Bloomberg report recently, “Sports betting is a more hardy, recession-resilient product offer,” adding, “We grow up with a sports heritage, where you don’t necessarily play poker in your youth.” Sportingbet said that the company will now be able to pay dividends again to it's shareholders which were discontinued after the firm was shredded in 2006 by the ban on online gambling in the once lucrative market of the USA. The company also announced that it will move to the London Stock Exchange’s Official List away from the Alternative Investment Market probably within the next six months or so. Greece was Sportingbet's largest market with revenues gaining a huge 56 %. A healthy 11% increase wqas reported in Spain while in the U.K. there was a decline of 21% mainly due to increased competition in there. Offering 8,000 different bets on a typical day, up from about 1,000 a year ago, Sportingbet is obviously on a roll. The during-game betting option allows Sportingbet to offer 35 different wagers per game per side for an average match. The upcoming World Cup of Soccer next summer would appear to be more of a risk for sports betting companies because most betting action will take place on one or two championship games rather than many during an ordinary season. Many online gambling firms are taking measures to smooth the waters in the USA as is Sportingbet, which is optimistic that a settlement with the US Department of Justice will come at some time in the future.

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Malta Discusses Social Impact of Gambling
Social Policy Minister John Dalli in Malta suggested recently while speaking during the debate in second reading of the Lotteries and Other Games Act Amendment Bill, that advertising promoting gambling activities should be banned outright. He said that while leaving room for the entertainment value of gambling, but that the curbing of abuse is necessary.

His approach is that of a social director when he said that there should also be strict controls on internet gambling. The Minister called for government to acquire information on Internet provider addresses to see who plays where and where the process is taking place. The main concern for the Minister was the development of the problem gambler and that all restrictive measures would be based on prevention. Also on the important list for discussion was providing security for the more vulnerable elements in Maltese society and youth.

A number of regulatory authorities have been established over the years in various sectors, the land based gambling sector remained mostly unregulated. Online betting from Malta involves billions of euros. These discussions are for the people of Malta primarily to understand the impact of gambling online or otherwise on their society.

The debate turned critical of the government's lack of insight into problems created by gambling on Malta. Many ministers pointed out that there are loopholes in gambling legislation in Malta that are giving some offshore companies an advantage over the domestic operators, without the obligation to be socially responsible financially or morally.

A single platform which applies to every gaming sector without any prejudice or discrimination, was called for during the talks. Primary goals of the new legislation were to harmonise the sectors by building a strong foundation and striking a balance among the gov

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Online Gambling Coming On Strong in Moscow
Officials in Moscow are stressing out with their concerns that the recent prohibition on casinos and gambling in Russia is being replaced by internet wagering and lottery machines. The total ban on gambling in Russia caused the loss of thousands of jobs in the country.

Russian gambling has been relegated to four very distant areas of the nation where there is no activity as yet. Re-licensing in Russia is a very difficult and convoluted process that deters the average bookmaker or casino operator from moving forward. In the capital 525 casinos and slot machine parlours where once busy and now about a third of those operations are selling instant lottery tickets, Moscow Deputy Mayor Sergei Baidakov said.

The number of Internet cafes providing access to online gambling has tripled since July, in Moscow. Russia's gambling industry was generating $3.6 billion and employed about 400,000 people. Baidakov said, "We are seriously concerned about the rise of surrogate technologies," adding, "They are the by product of imperfect legislation."

Baidakov said the budget had suffered little from the ban on gambling, with tax revenues down only 0.5 percent. He said, "It's nil compared to the benefits to the health of the nation,"

Deputy Moscow police head Viktor Vasilyev commented, authorities are continuing to search out illicit casinos and slot machine halls, with police seizing 33 slot machines lately and shutting down 35 underground casinos since the legislation passed in July. It is expected that city and federal authorities will close the legal loopholes that allow online gambling and the unrestricted sale of lottery tickets. Some residents have voiced their delight that the slot machine halls and casinos have been replaced by restaurants, fitness clubs and deli shops. Shop owners and those who work in the restructured areas find that things are a lot quieter now.

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US Decision a Must on Online Gambling
Considerable attention is on the USA right now to right the ship, financially speaking. That's the ship that just a short time ago was in serious peril. Now it looks as if the urge to spend is back on track in some parts of the world. We all love to be entertained in good or not so good times and people still need to have fun. Since the beginning of time it seems people have gambled for entertainment and enjoyment. It's a past time that many cultures accept. Other cultures do not, and gambling may not be for everyone. No one can deny though gambling can provide a good time especially when one wins. In some cases it requires a very sophisticated understanding of the game. That takes practice and time which in today’s fast paced world takes money and patience.

These factors, fun, excitement, easy or testing gambling is a way people are entertained, millions of them around the world. So why would a government want to let it go on without regulation and then gain a healthy amount of tax from doing so, that is anybody's guess.

Righting the financial ship has been an exercise in putting some money where it’s most needed and then making sure that it works for the country as a whole. The USA is in a very difficult position when it comes to re-introducing international online gambling. They are between the rock and a hard place. From one stand point the individual states already understand the economics but on a national level it may take some time.

The USA should decide to do something about this issue soon and get on with righting their ship. The important thing to remember is that the world is on the internet. The web is not going away tomorrow and in this global economy online gambling is an industry of considerable size, the USA should see the reasoning and join the new age of entertainment.

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