7 8 August 2008

News:

Similar class action lawsuits have been filed with the US District Courts seeking compensation from mutual investment funds that 'unlawfully invested money entrusted to them...in an illegal gambling business', causing the funds to lose money following the US government's 2006 crackdown on internet gambling.

World Online Gambling Law Report will be holding its fourth one-day Gambling e-Payments Intensive on 28 October, at the London offices of K&L Gates.

PokerTrillion must file a €2.5 million deposit by 16 September in order to implement a Maltese court order authorising it to seize Boss Media's servers, according to Boss Media. Boss Media cannot appeal the 18 August order of the First Hall Civil Court, Malta (case 755/2008), which requires Boss Media to switch off its servers from 18 September.

Features:

It is interesting to note that while the 2008 Republican Platform includes strong anti-online gambling sentiments, the Democrat Platform does not mention internet gambling, despite extensive sections on the pros and cons of the internet.

The Gambling Commission introduced a number of changes to its operating licence application and annual fee structure from 1 August, as well as introducing new types of operating licences. Julian Harris and Joanna Brown, of Harris Hagan, examine the changes including the new operating licence for trading rooms, new types of 'linked' licences, corporate control fees and who benefits from - and loses out because of - changes to the annual fee structure.

Online gambling companies can operate in Latvia, subject to certain conditions. Jevgenija Andronova, a lawyer with Liepa, Skopina / Borenius, details the types of online gambling permitted, the role of the state regulator in issuing and policing the licensing process, special requirements for the organisation of online gambling and reasons for refusal or annulment of a licence.

The Iowa Electronic Markets (IEM) offers a service allowing participants to bet on the outcome of certain events, such as the outcome of the US Presidential election. David R. Overstreet, Linda J. Shorey and Charles R. Mills, of K&L Gates, examine the regulation of such markets by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

A new draft legislation on French gambling, announced by French Budget Minister Eric Woerth on 6 June, aims to introduce a 'controlled' opening of the gambling and betting market by regulating who can offer gambling services within France, including online gambling. Carl Rohsler and Alexandre Le Ninivin, of Hammonds LLP, analyse reports commissioned by the French government to ascertain what provisions regarding licensing fees, the tax regime and the financing of sport will be contained within the new law.

The Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ITG) has imposed bans on advertising lotteries using the internet, television or telephone marketing. As well as causing problems for online operators, this has caused problems for state run lottery shows in Germany. Dr. Wulf Hambach and Marco Erler, of Hambach and Hambach, discuss recent court cases involving the ITG and the effect on those involved.