Poland to introduce regulations to online gambling laws

The Polish Government is planning to introduce regulations to its online gambling laws, similar to those in Italy, as reported in the Warsaw Voice.

“National regulations that prohibit the acceptance of bets unless one has a license issued by the relevant member state restrict the freedom of services,” said the court in substantiating its decision.

The court ruled that an operator who holds a license issued in one EU member state has the right to provide similar services throughout the European Union.

The court’s ruling concerns three bookmakers who had accepted bets in Italy on behalf of British-based firm Stanley International Betting (SIB). SIB had no license to conduct bookmaking business in Italy.

In Poland, a dozen or so foreign online bookmakers operate without any regulations. The finance ministry is working to amend the gambling law.

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WTO rules US online gambling ban is illegal

The World Trade Organization (WTO) last week released its ruling in regard to the United States government’s “ban on online gambling” and determined it is illegal.

Antigua successfully argued in its complaint that the U.S. protects a domestic gambling industry while failing to live up to its international commitments.

The WTO said the US could only continue to block such overseas websites if its laws were equally applied to US firms that offer off-track betting on horse racing.

The US government argued it simply wants to limit gambling, however, overseas companies claim the US move is simply protectionism and means to remove foreign competition.

The full WTO ruling can be found on the WTO website.

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Founder of Betonsports arrested

On Wednesday 28th March, the founder of London-based gaming website Betonsports, Stephen Kaplan was arrested in the Dominican Republic and sent to the US to answer criminal charges, US officials have said.

In June, Mr. Kaplan was one of 11 people indicted on charges of racketeering, fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy.

Betonsports closed down its US operations in August 2006. The US had been the group’s biggest market, delivering around 95% of its profits.

Following his arrest at a hotel in Santo Domingo, Mr. Kaplan was sent by Dominican authorities to Puerto Rico for an initial appearance before a US magistrate.

Authorities have asked that Mr. Kaplan be moved to St Louis immediately or be held in custody pending a hearing to remove him to St Louis, to answer the charges against him.

Mr. Kaplan is the second person to be arrested in the investigation against Betonsports.

In July last year the company’s then chief executive David Carruthers was detained while changing planes in the US.

He was later sacked by the company, which subsequently decided to shut down its US business. He has been held under house arrest in St Louis since August.

This latest arrest comes as the World Trade Organisation ruled against America’s online gaming ban.

Citadel moves to Europe amid ESI restructuring

A press release on the ESI website reads;

Vancouver, BC, March 26, 2007 — ESI Entertainment Systems Inc. (“ESI”) (TSX: ESY) today announced that the Company has continued with its restructuring plans in order to optimize its operations and to build a strong foundation for future growth.

The following actions have been performed:

• All intellectual property related to Citadel Commerce and PlayLine will be transferred to subsidiaries in Malta.

• Citadel’s primary data center in Vancouver will be re-located to Malta.

• Citadel has commenced outsourcing portions of its software development to India.

• Citadel’s call center in Costa Rica has been enhanced to support additional operational
responsibilities as well as local accounting capability.

• Citadel’s North American sales staff has been further reduced.

• Citadel’s UK operational and sales staff has been increased and has already signed
several new agreements.

•Due to the reduction of accounting support required in Canada, Mark Bains has agreed to resign as CFO of ESI. Tony Greening will resume responsibility for the CFO role.

•As a result of the further restructuring and continued conservative use of its accumulated capital, ESI expects to generate increased sales in Europe and better position the company to serve its customers.

•Due to the recent events in the gaming industry and their affect on the Company, stock options have been granted to key employees in order to enhance employee retention over the next four to five years. Effective March 1, 2007, ESI has granted 1,175,000 stock options to directors, officers, employees, and consultants from the Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). The options have exercise price of $0.50 and expire on March 1, 2017.

At least 64 People Arrested in U.S. Online Gambling Stings

As first reported on gambling911 website, more than 64 people have been arrested, with others being sought in connection to various online gambling stings that were coordinated throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut on Wednesday.

Agents throughout the tri-state area were apprehended during the overnight hours of Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning.  More than 300 officers in New Jersey alone worked the case. 

Much of the gambling business was conducted throughout a wire room in Costa Rica.  50KSports.com was named in the New York complaint. 

A massive New Jersey sweep resulted in 47 arrests.  A New York bust resulted in the arrests of 17 people; amongst them were former New York City police officers, an ex-Merrill Lynch broker, and a secretarial coordinator Atlanta-based King & Spalding’s New York law firm. Others were being sought and more charges are expected.

“We have struck a powerful blow at the organisational level of an illegal gambling organisation that has been reaping millions in illegal profits,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin said.

He identified three ringleaders of the operation as Joseph Pasquale, 50, of Brick Township, Richard Crossan, 48, of Hillsborough in Somerset County, and Ralph Santoro, 52, of Bridgewater. All three were charged with money laundering, conspiracy, racketeering, and promoting gambling.

The three men are being held on $1 million bail and were due to make an initial court appearance on Thursday. It was not immediately clear if the three had hired lawyers.

In carrying out raids at 70 locations, authorities seized over $2 million in cash, froze numerous bank accounts, and seized 14 vehicles and a 28-foot yacht owned by Pasquale somewhat aptly named ‘Risky Business’.

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