iGaming Business – The Colorado House has given its initial approval to a bill that prohibits the sale of lottery tickets online in the US state of Colorado, according to the Associated Press news agency. The bill would ban the Colorado Lottery Commission from approving such sales, allowing for tickets to only be sold in-person at licensed stores in the state. Lawmakers voted in favour of the bill on Monday with an unrecorded voice vote, with a final vote to take place this week to refer the bill to the Senate. Loveland Republican Representative Brian DelGrosso sponsored the bill and…

NJ.com – Gov. Chris Christie’s administration admitted Tuesday it had overplayed its hand on online gambling, drastically overestimating the amount the state would bring in during the first year. Christie had proposed a spending plan last year that anticipated a $200 million increase in tax revenue from the casinos, almost all of it from the legalization of internet betting that began in November. State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff later cut Christie’s estimated increase to $160 million. But Tuesday he conceded even that was far too high, and now expected just a $34 million rise in casino tax revenue for the fiscal…

Some in Pennsylvania have been pondering the idea of legalizing online gaming that would be offered from state-sanctioned sites, while at least one elected official now wants the act of playing online poker to be criminalized, according to an article on Philly.com. A state lawmaker is pushing a proposal that would make the “first violation a summary offense that carries a possible $300 fine and up to 90 days in jail”, while “a second violation would be a misdemeanor bringing a chance of a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail.” Those penalties apparently wouldn’t be for running…

BBC – Bookmaker Ladbrokes has reported a sharp fall in profits, hit by costs related to an upgrade of its online offering. Pre-tax profits for 2013 were £67.6m, down 66% on 2012, dragged down by £51.6m in exceptional costs driven largely by a software upgrade. Chief executive Richard Glynn admitted the results were “disappointing”, but insisted it had made “real operational progress”. It will shut 40 to 50 shops this year. Ladbrokes formed a tie-up with software developer Playtech last year and is now switching its gaming products to a new system. It is aiming to complete the upgrade by…

Poker News – French President François Hollande appointed Charles Coppolani this morning as new ARJEL president, bringing new hope of improved conditions for both operators and poker players in France. Coppolani was one of the two leading candidates for the top position at France’s gaming regulator after former ARJEL President Jean-François Vilotte announced his resignation in December 2013, two years before the natural end of his mandate, to pursue opportunities in the private sector. When Vilotte announced his resignation it was believed to be a major setback for the French gaming market, but Coppolani should prove to be a worthy…

Poker News – As Italy’s economy keeps being one of the most troublesome in the European region, the latest numbers show that the country’s online poker industry is still far from recovery. Right now while the House of Representatives votes for Italy’s 63rd government in 68 years, welcoming former major of Florence Matteo Renzi as the country’s youngest Prime Minister, industry data from newsagency Ansa / Agimeg show a significant decline both for cash and tournament poker. During 2014’s first month, cash games Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) generated €12,200,000, showing a 20% decline compared to January 2013, and an even…