Novinite – eCOGRA, an independent online gambling testing and monitoring company, has been approved as a testing laboratory for aspiring online poker and casino operators looking to enter Bulgaria’s emerging Internet gambling market. The announcement came last week after eCOGRA completed an assessment and accreditation program administered by the Bulgarian State Gambling Commission (SGC). eCOGRA was required to comply with the SGC’s strict requirements for testing laboratories and demonstrate complete independence from any potential software supplier and operator. According to a report by eGaming Review on Tuesday, three internet gambling applications are under review in Bulgaria, including industry leaders PokerStars…

Las Vegas Review Journal – The founders of the social gaming product DoubleDown Casino have left the company, two years after it was purchased by International Game Technology. The news follows IGT’s first-quarter earnings release, in which the slot machine giant said it could see a profit decline this year because of several “acquisition-related expenses” surrounding DoubleDown. Trade magazine Venturebeat.com first reported the departures of DoubleDown founders Greg Enell and Cooper DuBois from IGT. Company spokesman Phil O’Shaughnessy confirmed the exits. IGT acquired DoubleDown for roughly $500 million in February 2012. IGT paid $250 million in cash for the Seattle-based…

Poker News – If you’ve received an email from the e-wallet Neteller recently, take extreme caution before clicking any of the links. According to iGaming.org, a false email has been sent to all of Neteller’s customers using the email handle “Netelleer.net,” informing them that the company is shutting down on Jan. 31st. If you click the “click here” button, then you will be taken to a website where you will be asked to insert your login details, including your credit card information. iGaming has reported that there have been “several victims in this case that lost money from their Neteller…

Poker Update – A new bill that aims to repeal the 2008 National Gambling Act and legalize online gambling will be introduced to South Africa’s parliament. Up until now, the only regulated online wagering allowed in the country has been that of sporting contests. But a new bill proposed by South African MP Geordin Hill-Lewis seeks to include Internet casino gambling, eGR reported. South African lawmakers have been under pressure recently from commercial interests who are against the proliferation of unregulated gaming sites. Similar to the voices of online gambling proponents in the U.S., consumer protection and taxation have also…

Poker News – A letter to support a ban on online poker being pushed by attorney generals from three states at the behest of Las Vegas Sands chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson already has 10 signatures, and the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) is making an aggressive effort to prevent the letter from gaining any further momentum. “We’re working overtime to make sure the letters don’t gain momentum among state AGs,” PPA executive director John Pappas said. “We understand 10 have signed already, and we’re hoping we can change their minds as well. It’s an odd thing for a state AG…

Earlier this month representatives of online gambling operators and regulators from Spain, Germany, Portugal, France and the UK met for a round of informal talks with the Italian Autonomous Administration of the State Monopolies (AAMS) to discuss ways of improving the sharing and exchange of information and good practices. The idea is to try and help the work of the Group of Experts on Gambling Service which was created by the European Commission in 2012. During the meeting the group visited the premises of the Italian company SOGEI and discussed a number of issues ranging from the evolution of regulated…