Could seven years of US online gambling darkness finally be lifting over European… well, primarily British, online gambling companies? Since George Bush in effect made their businesses illegal in 2006, banging up a fair few British businessmen on the way, the sector has been a shadow of its former frontiersman self. Big personalities like Gary Kaplan, a New Yorker famed for his spectacular parties, ended up in US prisons. His British numbers man at BetonSports, David Carruthers, was caught in the net and also served time behind bars. Arrest warrants are still out for some, like Isai Scheinberg, the Pokerstars…

From iGaming Business Legislators in Ireland are currently debating controversial legislation that would see online bookmakers doing business in the country required to pay a 1% levy on turnover. The Betting Amendment Bill was introduced to Cabinet on Tuesday and contains a measure that would extend the existing duty on bets placed in land-based shops to online wagers in hopes of generating up to €17 million in tax. If the measure is approved by the Cabinet, it will then be published, go to the European Union Commission for approval, which is a process that could take up to three months,…

This Week in Gambling In the next four weeks popular online casino software distributor SkillOnNet will again be “first to market” with four of NextGen Gaming’s latest online slot creations. Continuing with their successful strategy of first releases the four new slot games will be begin rolling out to SkillOnNet’s increasing number of online casino brands during the course of the next few days. Starting with The Codfather on July 12 the other three will follow soon after and include Spanish Eyes on July 19, Emperors Garden on July 26, and Teddybear’s Picnic on August 2. The games are expected…

The increased push by legislators for legal U.S. online gambling could help the tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda in its long-running World Trade Organization dispute. Antigua filed a complaint with the WTO against the United States in 2003 for violations of its commitments under the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS) in not allowing it to provide online gaming services to players based in America. In a subsequent ruling, the international organization found in the Caribbean nation’s favor but the dispute lingers with Antigua claiming that it is owed $3.4bn per year in damages for being denied…

From iGaming Business The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has banned an advert for online gambling operator 888 Holdings that featured images of comic book superhero Spider-Man. The regulator upheld a complaint that the online advert, which was presented in a comic book style format and included a reference to ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, could appeal to those who are under the legal age to gamble. “The ASA understood members had to confirm they were aged 18 or over before they could register to play the game,” the regulator said. “However, we noted the ad appeared on the website, which was accessible…

From iGaming Business Online poker operator PokerStars has introduced an SMS validation service in a bid to protect account-holders against fraud. Customers who opt in to the service will receive a text message if PokerStars’ security system detects any account irregularities. If such an alert is received, PokerStars will suspend all financial transactions on the account until the player provides the code number included in the SMS message. SkillOnNet hails Hot Wheels 3D impact SkillOnNet’s new Hot Wheels 3D slot game became the online casino games developer’s ‘biggest ever release’ in its first two weeks of distribution. “Beating the first…