Michigan Millionaire -- Michigan Attorney General Michael Cox is looking into the case of 45 year-old bartender Tim Pollack, who reportedly won $1.7 million in January at Caribbean-based online casino Casino Tropez. Online gambling technically is illegal in Michigan, but the specifics of this case make its outcome unclear because the bank account into which the Casino Tropez deposited Pollack's money was is in the United Kingdom. A spokesperson for Cox's office said they couldn't yet comment because they didn't have all the details of the case. In the meantime, Pollack said he has quit his job and bought a car with part of the winnings.
Still Not Taking It Seriously -- In a statement to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body today, the United States provided no proof of compliance with the WTO's 2005 ruling on Antigua's online gambling industry. The U.S. Trade Representative made only a general statement saying, "The U.S. administration, in consultation with Congress, has been working on appropriate steps to resolve this matter." In response, the Antiguan ambassador said in a statement that the United States has not responded to requests for meetings with Antigua and that the Leach and Goodlatte bills are in direct contradiction to the WTO ruling. The deadline for compliance is April 3.
Micro-Bingo -- Online bingo software provider BingoTek has partnered with online gaming solutions provider Microgaming to deliver online bingo games to its network of licensees, which includes 32Red.com and RiverBelle.com.
Bring It On -- Mark Read, managing director of Australian bookmaker International All Sports, is being sued by Commonwealth Bank in an attempt to recover $17 million punted by rogue bank manager Kim Faithfull, who is serving a five-year sentence for defrauding the bank during a five-year betting spree. Read's reaction to the suit? "Bring it on," Read said. "I'm prepared to go on the front foot and take them on full bore. It's personal now. "They are not going to walk over me. They are employing the tactic of rich pockets to wear me down."
Monkey Conducts Research on Humans -- Nassau-based online poker, casino and sports book MonkeyBet.com has released the results of a comprehensive study of online gambling and its affect on traditional forms of gambling, such as land-based casinos. MonkeyBet conducted the study of its 100,000-user database as part of its research related to building its own bricks-and-mortar casino, tentatively scheduled for 2008. They found that 75 percent of respondents said they are much more likely to try a new game online rather than at a casino because of lower minimum bets, less intimidation and ease of play. Further, 58 percent said playing a game online has led them to try the same game at a casino. Forty-nine percent of sports gamblers said betting online exposed them to more complicated parlay and teaser bets, which they now play when visiting destination casinos. Sixty-three percent of respondents said their visits to destination casinos like the ones in Las Vegas and Atlantic City have increased over the past two years by at least one trip, and 92 percent said they would not have played poker in a Las Vegas or Atlantic City casino had they not first played online.