European Bit -- Is New Zealand considering live Internet gambling? ISA-Casinos reports that George Hawkins, the country's minister of the interior, is in Hamburg, Germany having a first-hand look at Hamburg Spielbank's live online roulette system. Hawkins is said to be interested in purchasing the system, which was developed by e-dict. Hamburg Spielbank launched its live roulette game in October 2002, becoming Germany's first licensed online casino. New Zealand, meanwhile, has been exploring Internet gambling for nearly three years.
US Bit -- Tired of watching millions of dollars flowing from his state into the pockets of neighboring states' lotteries, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry is planning to present a lottery initiative to voters and he's promising it will raise $300 million annually. That's not unusual, but what's unique about Henry's plan is that it calls for sales of lottery tickets over the Internet. The plan would be stomped, however, by the passage of the Leach bill, a federal law that would prohibit the transfer of funds for online gambling.
News from the Far East -- Before Hong Kong's Legislative Council votes this summer on a bill that would legalize of soccer betting, it will likely consider an initiative that would allot $24 million for two treatment centers for gambling addicts. The centers would be funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. A few organizations that work with gambling addicts say they will boycott the funding, however, because they perceive the plan as a sop to opponents of soccer gambling. Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping told the South China Morning Post that the centers would be built regardless of whether soccer betting is made legal. "We are not doing this to ease opposition," Ho told the SCMP. "We would not encourage people to bet, nor would we tell people not to bet. Our approach is to explain the nature and the risks involved so that people can make an informed decision themselves."
Makin' Deals -- Worldwide Management, a subsidiary of AngelCiti Entertainment, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to provide online bingo software to BingoLandCasino.com. Worldwide Management provides gaming software to over a dozen Web sites and reports to have netted $26 million in eight months of operation in 2002. Other sites licensed by Worldwide Management include VacationCasino.com, StarbrightCasino.com, WelcomeToOurCasino.com and LuckyDogCasino.com.