CLARITY URGED Four Republican members of Congress, who supported the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, have written a letter to the heads of the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board asking for clarification on "unlawful Internet gambling."
Judy Biggert of Illinois, Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania, Kevin McCarthy of California and Christopher Shays of Connecticut all voted for the act and said in the letter that they still support it.
However, the lawmakers are concerned with the difficulties that the Treasury and Fed have had in writing the regulations, due to the lack of definition of terms.
"As proposed, those regulations do not provide clear guidance to the public, in particular those that engage in online skill games, or regulated industries regarding what constitutes unlawful internet gambling,' " the legislators wrote.
WILL THEY OR WON'T THEY? Cantor is reportedly preparing for a possible launch of its mobile casino product before 2009.
The WiFi-compatible device, described as a 'pocket casino' will offer roulette, baccarat, and other casino games.
IGN's take
We've been hearing about Cantor Gaming's mobile casino device for almost three years. I'll believe it when I see it.
TOPPING CALLS OUT TAX MAN Ralph Topping, chief executive of William Hill, blames the United Kingdom government for the company's recently reported 10 percent decrease in first-half profits.
He said the government's ever-changing gambling tax policies are stifling bookmakers and called for a decrease to the 15 percent tax rate.
"We paid £267 million in taxes last year plus £30 million in levies to the horseracing and greyhound industries and employ 14,000 people," Mr. Topping said. "This business has to be allowed some room to grow. What I am saying to the government is, please think things through from all angles."
REPORTING Second-quarter revenues for Betsson, the Swedish gambling operator, increased 58 percent to SEK 236.9 million, or $44.3 million, compared to the same period for the previous year.
At the same time, H1 revenues jumped 63 percent to SEK 464.7, or $39.1 million, over last year.
"The second quarter is normally weaker than the first quarter," Pontus Lindwall, chief executive of Betsson said in a prepared statement. "By the offers to customers that we have developed and implemented, we have succeeded to maintain and even increase activities during Q2, which makes the quarter our strongest so far."