Vegas Operator Is UK-Bound -- Las Vegas Sands (LVS), the land-based U.S. casino giant, announced Monday that it has signed a deal with Cantor Gaming to create a casino and poker Web site in the United Kingdom. LVS said that the site, which would not accept U.S.-based customers, would feature the company's brands, including The Venetian, Sands, Palazzo and Paiza. The company says the site will launch during the second quarter of 2007 and will offer a selection of casino games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker.
It's Curtains for Bodog's US Advertising -- I-gaming operator Bodog today announced a plan to discontinue--and ultimately remove--its U.S.-facing gaming-related advertising. The comprehensive pullback covers television, radio, magazine and newspaper ads, as Bodog has chosen instead to focus its efforts and educational site advertising on European and Asian markets. Bodog CEO Calvin Ayre cited the uncertain U.S. regulatory environment as the reason for the move. "Though the online gaming environment in the United States seems to be headed down a path toward eventual regulation," he said, "the current climate calls for even more focus of our gaming-related advertising dollars into markets that face Europe and Asia."
For the People -- Several reports this week have Austria-based operator bwin running an Internet gambling public awareness campaign in Germany, targeting German citizens and politicians. Notably, the campaign precedes legislative discussions set for Dec. 13, which involve prime ministers of Germany's 16 states and their debate regarding the content of a new German lottery treaty. Media for the company's campaign will be displayed at different football stadiums around the country, bearing slogans like "kein Monopol," ("no monopoly"), and "freies wetten" ("freedom to bet"). "This is a common initiative instigated by all the parties that are being damaged by political maneuvers," said bwin co-CEO Manfred Bodner.
"Read My Lips . . . " -- Online gambling operations licensed by the Isle of Man, rejoice! The gaming jurisdiction's government will this week institute a long anticipated tax reduction, reports BetSage.com. The change in the duty model sees the initial rate drop from 2.5 percent to 1.5 percent. Duty payable on gross gaming yield below £20 million ($39.3 million) per year will be 1.5 percent; between £20 million and £40 million ($78.6 million), 0.5 percent; and over £40 million, 0.1 percent.
New Portal Authority -- The Gambling Portal Webmasters Association (GPWA) has created a new seal of approval to identify gambling portals that comply with integrity standards, reports Casino City Times. A corresponding code of conduct has been designed to ensure seal-bearing portals are honest and credible. "The GPWA has always required that its members act in a professional and ethical fashion," said GPWA executive director Michael Corfman. "The new program allows Web sites operated by private GPWA members to be identified as GPWA-approved sites with the idea that this will establish additional well-deserved credibility for member Web sites." The GPWA expects to begin awarding seals this week.
Coming Soon -- Online gambling player protection and standards authority eCOGRA says it will release its anticipated Global Online Gambling Report on Jan. 23, 2007, at the International Casino Exhibition in London. An estimated 11,000 online gamblers and gamers worldwide were reported to have responded to eCOGRA's survey.