Tidbit from Greece -- Wired.com is reporting today that the European Union is planning to "press its point" with Greece at the end of the month concerning Greece's law that bans electronic games in public. The E.U. notified Greece in October that the law could conflict with article 28 of the European Community Treaty because it could restrict imports from other E.U. countries. Greece's law, which was passed in July, bans all electronic games from public places such as Internet cafes. Christos Folias, who is a Greek representative in the European Parliament, said he hopes the law is changed before the E.U. has to get further involved. "The government has done a half-baked job with this law," he told Wired.com.
Data Hub -- A study released this week estimates that problem gambling in Southern Nevada produces between $300 million and $450 million per year in social costs, the Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting. The study, which looked only at Nevada residents and not tourists who gamble in Nevada and then return home to other states, also found that the annual cost for treatment of each problem gambler in Southern Nevada is $19,085. "It's a high cost for recreation," said Keith Schwer. Schwer is director of the University of Nevada's Center for Business and Economic Research. He co-authored the study with Bill Thompson, a professor at UNLV and Daryl Nakamuro, a student at the university.
Making Deals -- Stanley Leisure is joining forces with Agency TBG, an Internet marketing agency, to promote its Crockfords online casino site. The site was launched last week as part of Stanley's move to increase its online gaming presence. ... The Independent Television Network on Wednesday signed a deal with British Sky Broadcasting plc that will allow BSkyB to feature a series of new interactive services on its digital satellite platform. One of the services will be betting offered via Littlewoods Leisure. ITV signed a deal with Littlewoods in 2002 to bring interactive betting to the network through a revenue-sharing agreement.
Legal Matters -- A Stevens Point, Wis. Woman is pleading innocent to charges of embezzling $42,000 from a church and charity to fund her addiction to Internet gambling. The Stevens Point Journal on Wednesday reported that Wendy C. Menzel, 46, is being charged with one count of forgery, one count of fraud and two counts of felony theft. If convicted she faces up to 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $40,000. Police say Menzel worked as a bookkeeper at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in Stevens Point and that she allegedly took $10,000 from the church between February and May of 2002. They also allege she stole $32,000 from the Community Foundation of Portage County while working there as a secretary. Menzel's family has said she has obsessive-compulsive disorder and that it led her to develop an addiction to Internet gambling.