Italian Law -- Lawyers for UK gaming companies Ladbrokes, Betfair, William Hill, Coral Eurobet and SkyBet are threatening to take legal action against Italian regulators unless they reverse recent changes which outlaw access to gaming sites outside Italy. Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance passed a law threatening to fine any Italian ISP which allows access to a list of gambling sites. The Remote Gambling Association (RGA), on behalf of the British companies, put out a statement in November objecting to the changes which they claim violate five categories of European Commission rules, which allow governments to restrict cross-border services on moral grounds, but not due to competition. A spokesperson for the RGA said the the advocacy group is seeking an urgent meeting with Charlie McCreevy, the European Union single market commissioner, to discuss the Italian law and is likely to review its options at the end of this month.
New FUN -- Shareholders of Canadian-based online skill games provider Fun Technologies PLC unanimously approved Friday a takeover by American cable and Internet company Liberty Media to the tune of USD$195 million. Fun's next move will be a London court hearing to approve the deal, followed by a delisting of Fun's current shares in London and Toronto and the listing of New Fun shares, all of which will take place over March 7 and 8.
Complying? -- Antigua is calling on the U.S. to obey an April 2005 World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling on Internet gambling, which said that while the U.S. was entitled to restrict Internet gambling, the rules were not being applied fairly. The deadline for the U.S. to comply with the ruling is April 3, and Antigua's government has accused Rob Portman, U.S. trade representative, of making no effort to bring American laws into compliance with the WTO ruling. The country is also worried that two new bills potentially put the U.S. in breach of WTO rules. Christin Baker, a spokeswoman for Portman, said that the deadline for compliance had not yet arrived and that only one of Antigua's many complaints had been upheld by the WTO panel.
Using Exchanges? -- On-course bookmakers will soon be required to make a signed declaration every time they visit the track, saying whether they are using betting exchanges or not, as the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) cracks down on layers who could be deflating their levy liabilities. HBLB chief executive Tristram Ricketts said that changes to the National Joint Pitch Council rules on betting-exchange declarations will be ready for introduction before April 1. He also said that the HBLB has had full cooperation from the Bookmakers' Committee and the Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers on ways to reinforce the levy collection procedure.
2012 Games -- Lord Tom Pendry, the former UK Labour shadow sports minister, tried last week to introduce an amendment to the 2012 Olympics Bill to control sports betting, calling on the new Gambling Commission to issue a code to all licensed bookmakers restricting and/or preventing betting on the 2012 Olympics set to take place in England. Graham Sharpe of bookmaker William Hill dismissed Pendry's call, declaring it ludicrous, while Stephen Burn, spokesman for betting exchange Betfair, said, "People have been betting on the Olympics since the Games began. The choice the IOC faces is a simple one; it can work with properly regulated, legitimate betting businesses, like our own, or it can turn its back on us and look down on the industry with some out-dated air of moral indignation. What it can't do is stop people punting on its events because there will always be unscrupulous and illegal operators looking to exploit vulnerable, corrupt or greedy athletes and punters."…Because of concerns expressed last week by IOC president Jacques Rogge, Betfair offered the IOC access to confidential information that could help to determine whether betting rings have been trying to fix the outcome of events at this year's Olympic Games.