Italian/Maltese Face-off -- Italian authorities have placed a full blockade of Maltese gaming sites, effectively blacking out the Lotteries and Gaming Authority's official Web site, which was the last remaining link to some 68 gaming sites registered in Malta. The Italian government in February blocked 684 foreign gambling Web sites from Italian ISPs. To get around the block, the LGA linked its site to all the Maltese gaming sites using a Web anonymizer that disguises the Web sites' IP addresses. The LGA has not pressed for any direct action, but LGA CEO Mario Galea said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has already communicated with its Italian counterpart.
NY Internet -- Internet gambling on horse races would become legal under a measure given final approval late Wednesday night by the New York State Legislature. Pushed heavily by New York City Off Track Betting Corp., the legislation amends New York law that permits residents to open telephone-wagering accounts at OTBs and racetracks and adds cell phones and the Internet to the ways in which bettors can wager on horse races. The measure, which still needs approval from Gov. George Pataki, would be in effect until June 30, 2009.
PWC Forecast -- Global revenue from gambling is expected to climb 8.8 percent annually from $82.2 billion in 2005 to $125 billion by 2010, according to a new estimate by consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The report predicts that the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau will grow the fastest at 14 percent annually; revenues are expected to be $23 billion by 2010. It also said the United States, which is predicted to remain the world's largest gambling market, is expected to see gambling revenue grow 6.9 percent per year, from $53.4 billion in 2005 to $74.5 billion in 2010, attributing it to the billions of dollors being invested in new Las Vegas casinos and an increase in tribal gaming. In Europe, the forthcoming super-casinos will contribute to growth in that region, said the firm, with revenue likely to rise from $13.4 billion to $22.4 billion in 2010. And excluding the United States (because online gambling there is considered illegal), revenue from Internet gambling globally is expected to double, from $5.1 billion to $11.4 billion by 2010.
Charity and Choice -- U.K. punters will be able to choose which local good causes get their Lotto money under plans to be revealed today. After a series of outcries erupted over wasted money this year, U.K. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will reveal two pilot schemes with up to £50,000 for each project if enough people opt for it on the new cards. Punters will be able to tick a box to support specific charities with their Lotto cash.
Mobile in Canada -- Vancouver-based Mobile Lottery Solutions, which delivers mobile gaming solutions to all of the 54 regulated lotteries throughout Canada, announced today that the launch of its Mailman technology, which hosts, manages and deploys lottery games and content that enable users to buy lottery tickets from their mobile phones. The company says the solution will enable regulated lotteries in Canada to sell their tickets directly to the 250 million mobile phone users in Canada.