US News -- An article put out today by the Associated Press questions Rep. Chris Cannon's motives for opposing HR 2143, which would make it illegal for Americans to use bank instruments to pay for illegal online gambling. The article quotes supporters of the bill, who state that Cannon is only opposing it because he has received lobbying money from the gambling industry, a charge the Utah Republican denies. "The fact is my position about gambling has been very, very clear since I entered politics," Cannon said. "I oppose gambling, I think it's a pernicious vice. I'd like to eliminate. We can't eliminate it in today's legal environment, so I want to do the next best thing which is to regulate it."
UK Bit -- Representatives from Betdaq this week denied that they are the company that has offered a bid for Sportingbet. Sportingbet announced early in the week that it has received a buyout offer for 30 pence per share. Betdaq confirmed only that it has had talks with Sportingbet in the past.
Data Hub -- The study released this week by the American Gaming Association that indicates that gambling is more widely accepted as a form of entertainment than ever before in the United States is predictably coming under attack from anti-gambling groups. Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, points out that none of the 27 states who have considered legalizing some form of gambling this year have sealed the deal. "If (gambling) is entertainment like shopping or the movies and it's in 48 states -- with states having dire budget problems and 85 percent acceptance of gambling -- why isn't the product flying off the shelves," Grey asked in today's Las Vegas Sun.