Bit from Canada -- CryptoLogic, like Sportingbet and World Gaming, is giving Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., a big thumbs-up for his bill to start a commission that would examine Internet gambling regulation in the United States. The Toronto-based software supplier would also like to give props to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for upholding a lower court's decision that the Wire Act does not apply to casino-style online gambling. "At CryptoLogic, we've always said that licensing and regulation of Internet gaming is the best option for governments, consumers and online businesses," said Lewis Rose, the company's interim president and CEO. "Internet gaming is here to stay, and by regulating the industry, governments will ensure people can enjoy this form of entertainment safely and responsibly to the same high standards found in the land-based world."
Legal Stuff -- Akamai Technologies Inc. will no longer carry advertisements for Internet gambling companies, the company said recently. The Cambridge, Mass.-based Web content provider said it has terminated its relationships with its three clients that ran online gambling sites because federal laws may prohibit people from placing bets over the Internet. Kurt Schwartz, criminal bureau chief of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, said the laws make it confusing to tell whether online gaming is illegal. "The short answer is, in most instances, it's not illegal under state law, although it may well be illegal under federal law," he said.
Names and Faces -- Christa Taylor has resigned as president and CEO of Poker.com. She will be replaced on an interim basis by the company's former head, Michael Jackson.
Bit from the UK -- Online sports channel Premium TV and partner Bet365 have launched an online betting service that will offer wagering on 78 football clubs in the United Kingdom. Bet365 said the site was designed with ease of use in mind, in order to attract non-professional bettors.