Bits from the US -- Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, told reporters recently that the AGA is polling its members to find out how they feel about HR 556, the new version of the anti-Internet gambling law proposed by Rep. James Leach, R-Iowa. Unlike the old version, the new version contains parts of a similar bill that was proposed by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.
Fahrenkopf, speaking at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas last week, said that even though the AGA is officially against Internet gambling, it is necessary to "scrub" any bill before endorsing it to make sure it there are no anti-land based gaming provisions tucked into it. ... National Public Radio's "Justice Talking" radio show will focus on Internet gambling during a program to be taped Sept. 30 in Los Angeles. Those interested in attending as a member of the studio audience can sign up to reserve a spot at www.justicetalking.org. A recording of the one-hour program, "Off-track and Online: The New Rules of Gambling," will be available online at www.justicetalking.org starting on Oct. 21. It will also be dispatched to NPR affiliate stations that day.
Bit from Asia -- On Sept. 21, police in Malaysia seized 37 computers and detained 26 people in a raid on a cyber cafe that was allegedly offering illegal gaming. The New Straits Times reported on Sept. 22 that among those arrested included the cyber cafe owners and their customers who were caught using computers to participate in computerized Internet horse races. The four cyber cafes that were raided were operating without licenses. Policeman Mohd Ishak Mohd
Saad said many of the people found gambling in the cafes were children and teenagers. "We will continue mounting such operations to stop this menace," he said.
New Zealand Tidbit -- An employee of New Zealand's Problem Gambling Foundation, Ralph Gerdelan, has made $30,000 worth of unauthorized withdrawals with company credit cards since last May, and now the foundation says he may have used some of the money for gambling. Gerdelan, the group's executive director, has been suspended without pay while the matter is investigated, the New Zealand Herald reported today.