In an attempt to encourage economic growth and expansion, the Gauteng Gambling Board has decided to distribute limited payout slot machines across the province. The licenses to operate the machines will be granted to small, micro and medium businesses.

"It is critical for us to continue to facilitate the entry of small and medium sized business and expand participation in the gambling industry; and the licensing of limited payout machines presents us with a perfect opportunity to do this," Benito Lekalakala, Chief Executive Officer for the Gauteng Gambling Board, said.

The steady attempt of the British government to regulate the gaming industry in the country has been reinforced this month with the introduction of sweeping new laws. This time, the new laws attempt to control all forms of gambling advertising including everything from land-based casinos to online gambling websites.

The steps taken by the British government in order to control the Gambling industry started in 2005, when the so-called Gambling Act replaced virtually every gambling law on the book. A new organ called the Gambling Commission has been created to make sure that the new regulations are applied and it will have the power to impose fines and other punishments.

Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker informed that the amendment introduced this week would make sure that the Gambling Act functions as planned. Minister Barker further explained that due to the complexity of the Act it has not come as a surprise that during its implementation a number of issues required improvement.

“The Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2) contains many technical amendments and some minor policy enhancements to clarify the law and remove any uncertainties,” the Minister told the press. The new provisions include broadening the appropriateness criteria for gaming machine operators.

Bryan Phillips, President of the Association of Members Clubs in Trinidad and Tobago, informed this week that the AMC has the feeling the government is cheating on them. On one side, they say, Junior Finance Minister Conrad Enill is giving them hope during their meetings while on the other side, Prime Minister Manning maintains his position of closing them down.

British Columbia Lottery Corp recently informed in a press release that last year the company obtained $2.4 billion in gross revenue, most of it from casinos. This announcement is only a part of the gambling growth the whole province has experienced in the last few months.

This boom has benefited charities and the provincial and municipal governments that received part of the profits. The River Rock Casino in Richmond holds the record for the biggest income, $233 million only during last year. Great Canadian Casinos, the company that owns the River Rock, is planning an expansion, in view of the success of gambling venues.

The announcement of the future opening of a new casino in the state of Pennsylvania has raised the expectations of local workers to fill the job openings that this new project will offer.

The Community College of Allegheny Country (CCAC) in Pennsylvania has announced that it will offer classes to people interested in working at the Pittsburgh's future slot parlor that will be available when the Majestic Star Casino opens doors next year.

During the last day of the legislative session, the bill that would allow the Penobscots to add 400 slot machines to their high stakes bingo parlor was listed. This means that the Penobscot Indian Nation will have to wait until January to see if the bill is passed or not.

Nation Representative Donna Loring explained that she decided not to move forward with the bill after consulting with Chief Kirk Francis. “After several discussions with the governor's staff it was clear that the governor would veto the bill no matter how it was amended,'' Loring said.

It was announced this week that, according to the request made by John Major’s Properties Ltd., the city council will summon a public hearing to decide if the Treasure Cove Casino will be given permission to add 175 slot machines. If the machines were allowed, it would mean a 43.75 percent increase.

The owner and operator of the Treasure Cove Casino plans to convert the casino show lounge into a gaming space to house the additional slot machines. Accordingly, the theatre behind the lounge would become the new show lounge. The $5 million remodeling would create 30 new jobs and generate $1 million a year in revenue for the city.

The new sponsor of Real Madrid, the betting house Bwin, is not certain yet. In addition to some law proposals presented in the Congress against Bwin, the organism that promotes Quiniela considers that the Tributary Agency should sanction this Austrian company because it’s not authorized to administer bets in Spain.

The entity in charge of Lotteries and Betting doesn’t hide their concern because of the presence of Bwin in the Spanish soccer, since Quiniela destines 10% of their revenues to the League and Real Madrid is one of the 42 clubs that is benefited by it.

When gaming inspectors are not working, casinos are not legally allowed to operate. In 2006 state budget stalemate once forced Atlantic City casinos to close for three days, resulting in an over $55 million loss. Now, lawmakers are trying to make sure it will not happen again.

The proposed solution was a law that would allow casinos to operate with a special casino fund. The money would be used to pay the salaries of the gaming inspectors. The law passed the state Assembly with an 80-0 vote last week. Now the state Office of Legislative Services (OLS) claims the legislation is unconstitutional.