In France the legal compliance model for online gambling operators is constantly changing and this makes things difficult for those who want to enter the newly regulated arena. Education is the key to keeping up with the new rules and regulations and there are many sub industries that cater to the requirements for compliance for the sector. One such agency has decided to create a document that will serve as a definitive list of rules that clarify and solidify the current rules. A web resource site for French online gambling news and information called Machine-A-Sous.com has the goal of “helping players, operators and affiliates understand the constantly changing legal climate of France’s online gambling industry.” Legal expert Marie Godard who has a masters degree in European Union law, has composed a thorough guide using related cases to make some seriously researched conclusions about the current state of affairs in the online gambling industry. The State of Online Gambling in France attempts to keep not only the interested public informed but also the operator and future operators of online gambling websites. Presented as a series of guides for the user of French gambling web sites it begins with a history of the laws on gambling in France and continues by investigating the free trade issues, which includes the lack of commitment in France to adhere to the demands of the European Commission and new legislation opening up the market to online casino operators from outside of France. Godard points out new laws will change the face of the internet gambling industry and the resulting implications good and bad for the public and gambling web site operators that will be experienced. Godard will offer valuable legal insights into issues that Godard says are, “too convoluted and complex for those outside the law community to understand.” Machine-A-Sous.com. will be a welcomed resource for affiliates, operators and gamers wishing to remain informed about the French online gambling legal situation as it develops.

Gaming software company Playtech Ltd. has just announced it has made a substantial profit of 71 percent in it's full year report. This will prove to be a good thing for investors and speculators alike. New license agreements pushed up the bottom line giving the firm a running start to 2010. Mor Weizer, Chief Executive Officer of Playtech, said in a recent interview with Dow Jones Newswires, "Current trading is being driven by the groups investments in Italy, Spain, and Serbia over 2009," speculating that a stabilization in Europe's economy has helped make the company grow. Playtech, develops and licenses software for online and terrestrial gambling operations. Posted a net profit for the year ending December 31 rose to 69.51 million EUR from 40.69 million EUR in 2009. Revenue rose 3% to 114.78 million EUR as Playtech secured 13 new license agreements, with clients that now include Olympic from the Baltic region, and major entertainment brands such as Sega and Virgin. Last year (2008) the company managed a dividend of 15.2 cents per share. In 2009 the share dividend paid will be 20 percent higher at 18.3 cents per share. Brokerage firm Execution-Noble sent a note to its investors saying, "Playtech is well positioned to capitalize on the three trends of trading stabilization, regulation and consolidation which are driving the online gambling sector". Nick Batram, a KBC Peel Hunt analyst, confirmed the trend by stating, "This is reflected in the strong start to the year and the quality and the breadth of the licensee base," also making menton that the results were ahead of expectations which showed a strong movement towards revenue growth caused by strategic acquisitions and an opening up of newly regulated and lucrative markets. Some analysts are praising Playtech as having proven to be an astute deal maker with a range of offerings that will allow the company to take full advantage of the coming wave of regulatory developments in the European online gambling industry. They mark the company as being a good buy at it's current value.

When the stakes are high it's exciting to watch not just the card action, but the money fly from one players bankroll to another in a matter of minutes.

One of the oldest and well respected gambling operations and poker rooms in the United Kingdom Ladbrokes has joined the Microgaming poker network. Microgaming one of the leading online gaming software companies, has consolidated other poker rooms Betway, BetOnBet, Eurolinx, GNUF, and Unibet to name a few, into it's stable of poker operations. Managing Director of Ladbrokes Poker, Edward Ihre, was reassuring the loyal and substantial customers stated, "The heart and soul of Ladbrokes Poker will remain with some necessary enhancements to boost its vitality. As such, players can rest assured that the unrivalled security, reliability and trust that is synonymous with the Ladbrokes brand will continue to be of the utmost priority in our delivery and commitment to our customers." Ladbrokes will continue to maintain it's brand name recognition and understands that joining the very large Microgaming poker network is going to benefit them in more ways than one. Ladbroke's has used the Microgaming software on previous occasions for the company's Million dollar rake race and Vegas dreams promotions but only as a stand alone presentation. With the move to the actual Microgaming network Ladbrokes will be much more accessible by the poker player with the software at your fingertips. Using Ladbroke's 1Click Poker client, Ladbrokes solves a common problem for new players when starting out, answering questions such as whether to use real or virtual money, what type of game to play and how much to buy-in for. One mouse click and the player confirms their choices and is immediately seated. This new Microgaming system works on various browsers that use a Flash interface. The software is easy fun and comfortable to use as a fast play format anyone can use. Ladbrokes has always had the goal of bringing poker to the people, and with this new move to the Microgaming poker network they have come a long way to achieving that goal.

The latest mobile slot game Avalon, from time tested Microgaming is being launched by leading full service mobile gambling solutions provider Spin3. The medieval-themed game is based on the legend of King Arthur and features a variety of symbols including crowns, chalices and treasure chests. The scatter symbol, the Lady of The Lake, gives players 12 free spins that offer winnings of up to 7 times the original bet. A free spin bonus game is activated if three or more Lady of The Lake symbols appear anywhere on the five reels at one time. Spin3's CEO, Matti Zinder, said, "Avalon is a very popular game online and we're delighted to be able to include it in our portfolio of mobile casino games. In the last year, we have made great advances in developing web applications for smart phones with advanced web browsers like the iPhone and the Android. At the same time, our GameWire™ Java platform remains a fundamental part of our business. Java games enable us to support a broad a range of handsets and as many customers as possible; which is great news for our clients. In fact, at last count, we currently support close to 2,000 handsets, more than any other provider. He continued, "Eastern Europe also holds great potential. Mobile penetration is high but people are not necessarily using the latest handsets. It is important that Spin3 is offering a dynamic portfolio of games that are appealing and more importantly available to the region so that we can support our clients who are looking to expand in these new markets." Avalon will debut at the ENADA show in Rimini, Italy at the micro gaming exhibit this March. Spin3, a division of Spiral Solutions Ltd., partnered with Microgaming, provides a top notch mobile gambling experience tha ton can play with confidence and security second to none.

Gala Coral is a large online gambling concern in the United Kingdom. It's history of late has been a struggle for ownership and control of it's assets. A

Nevada USA is host to many billion dollar casinos and hotels and that investment has been getting more difficult to manage. The stake holders want to protect their holdings from the domino effect should the climate of the economy get even tougher. It has been speculated that the Nevada Gaming Control Board is in the process of creating rules to govern casino operators that have business relationships with online gambling websites. The board members want to be sure that the regulations for online gambling activities are up to date and ready should internet gambling become legal in the USA. As things stand now most casino licensees are unrestricted to have divisions that deal with online gambling. A spokesperson for the board, Randall Sayre, said, "some gaming licensees play carefully by the rules and others do not," he added, "We don't have a policy and clearly the board needs to boil down exactly what the policy needs to be." Technically some issues are in a grey zone with things such as the advertising of free online casino sites and the use of the dot net versus dot com mirror sites to attract players. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has to straighten out these difficult to craft rules and policies before the situation becomes uncontrollable.

Advertising itself is a major concern for the rule makers. Land-based casinos have a defined set of guidelines that are strictly adhered to but these rule don't necessarily apply to online casinos and gambling. The industry is in a transitional period looking for a base line to make things fair and transparent. Rules and regulations for the gambling industry have kept it from falling prey to unscrupulous operators. Rules for the online sector will keep the industry secure and trouble free. Companies such as Harrahs who have already ventured into the interactive gambling market have not commented but are hopeful that guidelines will be forth coming soon.

China is so big and so powerful how could anyone expect any challenge to it's government policies regarding internet censorship to go anywhere.

Australia the land of opportunity for some entrepreneurs is becoming a no go zone for those looking for fairness in business without interference from big brother. Australian citizens have been saying for a long time now that they want the internet left alone. Complaints from various sources confirm the public is outraged by the interference the current Aussi government is imposing on the web activities of ordinary people doing ordinary surfing on their computers.

Senator Conroy has the distinction of being the worst internet censor in the country owing to his plan to have ISPs block 'nasty' content on the internet, making sure that no one in Australia, gets a chance to play online casino games or read 'questionable' material available on the web. The fact that poker and gambling sites are painted with the same brush as porn and criminal activity is one area that has the freedom of the internet groups ready for a fight. Peter Coroneos, managing director of the Internet Industry Association said, "This regrettably puts Australia on notice that, despite the Rudd Government's best intentions, any mandatory filtering policy is likely to be perceived internationally in ways that will not benefit our reputation as a free and open society," Coroneos, added, "It will likely be used by less open societies as a vindication of their internet censorship regimes, despite any domestic attempts to draw distinctions. Mandatory filtering is mandatory filtering by whatever colour it is painted." There are many web freedom violators including the governments of Saudi Arabia, Burma, China, North Korea, Iran, Vietnam, Russia and Turkey. David Drummond, a senior manager of Google, said there was an "alarming trend" of government interference in online freedom. 

Australia's plan is a classic example, "the wide scope of content prohibited could include socially and politically controversial material". Australia, Drummond said, "is an example of where these benign intentions can result in the spectre of true censorship".

"Here in Europe, even in France, at this very moment, some are tempted by this slippery path of network filtering."