According to the decision of a lower court in Tel Aviv, companies operating gambling websites that are accessible for Israelis are breaking the law. That concerns all the sites, even those run and registered abroad. This decision has been upheld by a District Court.

Englishman Michael Carlton, Chief Executive Officer of the Victor Chandler Casino website, was questioned by the Bat Yam fraud squad. He is under the suspicion of “illegally running gambling operations in Israel along with investigations regarding sports betting involving events in which Israeli teams participated”.

No charges were filed. Though, Carlton was under house arrest. Deposit of $70,000 served as a guarantee and a condition to leave the country.

It must be admitted that Victor Chandler is considered to be one of the most popular gambling companies operating in Israel. More than $16 million in winnings are paid annually to Israelis.

The question is whether gambling via an international site is a crime? Take into the consideration that the company is not Israeli.

Online gamblers will be pleased to find out that Internet guide Casino-Britain.co.uk has been recently improved. Now, it’s much easier to find top sites that offer quality games such as roulette, blackjack, bingo, poker, etc.

The guide doesn’t only show secure, safe and fun online casinos, bingo and poker sites belonging to the leading names of the industry, but it also shows bonuses relating to the top listed sites at www.casino-britain.co.uk/casinobonuses.

Even the beginners can find some useful information such as basic general rules for the most popular online casino games like Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, five and seven-stud, blackjack, roulette, craps, bingo and baccarat.

Casino-Britain.co.uk also provides players with a history of games, their origin, glossary and the latest promotions and bonuses offered by UK online casinos, poker, bingo and other gambling sites.

Bingo has always been very popular in Britain. Now, London bingo fans have got an opportunity to try it in an electronic variant. The fully-electronic bingo club has been recently opened in London. Bu the way, it is the first club of its kind in the UK. Traditional paper bingo tickets are replaced with 582 personal hand-held terminals.

Thanks to this innovation. The game is represented in a more contemporary manner. Moreover, players have got a greater choice of what they spend during a bingo night out.

There are more and more new players who like the electronic variant of bingo. They have even taken into consideration the recently introduced smoking ban: 20 more of the portable terminals will also be available to players in the external smoking area.

PlayersOnly.com”s $150K WSOP Giveaways campaign is coming to its end while the WSOP main event is about to start. There’ve been already 11 PO’s satellite tournaments. The last one will be held next Sunday night. It’s players’ last chance to place bids in the Low Bid Auction. The final weekend’s bids are expected to be very heavy, and the winner is going to get a great deal.

Any registered player can place as many bids as he wants at www.playersonly.com/bidWSOP or by cell phone text but only until midnight Sunday.

Speaking about WSOP satellite tournaments held every Sunday since April, their weekly winners were awarded with $12K prize packages. Lots of winners of WSOP prize packages, it must be noted, would rather have cash in their pockets than risk it at the WSOP. Though PlayersOnly.com’s very first WSOP satellite tournament winner will take part in the main event.

Last tournament players-to-be can buy-in for 100 dollars or win a qualifying tournament held 2 times a day. For more details go to www.playersonly.com/poker/wsop.php.

The WSOP main event will take place in Las Vegas July 6-17 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas

A new deal has recently taken place: US equity firm Fortress Investment Group LLC and other investors agreed to pay $6.1 billion for Penn National Gaming (Pen National operates 18 casinos and horse racing tracks). They expect the deal to be completed before June 15, 2008. If it does not happen the per-share purchase price will rise by 1.49 cents per day. The per-share price reached $67 – it’s 31% over the expected price. Moreover, the deal also includes $2.8 billion in assumed debt.

Fortress Investment Group LLC has rivals: Boyd Gaming Corp. and Ameristar Casinos Inc. trade at multiples around 25 times projected earnings. It goes without saying, at that multiple (nearly 35 times projected earnings) there could not be another buyer but Fortress.

“Lazard advised Penn National, and Deutsche Bank and Wachovia are serving as advisers and financial sources to Fortress”.
“Two U.S. senators introduced legislation on Thursday to tax investment firms such as Fortress like corporations, making them pay a rate of up to 35 percent versus the 15 percent rate now paid by partners. Fortress and private equity firm Blackstone Group LP, with its own IPO pending, could be exempt from the new code for 5 years”.

Thanks to the opening of the iGaming Academy of Learning in Malta gambling industry leaders will be able to develop professionally. Training and sufficient knowledge will be provided for entry level to managerial.
The iGaming Academy of Learning is believed to be a success. Specialist trainers will definitely contribute to its success.
The courses offered by the Academy are various: poker-workshops, casino modules and responsible gaming. There is also a professional development course that includes such topics as igaming recruitment & selection, igaming customer service, payment solutions and affiliate marketing and some others.

CelebPoker.com has launched a Swedish version of its website. The new service has definitely broadened the European coverage of the site. At the same time, Swedish players can enjoy playing on CelebPoker.com and get the best possible poker experience. A full range of online poker games is at Swedish poker players’ disposal. Besides, they can become a member of Team CelebPoker, representing the poker brand at major European poker events.
Some Swedish players are known to be the best poker players in the world. So, lots of them will get a chance to qualify and represent Team CelebPoker at different events across Europe.

CelebPoker.com has launched a Swedish version of its website. The new service has definitely broadened the European coverage of the site. At the same time, Swedish players can enjoy playing on CelebPoker.com and get the best possible poker experience. A full range of online poker games is at Swedish poker players’ disposal. Besides, they can become a member of Team CelebPoker, representing the poker brand at major European poker events.
Some Swedish players are known to be the best poker players in the world. So, lots of them will get a chance to qualify and represent Team CelebPoker at different events across Europe.

A candidate standing for President, Barack Obama, has voted to police the Internet. Among others he was supported by such Senators Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Ted Stevens of Alaska. Voting on a Resolution last month, the US Senate made June National Internet Safety Month.
The Resolution deals with the need to protect children of the dangers of the Internet. There is a list of statistics regarding use of the Internet by those being younger than 18 years old. The Resolution stresses that Internet safety organizations should be improved, parents, educators, leaders and etc. should be educated and should raise levels of awareness of the need for online safety in the United States.
With its development, Internet turns into “virtually bad neighborhood”. Gambling sites, online video games, pornography are easily accessed by children.
The resolution does not offer any solution to the problem of children’s protection, but it calls on Internet safety organizations.

Having won Hollywood Poker’s qualifying event, Canadian Brian ‘WiseOne0x’ Storm will compete in the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.
Storm was completely at a loss and couldn’t believe his eyes and ears when he knocked out 58 competitors. Storm earned $12,000 WSOP Main Event prize package and an entry into the Live Like A Celebrity freeroll final.
Now, Storm is getting ready to take part in the Live Like A Celebrity freeroll final. Naturally, he is very excited and a little bit nervous.

But who could not be? There is a great chance to play some of the best for the biggest prize of all.