Columbus Dispatch – Despite a multitude of legal gambling opportunities — four casinos, five racinos and lottery games — Ohioans continue to find places to gamble illegally. But state investigators increasingly are finding those illegal gambling hot spots, many of which masquerade as parlors for “skill games.” Matt Schuler, executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, said yesterday that his agency is investigating at least three dozen such locations. He said there could be hundreds more in storefronts and strip malls around the state. They are not limited to large urban areas; many thrive in smaller cities and towns….

Police from Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China are stepping up enforcement action against illegal World Cup betting as police from both Special Administrative Regions and from Guangdong province have launched a month-long crackdown on illegal football gambling, Hong Kong Standard newspaper reports. The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil kicks off on June 12 with the final set for July 13. In June 2010, Macau’s casino revenue declined 20 percent from the previous month, a drop that was attributed by some financial analysts to the World Cup keeping some gamblers away from gaming tables and slot machines. Gambling revenue for the…

Press of Atlantic City – Offshore online gambling companies are trying to cash in on New Jersey’s recent legalization of Internet betting. State regulators won’t name any of the companies in question or definite how many there are, but say they’re aware of the issue. The offshore companies are attempting to entice New Jersey residents into playing on their sites without having received proper licensure from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, officials said. Online wagering launched in November 2013. State law requires that online gambling companies must receive approval from the division and must reach a partnership with…

The Guardian – At least 10 illegal poker dens have been forced to close down as local authorities, backed by the Gambling Commission, have turned tough. Now, in the latest skirmish between the illegal poker world and local authorities, the council in Enfield, north London, has become the first in the UK to prosecute an illegal den operator successfully for money laundering. Ahmet Melin, 33, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, will be sentenced next month after being found guilty of five offences of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment….

Pew States – Many Internet cafes that have popped up in suburban strip malls and gas stations offer something more than coffee and access to the Web and email. Known as Internet sweepstakes cafes, they sell time on computers that can have the look, sound and feel of slot and video poker machines, sometimes with cash payouts for winners. State and local authorities say the operations are illegal gambling, but shutting them down hasn’t been easy. More than $10 billion in revenue a year is the incentive to stay in business for these storefronts, numbering in the thousands. For some…