iGaming Business – Helen Grant, the UK Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities, has announced plans to introduce a number of changes to UK gambling regulations. As reported by iGaming Business, the government has already unveiled plans to hand local councils more power to decide whether more betting shops should open in their constituencies in order to combat ‘clustering’ of such outlets. Under current regulations, planning applications are not always required for new betting shops to open as bookmakers can move into premises left empty by business under the same category, such as banks and estate agents. The government is…

From iGaming Business – The American Gaming Association (AGA) applauded yesterday’s US Senate hearing on online gambling and renewed its calls for the federal regulatory system it favours to be followed as a regulatory course over the state-by -state model currently taking shape in the American market. The AGA also called for a ban on online casino-style ‘games of chance’ while a federal regulatory set up would make the business model much more attractive for AGA members offering online poker. Geoff Freeman, the newly-appointed president and chief executive of the AGA, said: “Internet poker is a reality that is here…

From Online Casino Archives Those in-charge of America’s policies on online gambling should learn some lessons from the handling of allegations of rigged software at two popular European gambling sites. A recent case in Europe demonstrated how online casinos and regulators can work together. A five month investigation was carried out by the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority which it claims demonstrated a high level of openness necessary between regulators and casino operators. According to one gambling mathematician who questioned the fairness of two games, the probe opens the door to future abuses. The case involved games called ReelDeal and HiLo where…