The European Union will not pursue a common gambling framework for the EU, according to European Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska. The Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs reiterated the organizations opposition to a single regulatory approach, despite a seemingly continuous number of disputes between individual nations and the EU over policy. Bieńkowska’s statement came in a letter to Italian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Mara Bizzotto, who had questioned whether a uniform gambling framework for the EU was preferable following the ban on slot machines voted by the government of the Province of Vienna. Bizzotto highlighted that Vienna…

At a gathering of the nation’s top law enforcement officers today, American Gaming Associations (AGA) President and CEO Geoff Freeman invited attorneys general, police chiefs and other top law enforcement officials to partner with the AGA in its “Stop Illegal Gambling – Play it Safe” initiative to crack down on illegal gambling operations across the country that harm consumers, steal jobs and deprive state and local governments of revenues that pay for vital public services. Freeman spoke at Beau Rivage in Biloxi during the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Presidential Initiative Summit. “Legal and regulated casino gaming in America is…

Gaming operator Mansion Group has been granted a Remote Gambling Software licence by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The licence will enable Mansion to continue to operate its various online casino services in the UK market. Mansion’s UK portfolio currently features MansionCasino.com, Casino.com, Club777.com, LesACasino.com and SlotsHeaven.com. The news comes after Mansion in September announced that it was to withdraw its Mansion Poker online service from the UK market. Mansion was also linked with a total withdrawal from the UK, but denied that it would fully exit the market. Sagi Lahav, chief executive officer of Mansion, said: “We’re delighted to…

Swedish operator association Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS) has confirmed that Apple is to reinstate gambling applications for a number of major operators to the country’s App Store. As reported by iGaming Business, technology giant Apple in March removed the apps due to complaints from the Lotteriinspektionen national regulatory body. The regulator advised Apple that unlicensed operators were targeting players in Sweden. However, an intervention from the BOS will now enable Apple to reinstate the apps for players in the country to access. The BOS said it sent Apple a letter explaining that the apps were not in breach of Swedish…

The Alabama Senate Marketing and Tourism Committee is to vote on a new bill that could lead to the legalisation of lottery and casino gambling in the US state. Put forward by Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, the amendment would create a state-wide lottery and bring casino gaming to the four dog racing tracks in Alabama. The bill would also issue the state’s Governor with the power to negotiate a gambling pact with the Parch Band of Creek Indians. Money from a lottery would be placed in a trust fund while gaming revenue would be taxed at a rate…

Japan has taken a step closer to introducing a legalised gambling market after a bill to allow the opening of casino-based Integrated Resorts was submitted to the country’s parliament. According to the PokerNews.com website, if approved the bill could lead to the creation of one of the world’s largest gambling markets, third only behind Macau and the US. The bill has gained support from a number of political parties in the country and is expected to be both discussed and passed by August – when the current parliament ends. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also voiced his backing for…