Latest News in brief
as at Nov 11, 2004
Sorted alphabetically - this column includes Africa, Asia Pacific, the Caribbean and the Americas (Central, South and North America)- jurisdictions offering interactive gambling licenses.
We provide information on a total of 77 jurisdictions offering some form of online gambling licence. Follow country links in the Internet Gambling Licenses Database to find an internet gaming license.
Africa –
Comoros (Anjouan) - 2002: The cost of the incorporation and renewal of a gaming company is US$21,400 per year.
Comoros (Anjouan)
Africa –
Seychelles - Dec 29, 2003: The Interactive Gambling Act has been complemented by the International Corporate Service Providers Act, 2003, which regulates company and trust formation and related services.
Seychelles
Africa -
South Africa - Sept 29, 2004: The South African Government has taken its first steps to legalise online gambling. It has published the National Gambling Bill, which deals with online gambling, among other issues.
South Africa
Africa -
Tanzania - Oct 20, 2003: The first of a new generation of land-based kiosk networks has been launched.
Tanzania
Asia Pacific -
Australia – Jul 12, 2004: Communications Minister Daryl Williams today announced the Government had decided against regulating betting exchanges, following a review of Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Foreign online betting exchanges will be able to seek licences to operate in Australia after Federal cabinet decided not to amend the Interactive Gambling Act to ban them.
Australia
Also, see the latest regulatory update courtesy of legal from Lander & Rogers.
Click here
Asia Pacific -
China -Aug 9, 2004: RTG Ventures, Inc. has signed an agreement with NewCoTech, Inc. to license its powerful data base technology for its own soon-to-launch gaming portal in the People's Republic of China. In 2002, RTG Ventures signed an exclusive contract with the Chinese Sports Ministry to bring Internet-based games of skill and chance to the People's Republic of China, including the Chinese Chess Championships (Xiangqi) and Mah-Jong and Chinese Poker games and tournaments.
Asia Pacific -
Nepal - Mar 15, 2004: An internet gambling site has been launched in Kathmandu. From the casino's online site one can also bet on live international tournaments including cricket, football, golf and horse-racing.
Nepal
Asia Pacific -
New Zealand - Aug 30, 2004: The New Zealand Lotteries Commission will spend tens of millions of dollars replacing its IT systems over the next two years, paving the way for it to sell gaming products through interactive TV, the internet and via mobile phones. On July 1, 2004, NZ’s sweeping law changes that restrict internet gambling came into effect. The act allows interactive gambling by internet, cellphone and television, but only through the Lotteries Commission and the TAB. New Zealanders will be able to bet on overseas websites.
New Zealand
Asia Pacific -
Norfolk Island - Mar 7, 2003: Internet gambling legislation now looks to follow the Australian model, based on the country's Commonwealth association.
Norfiolk Island
Asia Pacific -
North & South Korea: Jul 5, 2004: By as early as next month, South Koreans will freely be able to access North Korean Web sites without having to receive prior permission from the government.In related news, the Southern government also mended its fences with Hoonnet, revealing its plan to allow the software developer to start new inter-Korean business operations.
North Korea
Asia Pacific –
Philippines (Cagayan) – Sept 16, 2004: G-Master has been appointed by the Philippine Government as preferred agent for its new internet sportsbook ‘Restrictive License’ for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Cagayan
Asia Pacific –
Philippines - Sept 28, 2004: The Quezon City Mayor has ordered the closure of three more e-casino outlets reportedly operating in the guise of Internet and computer gaming cafes in the city. In other news, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has asked the National Telecommunications Commission to tighten its supervision of telecommunications firms to curb high-stakes gambling via cellular phones, especially among minors.
Philippines
Asia Pacific –
Taiwan - Jan 27, 2003: According to news reports, on Feb 2 an online gambling casino will be launched, allowing players to try their luck with virtual money.
Taiwan
Asia – Pacific –
Vanuatu - Mar 17, 2003: The Government of Vanuatu has announced amendments to its Interactive Gaming legislation, to offer a more competitive licensing regime for online sportsbooks and betting exchanges.
Vanuatu
Asia Pacific –
Vietnam - Aug 5, 2004: Communist Vietnam, which tightly controls access to the Internet within its borders, has formed a special police unit to investigate online crime including "cheating or gambling via the Internet.”
Vietnam
Caribbean -
Antigua and Barbuda - Nov 1, 2004: Talks to resolve a dispute between the U.S. and Antigua over the Bush administration’s ban on Internet gambling have ended without either sides reaching an agreement. The next step in the dispute is for Lovell and the Sunshine government to formally tell the WTO by Nov. 4 that it intends to resume litigation. The WTO would then have to release the findings of its panel, clearing the way for a U.S. appeal.
Antigua & Barbuda
Caribbean –
Dominica – 2002: All Internet gaming & wagering business in Dominica operate under the terms of an agreement drawn up between the gaming company and the Government of Dominica.
Dominica
Caribbean -
Dominican Republic – 2001: Internet casinos and sportsbooks are believed to be operating out of the Dominican Republic.
Dominican Republic
Caribbean -
Grenada – 2001: Internet casinos and sportsbooks are believed to be operating out of Grenada.
Grenada
Caribbean -
Jamaica – May 20, 2004: According to local news sources in Jamaica, the case against the Montego Bay-based Sports Data Services Limited, which is accused of illegally carrying out internet betting, was postponed until July 26.
Jamaica
Caribbean -
Netherland Antilles (Curacao) - Sept 26, 2002: The Curacao Internet Gaming Association has announced representation of the online gaming industry in Curacao. This follows the announcement on Aug 10 that the Curacao Gaming Control Board has asked the central government of the Netherlands Antilles to decentralize the regulation of the island's Internet gambling industry.
Curacao
Caribbean -
St Kitts & Nevis – 2000: The government of St. Kitts and Nevis issues a generic gaming license authorizing the holder to carry on the business of physical gaming, Internet gaming, horse or greyhound betting or sportsbook betting.
St Kitts & Nevis
Caribbean -
St Vincent & the Grenadines – 2001: Internet casinos and sportsbooks are believed to be operating out of Grenada.
St Vincent & the Grenadines
Caribbean -
US Virgin Islands - Jan 10, 2004: The U.S. Department of Justice believes that the acceptance of wagers by gambling businesses located in the Virgin Islands from individuals located either outside of the Virgin Islands or within the Virgin Islands (but where the transmission is routed outside the Virgin Islands) would violate federal law.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Central America –
Belize – Oct 1, 2004: Said Musa, the Prime Minister and Minister Responsible for Gaming Control, has approved new gaming regulations. Of relevance are adjustments made to the Online Gaming regime for a more efficient processing and monitoring capacity while reducing the normal fees previously associated with licenses in Belize.
Belize
Central America -
Costa Rica – Sept 27, 2004: After more than two years of debate by the country’s lawmakers, Costa Rica’s fiscal tax reform package has finally reached the floor of the legislative assembly. The bill would make permanent taxes on casinos and online gambling firms.
Costa Rica
Central America –
Panama - Aug 14, 2003: New offshore sportsbook BetPanAm.com is the first officially licensed and government regulated sportsbook in Panama. It also has an online casino, and operates under the Online Gaming Act of Nov 2002.
Panama
North America –
Canada - Sept 6, 2004: The Federal Court has been asked to decide whether Canada's first government-sanctioned Internet gambling site is legal.
Canada
North America –
Canada (Saskatchewan) - Oct 25, 2000: According to press reports, a group of five Indian bands in southern Saskatchewan plan to open an Internet casino to attract gamblers.
Saskatchewan
North America –
Canada (Kahnawake) - Feb 1, 2004: Kahnawake is a well respected jurisdiction within the online gaming community, and has been operating for many years. Further details on request
Kahnawake
North America - Sept 4, 2004: Nevada gamblers can place sports wagers over a private remote network operated from licensed taverns following the State's approval of Virtgame's Primeline Sports Bet Express.
Nevada
North America -
New Jersey - Nov 1, 2004: The New Jersey Lottery has released Tetris, its second internet lottery game.
Like all lottery games, this one is strictly a game of chance. Therefore, it is not considered Internet gambling and is permitted under state and federal laws.
New Jersey
North America –
United States – Oct 1, 2004: This week's passage of H.R. 5011 by the House Financial Services Committee. Oxley succeeds with internet gambling clause from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act (HR 2143 )in 9/11 Bill. If passed into law, the legislation "would bar Internet gambling sites access to the U.S. financial services system by preventing the use of credit cards, wire transfers, or any other bank instruments to fund illegal Internet gaming transactions."
United States
North America –
Washington – Mar 31, 2004: Washington Governor Gary Locke has signed a Senate bill that would legalize telephone and Internet wagering and expand simulcasting of horse racing.
Washington
South America –
Argentina - Feb 20, 2003: The Spanish group Codere, which administrates bingo and gaming (slot) machines in Argentina, has signed an agreement to sell live gambling games for cellular phones.
Argentina
South America –
Brazil – Oct 1, 2004: ROK Brazil Technologies, is to create and operate Brazil’s first lottery to be played on mobile phones. In other news, Netbooth has formed an alliance with Kiron Interactive to deploy virtual racing kiosks in Brazil.
Brazil
South America –
Chile
Sept 16, 2004: Finnish-based provider of online and mobile gaming solutions, EGET, has won a deal to deliver new online games for Polla Chilena de Beneficencia, the state lottery operator of Chile.
Chile
South America –
Colombia – Jun 2002: The 25 companies which form Sociedad Nacional de Apuestas Permanentes e Inversiones (Sonapi) have updated their traditional betting games under the MiChance name, hoping to strengthen their operations in the face of increased competition from international companies.
Colombia
South America –
Venezuela - Feb 4, 2004: VIA Cell is in negotiations with representatives for the Venezuela lottery, and several other Latin American lotteries, to provide cell phone applications to purchase lottery tickets directly from a user's cell phone.
Venezuela
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