30th June         Blackpool           Source: Blackpool Gazette
Casinos Mission to USA
Undaunted by likely delays to deregulation a small team from Blackpool has jetted off to the US to see officials from Harrah's, Park Place & MGM Mirage.

29th June         London            Source: Daily Telegraph
American Mafia businessman linked to Labour donation 'to change gaming laws'

29th June         Newcastle           Source: Newcastle Evening Chronicle
Super casino plan - The Gala Group & Harrahs Entertainment joint venture.

27th June         Blackpool          Source: ThisisLancashire.co.uk
U.S. casino giants raise stakes

27th June         Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire           Source: Bucks Free Press
Gun terror at the bookies

26th June         London          Source: Yahoo/Dow Jones Business News
BSkyB To Ban Some Types Of Gambling On Its TV Platform
The decision by BSkyB could also lead to British Bookmakers removing Blackjack & Roulette from their FOBT's.

26th June         London         Source: New Media Age
Sky bans casino games
Sky have decided to remove all casino type games from Sky Subscriber Services Ltd (SSSL) the iTV arm of Sky Digital.

26th June         London          Source: The Guardian, Las Vegas Sun, Independent, Birmingham Post
Gala prepares for gaming changes
Harrah's in Britain deal
Gala plans Vegas-style British casinos with US partner
Mega-casinos set for UK

25th June         London & San Francisco          Source: Yahoo/PRNewswire
Sky Bet Partners with WagerWorks to Launch skybetvegas.com

25th June         London & Las Vegas          Source: Reuters.com & Ananova.com & Yahoo/Dow Jones
UPDATE 3-Harrah's, Gala Group to build UK casino chain
Bingo firm signs deal to open mega-casinos
Harrah's, Britain's Gala Ink Deal to Develop Casinos

25th June         London          Source: RacingPost.co.uk
Betfair collects royal enterprise award
In 2000 Betfair.com took £1,972 in bets on the English Derby, this year they took £3.5 million.

25th June         London & Las Vegas          Source: Yahoo/PRNewswire
Gala Group, Harrah's Entertainment Plan to Form Joint Venture to Develop Regional Casinos in United Kingdom
Gala & Harrah's have signed a letter of intent to develop up to eight provincial casinos in a 50/50 joint venture, 

25th June         London & Las Vegas          Source: Yahoo/Dow Jones Business News & Reuters
Harrah's, U.K.'s Gala Near Pact to Develop Casinos
Gala Group, Harrah's to develop casinos in UK

24th June         London         Source: Yahoo/Business Wire
Cyberview Technology Enters into Agreement with Shuffle Master for Distribution of Branded Game Content
The agreement looks sure to hasten the speed of downloadable slots acceptance on the gaming floor. website: http://cybview.com

23rd June         Manchester          Source: Coinslot Magazine
Circus celebrations show changing face of deregulation
Stanley Leisure's Circus Casino in Manchester has now been open 12 months. The companies Star City Casino in Birmingham is scheduled to open in November.

22nd June         London          Source: Racing Post
Tote and Levy Board sale to be separated from Bill - Exact date of article unknown.

21st June         Cheltenham          Source: Goucestershire Echo
Would casino be a winner?

20th June         London        Source: Department of Culture, Media & Sport
Ban for Chain Gifting Schemes In Gambling Overhaul

19th June         Blackpool          Source: Blackpool Gazette
Casinos to bring a jobs bonanza
A study by Pion Economics commissioned by Lancashire West Partnership states that if the 4 casinos are built in Blackpool as envisaged in the masterplan will create 5,500 jobs.  Website: www.lancashirewest.org.uk

19th June         London          Source: Yahoo UK/Reuters
UK bingo industry gets extra £10 million tax cut

18th June         Isle of Man           Source: Tax-News.com
Betting Firm May Get Its Wish Of Higher Manx Gambling Tax
Betinternet wants gross betting taxes raised from 10 to 15% to enable the company to advertise in the U.K.

18th June         Cheltenham, U.K.           Source: Gloucestershire Echo
Brewery - They want casino now

18th June         Cardiff           Source: LeisureOpportunities.co.uk
Gala to open first Electric Casino in Cardiff

18th June         London           Source: Reuters
Rank ups tempo with Hard Rock hotel drive

17th June         Blackpool           Source: The Blackpool Gazette
Resort casino plans set for delay to 2005
It has apparently been confirmed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, legislation to deregulate Britain's gambling laws will not be included in this autumn's Queen's Speech.

17th June         Bristol           Source: Bristol Evening Post
Deal opens way for new casino at the Harbourside - Gala Casinos.

17th June         London - UK Bookmakers          Source: BettingMarkets.com
A sledgehammer to crack a nut......
Not another betting exchange? 
Betfair.com and Sporting Options deal with the JockeyClub and the debut of www.betmart.com

17th June         London          Source: BettingMarkets.com
FOBTs - Boosting gross win - but at what cost? (FOBT is an acronym for Fixed Odds Betting Terminal)

16th June        Dublin          Source: On Business/RTE News
Betting firm aims to spread in UK

15th June        London          Source: The Sunday Times
Earls Court hits the jackpot as casinos plan new Las Vegas

13th June        London          Source: Net Imperative
Betfair works with industry bodies to tackle 'sharks'

13th June        Las Vegas & London          Source: Yahoo/Reuters
Harrah's, Gala mull building UK casinos-source

13th June        Las Vegas & London          Source: Yahoo.com/Financial Times
Harrah's Entertainment in talks with Gala
FT.com link - http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=030612006007
The FT reports that Gala and Harrah's Entertainment are in negotiations to establish a 50/50 joint venture in the UK.

13th June        Blackpool          Source: Las Vegas Sun/AP
College places its bets on a future in casinos
Anti-gamblers say 'no' to casinos
The Fylde College in Blackpool has announced plans for a £3m training centre for croupiers and casino staff. Meanwhile the Blackpool Coalition Against Gambling Expansion (BCAGE) wants more family entertainment.

12th June         Bristol, UK          Source: Bristol Evening Post
Vegas casinos are on the way

12th June         Isle of Man          Source: New Media Age
Fears mount over casino exodus from Isle of Man
The Isle of Man now has just 2 of a possible 12 licensees. Alderney's Gambling Control Commission has issued 6 licenses with 2 more being considered.

10th June         Greenwich, London          Source: The News Shopper
Chips down for illegal gambling
The UK is almost unique in that children are allowed to legally gamble on slot machines - AWP's as they are known.

10th June         London          Source: The Racing Network
Jockey Club announces landmark agreement with betting exchanges
Under the proposals the Jockey Club will be able to have access to betting data on the exhanges if they believe the rules of racing have been breached.

7th June          Smethwick, UK             Source: Express & Star
Applicant must wait on casino scheme
Barry de Lacey's plans for the Oceana Casino at the Barleycorn pub in Smethwick.

7th June          Sheffield, England           Source: Sheffield Star
Soccer ace in casino furore

7th June          Guernsey           Source: BBC.co.uk
Casino operator chosen
The operator has apparently been chosen but  the result is not being made public. There may quite possibly have been only one applicant!.

7th June          London           Source: The Times Online
William Hill investors reduce stakes

7th June          London           Source: The Scotsman/PA
Bookies Poised for Betting Bonanza - Saturday is Derby Day in the UK.

6th June          Derby, England           Source: Derby Evening Telegraph
Casino plan for Roundhouse

6th June          Bristol, England           Source: Bristol Evening Post
Casinos not full of James Bond types
Brief interview with Andrew Herd about Metro Casinos plans for the new casino in Clifton, Bristol.

6th June          London           Source: Yahoo/Business Wire
Cyberview Technology Enters into Agreement with Sigma Games, Inc. for Game Distribution

6th June          Clacton, UK.           Source: East Anglian Daily Times
Casino plans criticised

5th June          Blackpool            Source: The Stage
Blackpool hit by delay in gaming legislation

5th June          Smethwick, West Midlands            Source: The Express & Star
Plans for casino are no longer shipshape
Plans for a ship themed Casino in Smethwick look to have been sunk after objections from local residents.

4th June          Birmingham, UK          Source: Ananova.com
Woman wins national poker jackpot
Unemployed gambler wins £290,000 from £1 bet
The winner was at Grosvenor Casinos, Broad Street in Birmingham.

3rd June          Birmingham          Source: icBirmingham.co.uk
Betting rush offers Culture bid clue
William Hill have closed the book on the European City of Culture 2008. Birmingham seeing late action.

3rd June          Guernsey, Channel Islands           Source: Guernsey Press & Star
Tourism ‘too greedy’ over casino licence - Link liable to change shortly.
The Guernsey Tourist board apparently wanting a £3.5 million fee for the license spread over 10 years. Including a one off fee of £400,000!

2nd June          London           Source: icWales/The Western Mail & Reuters UK
Tote's days look to be numbered
Tote to be sold - report
Established in 1928 the TOTE has a monopoly on pool betting in Great Britain. It operates 400 betting shops and recorded a £17 million profit in 2002.

2nd June          London & Blackpool           Source: Real Estate Forum, Tax-News.com & 
Casino Liberalisation Put on Hold
Gambling Deregulation Legislation May Be Sidelined In UK
Blackpool's regeneration plans that had partly relied upon deregulation of gaming laws could also now be postponed.

1st June          London           Source: London Evening Standard
Spread betters back 'Baghdad bounce'

31st May          London           Source: London Evening Standard
Gamblers defy FSA over £1.2m fines

30th May          London          Source: New Media Age
Sky launches compulsory checks on TV betting clients
Concerns about problem gambling mean that Sky intends also checking on clients credit history before allowing them to bet on any of the iTV-based services.

30th May          Derby, England          Source: BBC.co.uk
Search for casino gang's getaway car - corrected link!
West Midlands police have so far have failed to trace the car of the robbers. The BBC report fails to mention the physical description of the culprits.

30th May          London          Source: The Times Online
William Hill poised to beat forecasts

30th May          Blackpool & London          Source: Blackpool Today/Blackpool Gazette & London Evening Standard
Resort is gambling on casino law dates
Gambling free-for-all is shelved

30th May          London          Source: The Guardian
Pressing legislation may delay gaming industry changes
New legislation for asylum seekers, identity cards and anti-terrorism measures are now thought to take precedence on Parliamentary time with gambling deregulation potentially losing out.

30th May          London          Source: Yahoo UK/Reuters
Betting deregulation delay risk knocks Rank

29th May          London          Source: Yahoo UK/Reuters
TradingSports gains 20 pct on market debut

29th May          London          Source: Yahoo UK/Reuters
Betting deregulation delay risk knocks Rank

28th May          Bristol & Southend, UK          Source: ThisisEssex & ThisisBristol
South Essex: US firm cash to boost casino
Las Vegas gambling chain backing new casino in Clifton

28th May         Las Vegas & Bristol, UK          Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal
MGM Mirage will buy stake in British casino developer

28th May          Las Vegas & Telford, England          Source: Yahoo/PRNewswire
Alliance Gaming Announces Acquisition of UK-Based Honeyframe Systems Company

28th May          London         Source: Stanley Leisure Press release
Completion of the Acquisition of Palm Beach Club Limited
The 23rd May completion means that Stanley now have 4 of the 23 London casinos. LCI having 5, down from 7 two years ago.

27th May          London          Source: New Media Age
Government's view on gambling is positive

27th May          Las Vegas & Bristol, UK          Source: Las Vegas Sun
MGM MIRAGE entering U.K.'s casino market
MGM's plans to enter the UK market could be hindered if the story in the Liverpool Echo (see link below) about a delay in the deregultion timetable is proved correct.

27th May          London          Source: Coinslot Magazine
Hemmings raises his bet with London Clubs
AWP trials falls short of answers
Interesting statistics from trials of different AWP settings in pubs of the Scottish & Newcastle chain.

27th May          Liverpool          Source: icLiverpool/Liverpool Echo - Must read!
City's gambling halls hit by delay in legal overhaul
The Liverpool Echo (hometown of Stanley Leisure) claims an exclusive by announcing that plans to deregulate the UK casino market have been delayed at least a year. 2005/6 now seen as being more likely.

27th May          Bristol & Southend, England           Source: Yahoo/PRNewswire, Reuters & Ananova.com
MGM MIRAGE to Enter UK Casino Market
MGM Mirage entering UK with stake in casino firm
Bristol and Southend to get a touch of Vegas
MGM Mirage is apparently taking a 25% stake in Metro Casinos Inc subject to Gaming board approval. Metro is a subsidiary of R J Bown Holding Ltd and presently operates the Westcliffe casino in Southend.

26th May          Merseyside, England           Source: icCheshire/Daily Post
MP accused on betting
MP George Howarth who is a paid consultant to Bookmakers William Hill has been accused of using his Parliamentary position to assist the company.

23rd May          Felixstowe, England          Source: Suffolk Evening Star
Casino boss told permission 'not needed'

21st May          London?          Source: Yahoo/PRNewswire
World Gaming PLC - Business Review Progress Update

21st May          London          Source: BettingMarket.com - Feature
Betting Exchanges  - Position paper green lights betting exchanges...

21st May          London           Source: Ananova.com
Fulham miss cash target
Betting exchange Betfair.com will not be renewing the sponsorship of Fulham F.C. after paying out £650,000 for a 1 year deal.

20th May          London           Source: Ananova.com
More draws and bigger jackpots to boost lottery sales

20th May          London           Source: Yahoo UK/Reuters
Spread betting firm IG Index in MBO talks -sources

19th May          Derby, England           Source: Derby Evening Telegraph
Armed robbers in Casino raid

19th May         Derby, England           Source: Ananova.com
Gamblers robbed in casino raid
The armed robbery took place at 4am Saturday at Stanley Friargate casino in Derby. 3 of the 4 are described as being West Indian and got in by forcing a locked rear fire escape door.

19th May          London           Source: Net Imperative
Boss Media and Sportingbet strengthen ties
Boss Media will be supplying two new casinos one in US$ for Sportingbet.com and in Sterling for Sportingbet.co.uk.

19th May          London          Source: The Guardian
I'm a celeb, have a bet on me
The race to bring interactive betting to reality TV shows. Sportech (Littlewoods) & ITV inking a 5 year deal.

16th May          London           Source: Yahoo/Dow Jones Business News & BBC.co.uk
Hilton Group 4-Months: Hotel Trading Difficult In London
Hilton bets on Ladbrokes bailing out hotels
Sars takes toll on Hilton
Ladbrokes & Ladbrokes.com Betting and Gaming both performed strongly. Betting shop win up 14.3%.

16th May          Mablethorpe, England           Source: Ananova.com
£13,000 win after bookie gives wrong odds
66 to 1 for Rotherham United to avoid relegation - Nice one :)

15th May          London          Source: Yahoo/Business Wire & Globes Online
NDS and Rank Launch Dedicated Bingo-Style Interactive Channel 'Fancy a Flutter'
NDS and Rank launch new bingo-style interactive channel

15th May          London          Source: Government News Network/HM Customs & Excise
Backing a winner - betting industry Tax changes - Press release

12th May          London & New Jersey         Source: Yahoo UK/PRNewswire
SportXction enters mobile telephone market

7th May          London          Source: The Times Online & The Scotsman
Rank on track with thriving casinos
Rank says its casinos have proved a safe bet

6th May          Edinburgh          Source: Scotland On Sunday - 4th May
World's first legal internet betting shop set to open in capital
Traditional bookmakers are seeking to have the legality of the venture tested in court. Owner Henry Spurway has teamed up with betting exchange Betfair.com.

6th May          Guernsey          Source: Caterer.com - 4th May
Faites vos jeux - Guernsey takes bids for first casino
A document that outlines the Government of Guernsey's tender process can be found at: www.guernseytouristboard.com/casino/word/ExpofInt240602.doc

6th May          London          Source: Yahoo UK/Reuters
Rank says comfortable despite Hard Rock

5th May          London          Source: The Daily Telegraph
London Clubs to shave debts with pair of deals

3rd May          Chilwell, UK          Source: Nottingham Evening Post
Pensioner victim of Bet Scam
The Pensioner had fallen for an old trick of betting on a horse and paying a commission to the tipster if it won.

3rd May          Solihull, Birmingham          Source: Birmingham Evening Mail
Casino dad wins £250k

2nd May          London          Source: Ananova.com/PA
Stanley buys Mayfair casino
Stanley Leisure has agreed to acquire the Palm Beach in Berkeley Street, Mayfair from from London Clubs International for £36.3 million.