Online gambling in the United States has become one of the nation’s hottest issues. It is being debated at both the state and federal level. Several state governments, as well as both houses of Congress, have introduced proposals that would bring the possibility of online gambling out of the shadows and into the legal market. At the state level, several governments have brought forth the idea of allowing their state’s casinos to operate an online gambling site to residents within the states. The idea is to generate more revenue for both the casinos and the states’ treasuries especially in this time of economic recession. However, the bills are facing some opposition from some unlikely sources, the casinos.

In Atlantic City the casinos are dissuading a bill that would allow them to offer online gambling to residents of New Jersey. They fear that players will no longer come to the casino if they can play online. This means that less money will be spent in non-gaming activities like hotels, restaurants, and shops. On the other coast, California is looking to adopt online gambling legislation. Again, the idea is facing some opposition from a Native American nation whop operates a casino.

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians, have been relatively supportive of a bill that would allow online gambling in the state of California. However, they recently rejected a bill proposed by State Senator Roderick Wright, that would legalize the activity. A spokesperson for the Morongo stated that the tribe has always been a supporter of intrastate online poker. They believe that consumer protections are adequate and revenue that can be generated would be helpful to the state. “But we can not support the bill in its present form.” It seems that the Morongo Band is not against online gambling. They are seeing problems with the current language of S.B. 1485. The bill will face a hearing at the end of June where the major issues will be discussed and debated.

The key to online gaming is licensing and jurisdictions. Securing a license from a legal online gambling jurisdiction is the difference between operating a successful business and operating an illegal one. Some of best jurisdictions are highly sought after and bring with them an element of prestige. Online gambling jurisdictions can be operated by several factions. Most are operated or regulated by government run gaming control boards. However, some are operated by independent factions such as aboriginal governments. Most native populations, especially in North America, are exempt from national gambling laws as they are recognized to be a sovereign and autonomous people.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is one of those gambling regulators set up within a Native American nation. The Mohawk tribe have set up a data center within the Kahnawake territory. From their they have established one of the online casino and gambling industry’s most successful players. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission has also been on the move. They have recently penned a deal that will help expand their business to new markets. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission will be hosting an inter-jurisdictional alliance in the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda. The agreement will allow license holders to operate in either jurisdiction. “It made sense for us to work together,” stated Murray Marshall of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

While the online gaming commission has not had as much love shown by its native government in Quebec, it has become a hub for online gaming hosting. This new agreement would allow the Kahnawake Gaming Commission to be even more of a major player. The Commission’s Mohawk Internet Technologies will be able to offer its high tech broadband services to the former British Colonies. This is a first of its kind agreement. It will provide much needed flexibility for hosting and licensing needs. This new type of online gambling business will surely see many companies expand and grow.

Online bingo has quickly become one of the most popular online gambling activities. It may not be quite ready to take over online slots of poker, but it has become a leading force in its own right with a very loyal following. Players not only enjoy the game they are so very familiar with, but online bingo has brought new themes and fun to players all over the world. Online bingo players are also enjoying bonuses and promotions that have made online casinos and poker sites such a hit. These promotions are attracting new players, with fun, whimsical, and topical themes.

With the 2010 World Cup ready to move out of group play and into the tournament, online casino and poker sites are ramping up their World Cup theme promotions. Online bingo sites are doing the same. Bucky Bingo has become an online bingo favorite in the United Kingdom to the point of being Britain’s largest independent bingo club operator. They are one of the sites that are enjoying giving their fans World Cup goodies. Their list is impressive. Wednesdays are World Cup Wednesdays. Players enjoying the online bingo site will have the opportunity to play for an official England World Cup replica shirt. (The good news is if a player is not a soccer fan they can claim the cash equivalent.)

Bucky Bingo is also offering other daily promotions. On Tuesdays the online bingo site is hosting a bounce back promotion. Players who make a deposit get the chance to earn a free £50 to play with the next day. Thursdays offer one of the best promotions in online bingo, an HD 22 inch LCD television with a built in DVD player.

These are only some of the reasons Bucky Bingo has become the most popular online bingo site in the United Kingdom. They host the most exciting monthly promotions, jackpots, and the fun of playing the most popular gambling game in the world.

Win A Day Online Casino keeps proving its name sake. They also keep making dreams come true. The online casino is known for rapidly growing progressive jackpots that are hit with some frequency. It was not too long ago that the biggest progressive jackpot in the site’s history was hit. A retired widower won $223,420 while playing Reel De Luxe. With the new progressive jackpot reaching another $200,000 mark it was only a matter of time before a lucky player would hit another big one, and a big one it was. The $ 200,859 progressive jackpot was the second largest in Win A Day’s history and not only confirmed the online casino’s name but the name of the player.

LUCKYTOM is a film student who, “…was killing time taking [his] mind off [his] studies for a bit…” For him, scoring the big progressive jackpot on the online casino came out of the blue. This big win is the type all hopefuls play for. It will give LUCKYTOM the chance to see some of his dreams come true. Of course, he did admit that he would blow some of his money celebrating his win and there are always student loans. However, he wants to use the bulk of it to help finance a film project he has had his heart set on for a long time. LUCKYTOM’S “Win A Day” could lead to a winning career. Most students with big dreams usually say that it just takes a little help to get the ball rolling. LUCKYTOM’S help just came in.

Win A Day Online Casino has become one of the online casino industry’s most popular sites. Their progressive jackpots replenish themselves quickly and are hit at an alarming rate. They have committed to bringing the fun to online gambling not just by hosting lots of winners, but in offering their players new games in which to win.

Right2Bet is at it again. They are making their claim that European gamblers are not able to enjoy their hobby they way they should be allowed to. The World Cup is in full swing, and group play is coming down to the final matches. This year’s World Cup has been one of the most anticipated and highly watched. That also means it has been one of the most wagered upon World Cups in history. While land based casinos and sports gambling venues are seeing record numbers of wagers, so are online casinos and sports gambling sites. This is where Right2Bet and other gambling rights activist groups are finding problems.

Some countries in Europe, specifically European Union member nations, support a state run monopoly of gambling activities. As always those governments claim they host the monopolies in order to protect their citizens. Right2Bet feels that those monopolies are actually hurting the consumer as well as ignoring the principles the European Union was founded on. They feel that the monopolies are not able to give the consumer the same high level of product that privately owned online gambling companies can offer. They also claim that this lower level pf product forces european gamblers to visit sites that may seem to offer a better product, but can either not back it up or may be running illegally.

Right2Bet has commissioned a study that will examine state run gambling monopolies and the odds they offer on every single match of the 2010 World Cup. They are already expecting to see a significant difference between the state run gambling sites and the privately run sites. Right2Bet claims that the purpose of the study is not to show that state run gambling sites offer inferior odds, but that they offer worse odds than sites that are licensed, and who are capable of offering consumer protection that is as good, if not better, than the state run sites.

Those who oppose gambling make a very strong case that gambling can ruin lives. Most casino patrons, even the regula

Bally Technologies started in 1932. What began as a subsidiary of a profitable pinball game manufacturer has become the largest casino slot game developers and distributers in the world. Not only does Bally Technologies give the best games to the casino industry it has evolved to offering marketing, accounting, security, data management, player tracking, and other high tech software solutions. Bally Technologies is responsible for some the innovations that has propelled electronic casino gaming at an alarming pace. These innovations include the first fully electronic reel spinning slot machine, and the “bottomless hopper.” Bally Technologies was also the first company of its kind to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Now Bally Technologies is welcoming in a new Vice President of Product Marketing and Licensing. Jean Venneman has already proven herself to the casino and gaming industry. She is an eighteen year veteran who started her career as a sales executive for International Game Technologies European subsidiary IGT Europe. Quickly moving up the ladder she most recently held the position of Vice President, External Innovation and Licensing. She was directly involved in award winning licensing products from Sony Pictures, Lucas Films, HBO Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures and many others. Ms. Venneman won the “Great Women of Gaming Proven Leader” award. She has also been featured on the cover of GLobal Gaming Business magazine, being one of 2007’s ‘Top 25 People to Watch.”

Bally Technologies’ Vice President of Marketing, Dan Savage, boasted that, “She is a proven leader with an outstanding gaming industry track record of success, having played a key role in the sales and development of several games and brands.” He and the rest of the Bally Technologies team feel her experience in the casino industry and reputable list of contacts will “…play a pivotal role in the expansion of our portfolio of licensed entertainment brands, brand libraries, and overall product marketing.” In other words Ms Venneman will be a perfect fit.

In the United States the economic recession has forced many state governments to look into expanding their gambling laws. The idea is to generate much needed revenue to help fill budget gaps that are rapidly increasing. The recession has become a global one, and many countries in Europe are suffering. One of the hardest hit European countries is Greece. Their economy is in near collapse to the point of rioting. They too have looked toward gambling to help bring in badly needed cash. For Greece this would mean a complete reversal of current laws. However, for Greek lawmakers, they feel this may be the only way to stimulate a dismal economy and help work on the massive amounts of accumulated debt.

The Greek government is expected to release a draft of a new law that will once again allow electronic gambling machines. It could also allow online casinos and gambling sites. Since 2003, Greece has had a total blanket ban on all gambling machines. The only gambling machines allowed are housed in a few casinos. Gambling in Greece is highly regulated and most consider it to be a state run monopoly called OPAP. OPAP controls horse race as well as casino gambling and lotteries. Right now gambling brings in about €8.7 billion per year. This came after a near pandemic of illegal gambling operators broke out in the country. This ban has been the subject of talks within the European Union. European Union officials feel this violates EU policies and has since fined Greece €31,500 a day.

That fine may not matter much longer. Greece is betting on close to €1.3 billion over the next three years from expanded gambling laws. They intended to draw cash from gambling licenses, and royalties. Greece needs it. Right now any cash is good cash. With revenues dropping and tensions rising a 180 degree turn on gambling could only hope to be a start.

Like all the other major casino and casino resort companies, Wynn Resorts has been doing its best to make it through the economic nose dive that has plagued the United States and most of the world. Low tourist numbers and even lower gambling revenues have forced almost all of the major casino resorts in Las Vegas to drop room rates, cut costs, and lower expectations. The casino resorts that have managed to stay open or out of bankruptcy, have been forced to cut back on the benefits they are able to offer their employees, and some have been forced to cut back on the number of employees themselves.

Wynn Resorts just announced that they are going to try another method, in an attempt to boost employee morale at its Las Vegas casino resorts. To balance out the effects of the recession, Wynn Resorts cut back salaries by close to 15 percent. They also suspended their 401 (k) contributions and bonus payments. In order to keep as many workers employed as possible they reduced their workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours. However, Wynn Resorts found that the attempt to protect employees actually hurt them by the reduction in hours. Now they are taking a different course of action.

Steve Wynn admitted that a long time employee brought the issue of a dip in employee morale to him and his company went to work to reverse that. The change started with hours. Wynn’s top two casino resorts in Las Vegas, The Wynn Las Vegas and the Encore, will reinstate a 40 hour workweek. They also announced that full wages will be restored to all salaried employees who made less than $200,000. This does come at a little bit of an expense. Sadly, 261 employees will be laid off, 240 will be hourly workers. The layoffs will be the first in the Wynn’s forty-two years in the casino resort industry.