2006 May 09 Gambling News, Events and Happenings - Page 6

Final exams were in full swing. Butler University freshman Robb Barbauld sat in his dark dorm room just before midnight, guided by the light of his laptop computer screen.

This was the week that was for Gamblers Anonymous types:

State police background checks on nearly two-thirds of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s workers have not yet been completed, even as those employees are helping to decide who gets licenses in the gambling industry.

Gamblers last year dropped a record $30.2 billion at the nation’s 455 commercial casinos in 11 states.

A casino is coming to Pittsburgh, but some Hill District residents aren’t too keen about having it in their neighborhood.

A storm has been building in the affiliate marketing sector of the industry over claims that one of the largest online gambling groups in the business, and a publicly quoted company to boot is turning a blind eye to the allegedly unethical marketing activities of its independent affiliates.

The American Gaming Association is certainly doing its bit to focus attention on the Internet gambling sector, judging by recent announcements. First it was the recommendation that before banning the popular online entertainment in the USA the Congress should investigate the phenomenon, and now the industry rates a mention in the Association’s latest survey.

Industry observers were interpreting comments made by a Betfair director this week as a possible indication that the U.S.A. might be on the list of expansion targets for the persistent and dynamic betting exchange group.

When this one hits, it will be far and away the largest Internet progressive jackpot yet seen. Cryptologic casinos are reporting increasing levels of activity as Internet gamblers go after what has this week been termed the mother of all progressives