News on my Desk Wednesday Dec 11, 2012

Mexico Plans To Clamp Down On Unlicensed Internet Gambling Operators

MEXICO (December 11, 2012) -- Mexican government authorities have reportedly been engaging with local banking executives in an attempt to halt the intrusion of unlicensed online gambling operators.
Since 2004, land casino operators licensed in Mexico have been permitted to offer internet gambling, and several mutually beneficial partnership deals have been signed between major land companies and online firms like Probability plc and Playtech plc.
Among the collaborative moves being considered by government and the banks are financial measures designed to disrupt financial transactions with unlicensed operators by preventing the use of unauthorised credit and debit card transactions.
The interior Ministry has publicly emphasised the need to investigate preventative measures targeted on unlicensed online gambling operators accessing the Mexican punter.

Traditional gambling falls, but online continues to rise
A NEW study has shown Australia's love affair with the punt continues - but there are signs the relationship is not as strong as it once was.
A Roy Morgan Research study into gambling showed the amount wagered by Australians on gambling dropped by $1.6 billion in the year to September, to $16.9 billion.
It continued a steep decline in gambling revenue since September 2010, when Australia's parted with $20 billion.
The most recent figure is also significantly less than the amount spent on gambling in 2003, which came in at $19.1 billion.

UK Plans Tax Gift To Entice Gaming Companies Back
GIBRALTAR (December 11, 2012) -- George Osborne is set to hand the gambling industry a multi-million-pound tax cut as part of an incentive to bring the offshore internet gaming business back to Britain, the Mail on Sunday reported this weekend.
The newspaper said that the highly controversial move comes the day after the Chancellor faced nationwide protests over the Government’s failure to crack down on massive corporation tax avoidance by companies including Starbucks, Google and Amazon.
Britain’s biggest gambling companies moved their internet gaming operations offshore after Labour brought in a 15 per cent tax for all internet betting seven years ago.

Gaming Commission To Consider Rules And Regulations For Casino Law
BOSTON, Massachusetts (December 11, 2012) – Before the state gaming commission can begin awarding casino licenses, it must first come up with a set of rules and regulations for fully implementing the year-old expanded gambling law. IoM To Launch Gambling AML/CTF Code
LONDON, UK (December 11, 2012) -- The Isle of Man government has released for comment three new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Codes, including a new regime dealing solely with Manx-licensed gambling services providers.
The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Online Gambling) Code 2013 is to introduce a bespoke framework for gambling operators, requiring that they establish, maintain and operate: