Antigua and Barbuda is considered to have well-drafted online gaming regulations that do not appear to constrain operators' ability to remain globally competitive.

The majority of New Zealand’s gambling sector is focused on small to mid-sized casino operations. There are currently 6 licensed casinos, 3 of which are operated by the Sky City group.

An overview of the Lithuanian law on lottery and gaming tax.

A brief synopsis of the legislative auspices of The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act with regards to the establishment and regulation of Class I – III gaming activities on tribal lands in the USA.

The issue of sovereignty has long preceded the federal recognition of native Indian tribes with self governance. During the 1800s the issue of sovereignty manifested itself as a controversial topic of discussion in the political arena. During this time legislative activism and several court cases sought to recognize native Indian tribes as a sovereign people, with exercisable rights over land and self governance.

While gambling has traditionally been regulated by the states, with respect to internet gaming the federal government has taken a very active role. Most US internet gambling is casino-style gaming and sports betting, which have been the focus of the Department of Justice to date.

On June 1, 2007 Minister of Finance, Conrad Enill reaffirmed the governments latest position against gambling by overseeing an umbrella Finance Bill which will outlaw the distribution, operation and use of slot machines.

There are around 230 casinos, 47 of which are licensed and more than 50,000 slot machines equating to 1 for every 200 residents, making the Czech Republic the highest casino per capita jurisdiction in the EU.

Gaming and gambling in Switzerland has a constitutional foundation by way of Article 106 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The constitutional basis divides gaming in accordance to sector, namely games of chance, betting and lottery.

Mongolia has a predominantly low income population prompting government officials to question the social benefit of any gambling development in the country. Following a bad precedent set by corrupt officials in 1998, any proposal to lift the casino ban is met with intense suspicion and speculation. Based on the country’s small population and limited tourism infrastructure, the viability of any major casino development would almost certainly depend on its proximity to the Chinese border.

The tourism industry has been steadily declining, prompting the government to consider alternative sources of income. Following a proposal put forward to the cabinet by Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to decriminalise and legalise gambling, the legislature drafted a Gambling Control Bill.

The Australian Interactive Gambling Act 2001, as amended in 2003 hindered Australian facing operations by placing prohibitions on operators and criminal sanctions on customers. Due to the geographical isolation of Norfolk Island and the comparatively high licensing fees, Norfolk Island is unlikely to become a major player as an offshore licensing jurisdiction.

Vanuatu is a geographically favourable offshore location for Australian online casinos and betting services, however operators such as the Number One Betting Shop and My Casino have moved back onshore. The move followed legislation that was introduced in New South Wales and Victoria which imposed substantial fines and custodial sentences on anyone that wagered in bets or online casino activity via Vanuatu.

The licensing structure for the country’s four licensed casinos is not clear, nor is the license application fee or renewal fee. Regional military chiefs offer licenses, however the validity and costs of these licenses is equally as ambiguous.

A general prohibition on gambling was lifted following a legislative amendment in 2001. The Ministry of Finance has since devised specific regulations for casinos and lottery operators. Until recently, restrictive licensing requirements and a general lack of demand only supported one licensed casino. In 2003 the Non-tax Receipt Division of the Ministry of Finance created more favorable taxation incentives and offered 31 licenses. 13 casinos, 17 game arcades and 1 totalizator have since been registered.

In 2005, Thailand’s Tourism Minister suggested to the cabinet that the casino ban should be lifted to encourage tourism. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont turned down the suggestion. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was deposed in the September 2006 coup had indicated a willingness to relax the gambling prohibition.

The Casino Act will be the first formal legal recognition of gambling law in Liechtenstein and is expected to consolidate a number of issues ranging from money laundering to regulatory practice.

The Ministry of Finance is responsible for granting licenses, regulating and supervising operators in Austria, although licensing and regulatory autonomy can also be exercised on a small scale in relation to betting at a federal level.

Goldman believes that stricter regulations on pachinko parlours and machine operators will increase the need for more recreational-style machines that are compliant with upcoming regulations.

Online betting and gaming providers have welcomed the introduction of the new European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), which replaces the European Betting Association (EBA), headquartered in Brussels.

In an unprecedented move, the European Commission issued Hungary, Finland and Denmark with “Reasoned Opinions” on Wednesday, the final step of infringement proceedings before judicial intervention against a Member State may be sought in the European Court of Justice.

In its judgment delivered yesterday on the Placanica case, the European Court of Justice strongly reinforces EU law by overreaching national legislation relating to criminal penalties or sanctions on individuals associated with unlicensed gaming or gambling activities within an EU Member State.

Due to the novelty of the regulatory regime, the boundaries of Serbia’s gaming and gambling laws remain to be tested. The Games of Chance Act 2005 is expected to be amended in coming years to further reflect an acknowledgment of European standards.

At present there is no legal provision for licensing or regulating casinos, however no action has been taken to criminalise gambling in Cyprus.

Monaco has a limited regulatory infrastructure with SBM acting as a self-regulated monopoly. The regulations that apply to SBM are not subject to any specific legislation raising issues surrounding transparency and the dangers of self governance.