Partners in a new Colorado-based online gambling site are planning to launch a sports-based offer, including in-game selections, in the expectation of being permitted in some American jurisdictions as a “skill” game. In states that do not allow fantasy games of skill for cash tournaments, FantaZsports intends to make its product available to play for free.

One of the world’s biggest sports marketing companies is launching an online virtual sports world that is technically ready to host betting options such as virtual betting shops, but Infront Sports & Media is holding back on introducing betting on its new Empire of Sport platform, partly because of resistance from rights-holding partners such as FC Barcelona.

A California Senate informational hearing yesterday examined the thorny issue of internet poker and its regulation, finding that while up to one million Californians already play the game online, there is no consensus on its regulation and strong opposition to change.

Intralot has acquired a strategic stake in poker platform provider CyberArts in a move it says will enhance its online gaming capabilities ahead of opportunities opening up in both Europe and possibly the US.

Online gaming now counts tens of millions of real money players, many in the coveted Asian markets, but as gambling plays an increasingly important role in the virtual worlds it is becoming clear that technology is outrunning regulation on payments, money laundering and player protection. Alex Wade looks at the ways in which Massively Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) cut across conventional gambling laws.

The chief executive of PartyGaming says he observes a growing spirit of cooperation between online gaming operators and governments across the globe and argues Party’s recent acquisition of the World Poker Tour (WPT) will open a route for the company into the US in advance of any possible state or federal regulation.

Betex, the only UK-listed gaming business to operate solely in China, is putting its money on partnerships with the Chinese Sports Lottery. In an exclusive interview with Gamblingcompliance.com, CEO Peter Greenhill describes the growth in football betting, and the importance of governmental relationships.

Regulators have banned a television gaming advert after complaints it suggested that players were more likely to win in online games than in bricks-and-mortar casinos.

Fantasy sports received a specific carve-out under the United States’ 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act but their legality in the US and other worldwide jurisdictions has yet to be fully defined, finds Professor Joseph Kelly in this article highlighting global approaches to fantasy sports games from a gambling law perspective.

Leading search engine Yahoo! has joined Google in refusing to sell advertising space to online casinos but the move is yet another twist in the complex war of wits between affiliates and the search companies.