Diaries are fast filling up for delegates to IGE, the International Gaming Expo which runs 26-28 January at Earls Court in London, and the International Gaming Awards held on the eve of the show.

IGE organiser Clarion Gaming - which also produces the ATEI, ICEi and Betting Show events running simultaneously - will next year launch a new party for IGE attendees at the Orchid nightclub.

The law passed mid-October that will open up French online betting to the private sector is expected to grow the market by nearly 500 percent. The new legislation, which should take effect in the summer of 2010, for the first time will allow companies other than two state-owned operators to run online poker as well as sports and racing betting. And more than three quarters of the operators surveyed in a study by consultants MECN and law firm Ulys are hoping to obtain a French poker licence.

The largest casino in Puerto Rico has opened in Sheraton's newest property. The 20,000-square-foot facility at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel, based around a circular bar and entertainment area, is a 24-hour operation with 16 table games and 448 slots including multidenominational units.

Sweden's online operator Hem Bingo has become the first to upgrade to the Bingo 2.2 system from Gtech's G2 division.

The software supports multiple currencies, linked games, and a set of multi-lingual mini-games shown in the main bingo window. These include progressive slots, table games, video poker and scratch-cards.

Britain's Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT) has relaunched as The Great Foundation with a pledge to aggressively pursue funding from all sectors that benefit from gambling.

The Great Foundation - with Great standing for Gambling Research, Education and Treatment - will research the extent and causes of problem gambling, as well as paying for treatment of affected individuals and funding educational programmes to encourage responsible gambling.

British game content provider WagerWorks has added online sports betting and casino operator Entergaming to its client roster. Entergaming joins high-profile names including Bet365, Betfair, Ladbrokes, Quicksilver and Virgin in offering its customers games from WagerWorks, which also supplies content for mobile and interactive TV platforms.

IT specialist Hermes SoftLab has named Matt Webb as Sales Manager for Gaming. Webb, who previously worked for a payment solutions firm and for Chartwell Games, will be based in London and work with clients throughout Europe.

Dealers at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas have protested against the failure of casino owner Harrah's Entertainment and their union, the Transport Workers Union of America, to reach a contract agreement.

Although it is nearly two years since the dealers - along with workers at Wynn Las Vegas - voted to be represented by the union, no pact has been reached.

Microgaming has added two more online services to its poker network - 5050Poker and Mansion88.

Mattias Eriksson, CEO of 5050Poker, said: "Our players wanted the chance to play against a truly global opposition on a platform that offered improved game and tournament selection as well as greater liquidity."

The end is nigh

The deadline to submit nominations for January's International Gaming Awards has been extended to 28 October. Make nominations or book tickets for the London event at www.gamingawards.Com

Innovative Technology's new Smart Payout device can accept and dispense up to 80 different denominations - a feature which the firm says distinguishes it from most cash recyclers.

"Most of the recycler units currently on the market can accept multidenomination notes but can only pay out one or two small denominations," said Aidan Towey, Innovative's Managing Director.

A further ten of Genting's UK casinos are to install multi-win roulette terminals from server-based gaming specialists Inspired Gaming Group.