Danoptra Holdings Ltd, parent company of  Gamestec Leisure Limited and Bell-Fruit Group, has appointed Nick Hawkins Director of Legal Services.

Rocket Gaming Systems has joined the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM).

Operators of online gambling services remain barred from selling their services to US citizens, who make up around half the world's online gamblers. Despite a recent deal between the EU and USA, firms are no closer to receiving compensation for losses incurred as a result of the US government's effective prohibition on online gambling, which came into force last year in a move that several countries argue breaks World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

The first Casino Ball takes place on Thursday 24th January, supported and sponsored by the British casino industry and its associates. All profits from the Casino Ball 2008, a truly international event, will be donated to the Responsibility in Gambling Trust and the Red Cross.

The Republic of Ireland's Justice Minister, Brian Lenihan, is currently examining the final report from the Casino Regulation Committee that was set up by his predecessor in autumn 2006.

Casino Dominicus opened for business on the Dominican island of Hispaniola shortly before Christmas, claiming to offer the highest limits in the country - and to be the only Dominican casino to have a Players Club.

Paul Bellringer, Managing Director of Responsible Gambling Solutions, will be chairing the International Gaming Awards and overseeing the work of the 11 independent judges who will be voting on who will receive awards in London on 21st January.

Swedish company 24hPoker, which operates one of the world's largest poker networks, has signed an agreement with Cantor Gaming, the UK-based provider of online and mobile gaming services. As a result, Cantor Gaming will be launching new poker sites on 24hPoker's network.

A National Gaming Academy for the UK will be launched at ICE in January as a result of collaboration between the Regional Gaming Academy, which is part of Blackpool and the Fylde College (www.blackpool.ac.uk), and two other UK colleges: Greenwich College; and North Warwickshire and Hinckley College.

Former gaming inspector and training officer Janet Miller has set up what she claims is Britain's first independent accredited training school for casino croupiers. Based in Cardiff, South Wales, Professional Croupier Training (PCT) provides intensive instruction on industry standard Blackjack, Poker and American Roulette tables, delivering training based on the new National Occupational Standards (see story above).

The UNIGAP server based gaming platform from WIN Systems International, a global technology supplier to the gaming and lottery industries, was selected by IGWB (International Gaming and Wagering Business magazine) as one of IGWB's top products in the international gaming market for 2007.

The 600-room MGM Grand Macau resort casino in Macau opened its doors seven days before Christmas, aiming to set a new standard of luxury in Asia.

The Gaming and Hospitality Regional Conference, organised by Marcus Evans, takes place in Macau, on the 12-14 March, 2008.

Alfor SIA, the Latvian subsidiary of Novomatic Holding Austria, was named as the most dynamic company in the Latvian economy by Latvian magazine Kapit ls on account of its annual growth rate of 252 percent in the 2006 calendar year.

Under the terms of a deal signed in early December, Octavian, the UK-based supplier of gaming technology, solutions and systems, is expected to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of PacificNet, a leading provider of gaming and mobile game technology, e-commerce, and Customer Relationship Management solutions in China.

Commenting specifically on disappointing financial results from Rank, Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers summarised the general picture in regard to legislative changes in the UK. He said "...it appears that investors had been underestimating the impact of the smoking ban and overestimating the benefits of gaming deregulation."

IGT has failed in an attempt to secure an injunction against Las Vegas Gaming Inc (LVGI) on the grounds that LVGI's PlayerVision system infringed IGT's copyright.

Laura Olson-Reyes has joined Bally Technologies as Director of Corporate Communications to oversee the company's media relations and communications strategy. Olson-Reyes brings 15 years of gaming and technology industry experience to the position.

Crown Ltd, Australia's largest casino company, has split from Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd, making a clear separation between James Packer's gambling and media businesses.

Lightning Poker, Inc has acquired Poker Automation, LLC, of La Verne, CA, a privately held company that provides automated poker tables and related systems. "By combining the creativity and technology of two gaming companies we will continue to provide cutting edge game development to the industry," said Brian Haveson, Lightning Poker CEO. The acquisition furthers Lightning Poker's strategy of delivering a multi-faceted gaming platform for worldwide distribution, and accelerates Lightning Poker's rapid growth in California card rooms, the largest Poker market in the world.

Server-supported gaming specialist Videobet has added the Midas cabinet to its product range. Designed and produced by Unicum Gaming, Midas is a slim, dual-screen cabinet, suited both to standing and to sitting gameplay positions.

Offering an availability of 99.99994 percent, Dallmeier's Digital Matrix was shown at G2E, featuring the DIS-2/M modular audio/video recording and transmission system, housed in a 19-inch rack construction with slide-in units. The system offers MPEG-2/-4 compression and allows high-quality recording and real-time transmission.

The first television advertisement for gambling attracted just four complaints, between them alleging that it was irresponsible on five counts. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) also looked at a sixth potential count of irresponsibility, but ruled that no further action was required. None of the complaints, which were examined against the UK's new Advertising Standards codes, were upheld by the ASA.

The Casino Théâtre Barrière de Toulouse, a multi-leisure centre in France, was opened by Lucien Barrière Hotels and Casinos during the first week of December. The company claims it is the first no-smoking casino in France, and has provided balconies on every floor for smokers' comfort, as well as indoor booths with extractor fans.

Kevin L Kelley is rejoining Station Casinos as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Kelley brings nearly thirty years of gaming experience to Station, including ten years with the company, during which time he served in several leadership roles, including president of Westside Operations overseeing five hotel/casino properties.

The US government has extracted a settlement worth  $31.5 million from three online giants - Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft. All three neither contest nor admit they received payments from on-line gambling businesses for advertising on-line gambling between 1997 and June 2007.

The government of the Spanish region of Aragon has signed a deal with UK-based company International Leisure Development (ILD) which is intended to lead to what ILD describes as a "City of Integrated Recreation".

Gaming Partners International (GPI) added the new Stanley Circus Casino in Liverpool to the list of operators it supplies with RFID chips. The casino opened on December 1st with 125 KHz RFID chips and plaques, Table Top Authenticators and Cage readers.

Well, I’m in a new role now (no longer Head of Gambling Law for Halliwells – I’ve been headhunted, always an interesting, and in this case very rewarding, experience) as the new Director of Legal Services for Danoptra – owners of Bell Fruit, Gamestec, Leisure Connection, RLMS, On Board Leisure and many other companies. A month in, I’m greatly enjoying the fresh challenges.

Como podrán imaginar, estas líneas las escribimos días antes de navidad. Es que tenemos que tener todo listo para nuestro el show de Londres entre el 22-24 de enero próximo, y no sabemos como vamos a salir después de celebrar un gran fin de ano.

As you can imagine, this piece is being written a few days before Christmas. Thing is, we have to get everything ready well in advance of January’s London Show ICE 2008 between January 22-24, and better do it now, as the end of the year celebrations might just prove a bit too exciting!

The 2007 G2E was a whirlwind of activity, education and networking. AGA President and CEO Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. reported the show covered approximately 330,000 square feet, up from 300,000 square feet in 2006. He projected an exhibitor increase from 2006 to more than 750. Impressive numbers.