Gaming Law International

120,000 Swiss have gambling problems

Interesting article here on Swissinfo.ch on the expansion of gambling in Switzerland and the fact that approximately 120,000 Swiss have a gambling addiction or a problem with gambling. According to the article, research by the Neuchâtel University’s Institute of Economic Research, determined that the social costs of gambling addiction is between CAD$564 million and CAD$681 million annually. 

Hefty fine paid by U.S. media group to settle gambling advertising concerns

According to the Associated Press, Vulcan Sports Media, Inc., doing business as The Sporting News, has agreed to pay a US$7.2 million penalty to settle claims by the U.S. government that it promoted illegal Internet and telephone gambling in print, on its website and on its radio stations from the Spring of 2000 to December 2003. The settlement includes payment of a US$4.2 million fine and US$3 million in the form of public service advertisements designed to dissuade people from gambling over the Internet on foreign operated sites. The ad campaign will run for three years. According to the report, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office  are targeting companies who assist foreign Internet gambling sites advertise and and operate their services to Americans. 

Poster of Jesus gambling in U.K. withdrawn

A poster campaign for an Internet bookmaker in the U.K. depicting Jesus seated behind a stack of chips has been withdrawn following a rebuke from the U.K. Advertising Standards Authority. The poster drew widespread complaints for showing a pastiche of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper with Jesus next to the chips and the Apostles playing cards or roulette. The ASA noted that the representation of the Last Supper as a casino, with the Christian imagery replaced with items used for gambling, could cause serious offence and was a breach of the ASA taste and decency clause. The Internet bookmaker said they had tested the campaign on their employees beforehand and received a positive response.