Online payment provider Neteller posted a first-half pre-tax loss of $24.7 million after being forced to close it US facing business. Revenues declined 57 per cent, to $50.8 million, for the period.

Speaking about the ongoing legal problems it was facing in the United States, chief executive Ron Martin said that US authorities had already seized $60m of the $136m it had agreed to forfeit as part of a deferred prosecution agreement, while the rest would be paid our of money generated by the business in two installments.

A Los Angeles couple has been jailed and charged for using counterfeit hundred dollar bills playing slot machines at the Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas.

Chen Chiang Liu and Min Li Liu were caught when investigators found out they used their players cards while on the machines. Security officers identified 13 slot machines that accepted a total of 60 phony hundred-dollar bills.

The UK government has dealt a blow to about one thousand online gambling sites after it declared a ban on offshore Internet gambling companies from advertising in the UK starting September.

According to the new rule, any online firm based in gaming hotspots such as Costa Rica, the Netherlands Antilles and Belize will not be able to market in the UK, either online, on TV, or in newspapers and magazines.

The South African National Assembly has begun a series of legislative changes that could subject the online casino and gambling industry to regulatory measures such as monitoring the fair treatment of players.

In a memorandum attached to the draft National Gambling Amendment Bill, South Africa’s online and interactive gambling market is accused of being beset by crime and offering little protection for its players.

Another online payment processor, EcoCard, has announced its exit from the US market due to the continued impact of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The announcement comes after months of speculation and conflicting information.

In an e-mailed notice directed at US customers, EcoCard confirmed that it is to exit the American market on August 24.

The UK Gambling Commission have released new reports showing British citizens gambling online is on the rise. The survey conducted from January to June 2007 showed 8.6% of adult Brits play online poker and casino, last year that figure stood at 7.4%.

The National Lottery still ranked as the most popular form of Internet gambling with online poker a close second. Mobile phone gambling is also gathering momentum with 3% of adults admitting using their mobile phones to gamble at least once a month.

Las Vegas Sands Casino Hotel has annonced that it would launch a real-money online casino for the U.K players this spring. The Sands’ Internet gaming combines elements of its popular Las Vegas casino gaming brands and feature a full package of casino games and poker.

Players in the U.S. will not be permitted to access the site because of the UIGEA, which makes online gambling a criminal offense.