IASbet will offer one share for every 25 Canbet shares held. The merged group will operate under the IAS banner.

A report which main purpose was to show whether controversial fixed-odds betting machines led to more cases of problem gambling in UK, concluded: "There is no evidence in this study which suggests that FOBTs are closely associated with problem gambling."

The Belizean company which handled payments for many Costa Rica-based bookmakers shut down last week with no notice. We suggest players which are waiting for checks to contact their bookmakers and make arrangements to receive payments using an alternate method.

The Irish-based betting exchange, backed by financier Dermot Desmond, has set up a site called Asia Betting Exchange in the former Portuguese colony of Macau.

A new CSFI report sends a strong message to traditional bookmakers : "Adapt to the advent of betting exchanges or die. Most will almost certainly die."

Player reports that his deposit was taken from his checking account within a day, but the transfer has not cleared to his Bodog's betting account in almost two weeks.

Players report to have been put on hold after requesting withdrawals through payment provider Moneybookers. We regard it as unacceptable that a bookmaker waits for deposits from other customers before processing withdrawals.

Complaints against Austrian bookmaker Bets4All continue to mount. Bettors should be aware of operations unable to process payments in a timely fashion. 

Directors of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations formed a committee to examine the possibility of creating an industry-owned betting exchange to benefit the sport.

Two of the players owed by The Pool have reported payment. We will continue to monitor payouts. 

We warn bettors about this scam book who has been stiffing players using all sorts of deceitful tactics.

Helen Coonan, Australia's Communications Minister, stated today that the Government will not stand in the way of Betfair, raising the betting exchange's chances to obtain an Australian license in early 2005.

Permit wagering on sporting events in all 50 states? Americans who want to legally bet on sporting events can do so in Las Vegas. Gamblers can also place sports bets on Internet sites run from outside the United States. 

The RFL is the governing body for the game of Rugby League in the UK and is responsible for maintaining integrity in the sport. This MoU will operate in the same manner as those previously agreed by Betfair with other sports regulators such as the Jockey Club, the ATP and the English FA.

Betfair reported on December 7th to have reimbursed £657,770 to 889 punters, with another £68,100 credited in commission rebates to 158 more former Sporting Options' clients.

Shares of online bookmaker Sportingbet jumped a further 2% to an all-time high of 184p, amid rumours that Ladbrokes parent company, Hilton Group, has made a tentative bid approach with a cash offer of Â£807m, or 250p per share.

Speculative rumours suggest the Hilton Group, which already owns Ladbrokes, has been casting an eye over Betfair, the world's largest betting exchange. 

The company with over one million customers and a turnover in excess of £1billion, have recently completed the takeover of Paradise Poker for £169m.