UK-listed spread betting firm IG Group reported interim figures that show double digit growth, despite sharply reduced volatility in the financial markets on which its customers bet, but regulatory uncertainty in the US and South Africa took some shine off the results.

Against a background of booming demand for gaming in Macau Sands China Ltd., the Hong Kong-listed casino operator announced in its debut results that its net profit for 2009 had climbed by more than a fifth as more than 35 million visitors streamed into the gambling mecca.

Legislators in the Silver State compromised yesterday on a budget package to patch Nevada’s $887m deficit, sparing the gaming industry new fees to fund the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Harrah's Entertainment, the world's largest casino operator by revenue, reported a profit of $295.6m in the fourth quarter, but revenues fell 10 percent for its Strip properties and eight percent overall.

Ahead of results due later today, Steve Wynn’s announcement that his company has signed a letter of intent in Pennsylvania to own and manage one of Philadelphia’s two casinos has been applauded by analysts, but the move is set to have further negative consequences for casinos in the beleaguered Atlantic City market.

An explosion of high-end baccarat play has provided practically the only good news for the Vegas Strip’s beleaguered casinos in recent months, but analysts fear the boom may prove fragile as China weighs moves to tighten monetary policy.

Beset by competition, tough public scrutiny and falling betting handle the US thoroughbred racing industry is attempting to reinvent itself with new wagering strategies and even online exchange betting, but disagreements between state regulatory authorities and the heavy weight of history is making the task an uphill battle.

Las Vegas Strip gambling revenues rose 5.9 percent in December, boosted by a strong debut for the newly-opened CityCenter, but figures for the past twelve months showed that for Las Vegas 2009 was a year to forget

A California Senate informational hearing yesterday examined the thorny issue of internet poker and its regulation, finding that while up to one million Californians already play the game online, there is no consensus on its regulation and strong opposition to change.

A magazine editor in Finland has received fines for publishing advertisements for online gambling operators, while the Finnish slot monopoly RAY has confirmed that it has been granted permission to offer online poker and casino games starting later this year.