An international conference of online gambling operators at a top Las Vegas hotel has been hurriedly cancelled amid fears that the FBI could be about to widen its crackdown on the US industry, estimated to be worth more than £3bn.

Meanwhile, there is growing frustration among online gambling operators listed on the London stock market about what one senior industry source said was the "loose language" emanating from the US department of justice concerning the legality of poker and casino websites taking bets from American punters.

As published by PeterBoroughToday.com: There were renewed calls for Peterborough's casino plans to be scrapped after a pensioner built up £20,000 in gambling debts in just three months.

City MP Stewart Jackson is a strong opponent of the plans and fears it will result in people getting into debt. His views are backed by Canon Bruce Ruddock of Peterborough Cathedral who has argued that the young and vulnerable will be drawn to gambling if a casino is built on their doorstep.

As published by Canadian Press: “Shares in Canadian online gambling companies fell Tuesday amid fears that a U.S. crackdown on Internet gaming may spread and affect revenue from firms doing business south of the border.”

Shares in software firm CryptoLogic Inc. (TSX:CRY) tumbled $2.69, or 10.8 per cent, to close at $22.19 on the Toronto Stock Exchange, while Fun Technologies Inc. (TSX:FUN), an online gambling firm, was down five cents at $5.35.

From January to May, bets increased 25,5% in gambling parlors and casinos compared to the same period of time in 2005. A total of $61,872 millions were spent on bets.

Bets in Racing tracks increased 17,7% ($2,153 millions), Lottery showed an increase of 7,9% ($29,296 millions). The General Accounting of the Republic collected the data.

Misiones SA already has an important part of the building ready so contractors and owners think the casino may open in three months. Presently, the roof and the facade are almost ready and the interior and parking lot are still under construction.

The casino will have a huge parking lot with access to the brewery yard. Inside the building there will be a fast food parlor and a lot of slot machines.

On Monday, Linda M. Kassekert, chairwoman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, ordered the 12 casinos in Atlantic City to cease gambling operations. The order came after Governor Corzine decided to shut down state government due to a dispute with legislators about his plan to increase the state sales tax.

Today, at 8 a.m., all the casinos were closed. Minutes before the deadline, punters were still playing at the slot machines. “What else can you do down here besides gamble?”, said Janice Sidwa, 60, who was in the middle of a trip to the city.

Scott Mauger, superintendent of Belleplain State Forest in Cape May County, has become very unpopular these days. The reason is simple: he had to tell hundreds of arriving campers that the campground might close due to the state government shutdown.

Not only Belleplain, but also Bass River State Forest and Parvin State Park may close. People traveling from distant states will be affected by this decision. The first effects for gamblers occurred after the suspension of state lottery and horse racing.

Even though the unfortunate result Katrina left on Biloxi, it has one single positive aspect. Two months before the hurricane, the city signed a business interruption insurance policy that covered casino tax revenue losses for six months. The coverage cost Biloxi $92,000 dollars and stands to gain $10 million dollars.

As this policy cannot be renewed, Mayor Holloway is trying to get a new one with no luck yet. The only insurer that has offered a suitable policy charges more than $1 million dollars and covers the city only if a category 5 storm hits Biloxi and 50 miles around.

eCOGRA, e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance, has taken another step towards its objective for 2006: to approve 100 online casinos and poker sites. After certifying 12 additional sites, nowadays eCOGRA reaches 85 sites which have achieved independent management control, represented by the Play It Safe seal.

There are seven websites run by Tusk Investment Corporation in Australia, and other five owned by Vegas Partner Lounge group which have received the Play It Safe seal due to their fair play and operational practices.

The French Lick Resort & Casino will open in November, and managers are working to hire some 1,000 people for jobs such as dealers, slot representatives, chefs, waitresses, hotel concierges, cashiers, auditors and golf groundskeepers.

About 700 jobs remain to be filled for the resort, and 350 jobs are available at the casino, according to an article published by Gambling Magazine. About 2,000 people attended the first day of a job fair at the West Baden Springs hotel Friday.