Another story from the BBC:

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has announced a review of Northern Ireland’s gambling laws.

Ms Ritchie said the current legislation dating back to 1985 was "not robust enough to deal with modern gambling".

In 2006, the British government brought in plans for new laws in NI - including allowing Sunday opening for bookmakers and bingo halls.

However, the changes, planned for 2008, were never introduced after the return of devolution.

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Another story from the BBC:

Rank - which runs casinos and Mecca bingo halls - has won a High Court case which its advisers say could cost the taxman up to £500m.

Rank was entitled to £62m on value added tax overpaid on slot machines and mechanised cash bingo takings, it said.

It follows some UK gaming and bingo machines being exempt from VAT while similar machines were subject to the tax - a disparity illegal under EU law.

The judge said that there were over 1,000 similar claims outstanding.

Posted by casino man in Gambling News at 2:41 PM BST

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Another story from the BBC:

Santa Cruz

Step into one of Bolivia’s 15 Bingo Bahiti gambling parlours, and you are struck by the kitsch: brilliant neon signs, slot machines labelled in English, and a bingo hall full of patrons.

Bingo Bahiti is a popular nightspot - and it is a Russian import.

A law to limit gambling drastically is due to take effect in July in Russia. Approved during Vladimir Putin’s presidency, the measure will restrict casinos to four remote regions.

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Another story from the BBC:

Gambling firm Rank has reported a rise in revenues at its Mecca bingo halls, thanks in part to it being allowed to add more high pay-out slot machines.

Rank has been able to increase the numbers of these machines in the bingo halls since new gambling laws came into effect on 1 September last year.

As a result, Rank said like-for-like revenues at the Mecca outlets were up 2% in the six weeks since 1 September.

Looking ahead Rank warned that the economic downturn may hit its business.

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Another story from the BBC:

More should be done to help gambling addicts if Jersey makes it easier to gamble, a church leader has said.

The island’s Shadow Gambling Commission has recommended bookmakers should be allowed to open on Sundays and for commerical bingo to be permitted.

But the vice president of the Methodist Conference who has been visiting the island, said more help was needed.

Ruby Beech said people should be supported and taught about the addictive nature of gambling.

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Another story from the BBC:

A church in Jersey is concerned a States report on gaming laws has not taken into account objections to allowing people to gamble on Sundays.

Commissioned by Economic Development, the report suggests relaxing a Sunday gambling ban, allowing commercial bingo and gaming facilities at some events.

There would be tighter regulations and staff would be given training to help them spot problem gamblers.

But Rev Chris White said concerns from the Methodist Church had been ignored.

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Another story from the BBC:

A "particularly mean" housing chief has been jailed for nine months for stealing £100,000 from vulnerable tenants to feed her gambling addiction.

Estate manager Jean Harris, 50, preyed on the socially needy and insisted they pay rent in cash to feed her bingo and slot machine obsession.

She then cooked the books to hide her crime, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Harris, of Tower Hamlets, east London, admitted 26 counts of theft between December 2003 and November 2006.

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