Pool is an all-the-year-round sport but it is during the autumn and winter when, like other indoor games, it flourishes. So as a new season starts league and individual trophies will be polished in anticipation of worthy winners next spring. Promoters of competitions, both local and national, will be putting the final touches towards the organisation of such events

“On several occasions over the past few months, I have drawn attention to the fact that far too many issues remain unresolved in the public gaming industry, as well as to the need for an appropriate division of responsibility among the parties concerned. Certain issues pinpointed during the informal public gaming investigation process undertaken by the Finance Committee, together with other issues also worthy of note due to the media interest they gave rise to, all demand an urgent political response,” the honourable Francesco Tolotti, vice-president of permanent Committee VI of the Chamber of Deputies, told Jamma.it.

The Private Gaming Industry in Spain contributed more than Euros 1,703 million to the Spanish State in 2006. This amount comes from the taxes on gaming, duties and surcharges, and other taxable events related to each of the Private Gaming sub-sectors (casinos, bingo halls, amusement machines, and lotteries and raffles) in 2006.

Eight companies are hoping to win the three licences to run the commercial betting operation in the Basque Country. This data was revealed by the Department of the Interior in an official notice issued on 6th July.

FB Metronia has equipped the first Bingo Hall in Belgium. This Madrid-based company has been responsible for the installation and equipping of the first establishment of its kind to operate in Belgium.

The Spanish Council of Ministers has authorised the withdrawal of the sum of Euros 577,482.72 from the Contingency Fund, of which Euros 505,547.53 is destined to pay the fines issued by the Supreme Court for the additional tax levied on gaming. After many years of litigation, several sentences from the Supreme Court have ordered the State Administration to make this payment to those who appealed against this tax which was created in 1990.

The 3rd edition of G-Star is scheduled to be held from 8 to 11 November 2007, and is a joint effort brought out by both the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Korea and the Ministry of Information and Communication, and sponsored by KOTRA.

GLI Australia, the leading independent testing organisation for gaming devices and systems in the Australia Pacific region, has appointed Zelko Galic as Managing Director & CEO.

Astro Corp. entered into an official contract with LT Game Ltd, a Macao-based lottery company on August 22, which according to the contract, commissioned Astro Corp. to manufacture a total of 200 gambling machines dedicated to the casino market.

GTI Asia Hong Kong Expo 2007 is set to take place at Hall 7A of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on November 7-9. The exhibits include all kinds of video game machines, simulators, fairground attractions, kiddie rides, theme park facilities, table footballs, parts and accessories, and peripheral devices. There are currently around 300 exhibitors from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Merkur has already expanded in Croatia in the capital of Zagreb and in the city of Slavonsky Brod to the west of it this year. And last month the German giant opened a new branch in its fourth location in Croatia in Zapresic, a county capital with 23,000 inhabitants.

Namco Europe has announced details of several new additions to its Fun Factory collection of family amusements games. At least seven new products will be revealed for the first time when they make their maiden trade show appearance on the stand of UK distributor Brent Sales at October’s Preview exhibition in London.

Inspired has announced plans that will see a large scale overhaul of its vehicle fleet in an effort to be more environmentally friendly. The firm is looking to reduce carbon emissions by between 150-300 tonnes over the next 18 months through a series of initiatives including the introduction of BioPower cars, alternative transport methods, and a staff incentive scheme.

Officials from the AAMA, AMOA and IALEI have signed off on the final paperwork that will move Fun Expo’s dates in 2009 and 2010. The exhibition will now co-locate with the AAMA’s Amusement Showcase International in the spring of 2009.

Sound Leisure will be launching its Milestones in Music Audio Video jukebox at the Preview show next month – in a wall-mounted cabinet. The Milestones in Music AV is the most comprehensive digital jukebox currently on the market.

WMS Gaming Inc.has acquired Austrian-based Systems in Progress (SiP). The acquisition of SiP follows last year’s acquisition of Orion Gaming, as part of WMS’ ongoing priority to expand its global footprint and broaden its technology and product offerings to international customers.

Reflex Gaming will unveil four new B3 products for UK licensed betting offices (LBOs) at this year’s Preview show. The games are designed to offer variety to players who will mostly find new B3 product as part of a compendium of games downloaded to existing FOBT terminals, following the introduction of the new UK Gaming Act this month.

Heber will be exhibiting at SAGSE 2007 on the 3rd to the 5th October in Buenos Aires, Argentina. SAGSE is an extremely important show for Heber in the rapidly growing South American market and also marks the first show for Heber in the busy show season that culminates with ICE at Earls Court, London in January 2008. Heber will be exhibiting with its South American Distributor, Suzo Americas at SAGSE on booth L26.

Even before the official sales and market launch, the new Photo Play System 2008 turned out as a major success. During a two-month field test the system was thoroughly tested at the best gaming spots. “A simple menu which is more concise by using clear colours, 12 new games as well as a highly sophisticated enhancement of the technical features make the System 2008 a blockbuster for our customers and business partners”, said Norbert Langer, authorised officer and head of Funworld’s sales and marketing department.

Sega Amusements Europe will reveal a star-studded cast of new product at this year’s London Preview. There will be more than nine new pieces on offer, with both world and European exclusives. Headlining, will be Sega’s brand new Race TV: an all-American style twin driver.

UK Top 75, USA Top 100, German Top 100, Austria Top 40 – the latest charts from around the world are now on all Max Fire jukeboxes by TAB-Austria. All titles to be found in the official chart shows are also available in the Max Fire chart lists.

JPM International will unveil two new machines at the Forbes show in Prague, in October. Designed and developed specifically for Central and Eastern European markets, 4th Dimension is the latest release housed in the industry leading Linear cabinet, Cash Mania extends JPM’s line up of highly successful games in the Electra cabinet. 4th Dimension is JPM’s latest release in the Linear cabinet and introduces an exciting element to the top game.

The Swedish Gaming Board or Lotteriinspektionen is cracking down on another online gaming group, this time Redbet Limited. This follows another investigation held earlier this year into online gaming operator 24H Poker in order to establish whether the company’s main business activities were being carried out from within Sweden.

The UK Gaming Law came into effect from September 1. According to the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, which has responsibility for gambling, key changes to the industry's regulation include: For the first time, betting shops and remote gambling sites based in the UK will be governed by a dedicated regulator, the Gambling Commission.

The biggest surprise to hit the UK gaming industry since Manchester won the supercasino bid! There has been no discernible increase in the number of problem gamblers since 1999, says the Gambling Prevalence Study published today. Many in the industry were expecting shocking figures – as many as one million problem gamblers were predicted in some quarters of the press – over three times the figure that was found in the last report.