Plans for an undersea casino in Malta are in jeopardy after the projects backer, The Cala Corporation, failed to provide serious proof of 'financial standing' according to the Malta’s tourism minister Francis Zammit Dimech, ATE online reported on Wednesday.

ATE online further reported Minister Zammit Dimech also accused the US-based company of not showing any evidence of due diligence or feasibility indicators. On the other hand, Cala Corporation said in November that the Maltese government had been 'dragging its feet' and 'taking its time in coming to a decision'.

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, passed a bill Wednesday in the third and final reading on setting up four gambling zones in the country.

The bill is aimed at tackling the rise in gambling outlets throughout Russia.

Any day now the Italian government is expected to show its hand on gambling.

In a move viewed by many in the sector as the latest evidence of a shift towards the liberalisation of gambling in Europe, Rome will award new gaming licences to a range of national and international companies vying for the chance to run betting shops, kiosks, casinos and online services.

Russia's lower house of parliament on Friday backed sweeping gambling legislation force casinos across the country to relocate into four designated zones.

The State Duma voted 425-0 on a key second reading to pass the Kremlin-backed legislation, which would set up the four special regions by July 1, 2009.

STAR City, one of Europe's biggest leisure destinations, has been sold for £85.5 million, it was revealed today.

The showpiece site just off the M6 close to Spaghetti Junction changed hands after owners X-Leisure sold it to REIT Asset Management.

The sale announced by X-Leisure, the UK's largest owner real estate owner, took the Midland property market by surprise.

FRESH powers to deal with gambling will shift to Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council next year under a new law designed to simplify the licensing process.

From 1st September next year, the council will take over responsibility from the magistrates’ court for issuing premises licences to bingo halls, greyhound tracks and bookmakers.

Betting giant Ladbrokes is believed to be in talks with Britain's biggest racecourse operator about a joint casino venture at the Wolverhampton track.

Under the deal, Arena Leisure - which also owns racecourses in Windsor, Berkshire, and Lingfield, Surrey - would add gaming to its portfolio under one of the Government's new smaller supercasino licence agreements, which will be awarded next year.

Other casino operators have also been approached by Arena, but it is believed that Ladbrokes is the frontrunner to win the deal to create what has been dubbed a 'racino'.