With as many as six percent of Nova Scotia teen-agers between the ages of 15 and 17 admitting that they’ve tried their hand at online gambling, the provinces gaming commission is looking to test a new computer program aimed at blocking internet gambling sites.

Labeled Betstopper, the new software is said to be capable of blocking up to 94 percent of online gambling sites. The Province is hoping to lineup 500 volunteer families to help test the new program in their homes. The CEO of the Nova Scotia Gaming Commission, Marie Mullally claims its way too easy for today’s youth to gain access to online gambling sites. With many of the sites unsupervised, unregulated, and with no age restriction or security checks, Mullally thinks it’s all too easy for teen-agers to get on line and take their pick out of thousands of online gambling options.

A rough estimate by the gaming commission revealed that there are more than 2,300 casino-style internet gambling sites in the world. If families involved in the program’s testing like the product, the provincial agency has said they will then make it widely available to the rest of the province.

-Danny Davis

The week that was in the world of U.S. gaming financials began with the announcement of Paltronics System Solutions Inc. launching a lawsuit against Progressive Gaming International Corp. for patent copyright infringement. Paltronic, manufacturers of various slots machines and video games such as Progressive Blackjack, Caribbean Stud and Texas Hold’em for assorted casinos, is claiming Progressive Gaming infringed upon its multi-screen gaming device video game system. A patent was obtained for the unit in March. In response, Progressive Gaming, the makers of casino software and games, has announced they intend to fight the suit and categorized the move as a “veiled attempt by one of (our) competitors to capture market share from us through the court system rather than through the marketplace.� Shares in Progressive closed up at $8.41 per share on the Friday NASDAQ.

In other litigious news, GWIN similarly announced a lawsuit of their own this week – this one against multiple companies for patent infringement. Included in the suit are Don Best.com (majority owned now by Liberty Media after their recent purchase of Fun Technologies) along with VegasInsider.com, VegasExperts.com and Sports Direct. Additionally, GWIN announced they may also name even more plaintiffs in the future, and is seeking damages in the millions for intellectual property rights infringement. GWIN is America’s only publicly-traded sports handicapping company, specializing in both developing as well as marketing sports handicapping advice and information via television, radio and the internet. In other GWIN  news, the company will now be officially known as Winning Edge International Inc.. Their stock traded at 4.4 cents per share Friday.

Elsewhere, The Meadows harness racetrack harness racetrack outside Pittsburgh was one of five such operations to be awarded a slot machine license. Millennium Gaming Inc. of Las Vegas will operate the Washington County casino, having purchased the track back in July for $200 million from Magna Entertainment. In addition, the other companies that also received licenses were Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack; Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg; Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (located on the outskirts of Wilkes-Barre) and Bensalem’s Philadelphia Park. According to a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board news release, a decision for the Erie-based Presque Isle Downs was delayed. Some of the tracks plan to have slots open and operating by the end of the year, with the remainder spreading out their kick-offs throughout 2007. Magna Entertainment closed down at Friday close at $5.26 on the TSE, Harrah’s closed up at $66.43 per share, while Penn National also closed up at $36.52 per share.

We will have more U.S. gaming financials to follow in a later update. Come back soon - and every day - to AllGamingNews.com for all your gaming industry news.

- Rex Harris

The imposing shadow cast by the current crackdown by U.S. officials on the online gambling world has prompted two prominent industry executives to leave their positions. World Gaming chairman James Grossman and non-executive director Clare Roberts have reportedly both handed-in their resignations to the gaming software outfit, rumored to have been a takeover target of beleaguered online sports betting firm Sportingbet.

Independent of their positions with World Gaming, both Grossman and Roberts are practicing attorneys in the U.S.. In addition, Grossman also acts as an advisor to the U.S. government, according to a company spokesman, with Roberts being a former Attorney General of Antigua. “Clearly they’ve got other business interests and they’ve got to be able to go to the US to be able to carry on their other business interests,â€? said the World Gaming statement, adding replacements will be named in due course, with no timetable set as of yet.

The recent high-profile arrests of both Sportingbet chairman Peter Dicks (who has since resigned) as well as David Carruthers, the now-terminated chief executive officer of BetOnSports, has sent chills throughout the industry. Under the Wire Act of 1961, sports betting is illegal in the U.S., although grey area remains as to whether this applies to the internet, and more specifically, poker and casino games played via the medium. Fear of arrest has likewise prompted PartyGaming chairman Michael Jackson to state on record that he will not currently even travel to the U.S. unless absolutely necessary.

- Rex Harris

A plan where ATM like machines would allow gamblers to wager on previously run races is being considered by state legislators in Virginia.

The new wave pari-mutuel betting system is already being used by the state of Arkansas, and relies on the ATM-like machine’s ability to contain video of races that have already been run. Without knowing where or when the races took place, the bettor is still provided with the same information-such as the records of the horses, jockeys and trainers- that would be provided if they were taking in a live program.

Estimated to bring in $500 million dollars annually to state coffers, the program could provide an answer to Virginia’s transportation funding dilemma. For the proposed “instant racing� to become a reality, the measure must first pass through the General Assembly’s special session on transportation that is set to begin on September 27. Del. Phil Hamilton who filed the legislation, says the bill would dedicate 49 percent of the game’s revenue to the transportation trust fund.

A 1988 Virginia referendum established pari-mutuel wagering and horse racing in the state. Taking advantage of Colonial Downs and the regions nine off-track betting parlors, it is expected to take 18 months to two years to fully implement the “instant racing� program.

-Danny Davis

Continuing our look back at the week’s happenings in U.S. gaming financial, Progressive Gaming International announced that the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s Technology division has approved the first installation of the company’s wireless Rapid Bet Live within the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Once there, it will be run through a live field trial which allows viewers to wager through the entire course of a sporting event. A wired version was distributed earlier this year. Wagers will be placed over the sports book’s intranet. Their stock remained steady at $7.97 at Friday close.

Elsewhere, Nevada Gold and Casinos Inc. announced first-quarter fiscal 2007 results for this week, with net revenues decreasing to $3.5 million compared to $3.7 million in the first fiscal quarter in 2006. Net loss in the period was totaled at $1.8 million compared to net income of $1.8 million in the same period 2006.  The decrease in revenue was attributed to net revenue losses at their Colorado Grande Casino-Cripple Creek property. Their stock closed down Friday at $4.92, a loss of 9.23 percent.

Meanwhile, Diamondhead Casino Corporation and Trump Entertainment made news this week in announcing an extension to October 23, 2006 of their intended joint-partnership letter signed on June 8 of this year. The companies plan on developing, building and operating a casino-resort in Diamondhead, Mississippi. Plans are still forging ahead on the deal, according to the release, with plans to cover a minimum of 40-acres with the venture to be owned by Mississippi Gaming Corporation (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Diamondhead). Of note, it is to be built on land up to 800-feet from the mean high water line of nearby bodies of water, a special zoning brought into existence following the area’s decimation of Hurricane Katrina. Trump Entertainment closed down at $18.01 per share at week’s close.

Finally, GWIN announced they have terminated the intention via non-binding letter to merge with National Sports Services, choosing instead to focus its capital and resources on international expansion within GWIN’s core business. GWIN – America’s only publicly-traded sports handicapping company – is now in the midst of a new business plan citing its belief of generating better value for its shareholders without the massive dissolution that would have occurred with such a prospective merger. They closed down at 3.3 cents a share.

Come back later tonight to www.AllGamingNews.com for the final installment of our weekly U.S. gaming financial wrap-up. Thanks for visiting.

- Rex Harris