Land-based casinos and online casino revenues and site releases are growing faster then ever. Even after the dust has settled following the recent American law prohibiting deposits to online gambling companies, large organisations such as Party Gaming, Ladbrokes and VIP Casino club are all increasing their efforts to attract a wider European or global audience.

Gambling itself is a compulsive and addictive activity, with numerous regulatory societies attempting to outlaw and even ban online gambling around the globe. Regulatory environments themselves differ from country to country. While the US has sought keenly to identify ways of banning online gambling, the UK has lead the way to ensuring that online gambling remains a choice for many, but does not become a threat to others.

Its recent release of a new Gambling Act has sought to protect children and problem areas from abusive gambling, while attempting to levy a tax duty on all income from gambling both offline and online. The Act will make it illegal to entice children to gamble and there will be compulsory age checks for online gambling websites.

Its new Gambling Act will provision for the construction of Super Casinos in selected areas across the country, though this has been scaled down from an initial 40 super casinos to around 8, following complaints from the public and opposition parties. The Gambling Act will allow casinos to operate 24 hours, with unlimited jackpots, and gambling will be allowed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. As far as online websites are concerned, when the Act comes into force at the end of September 2007, companies will be able to apply for a license to operate online gambling website from a UK base.

Countries differ in terms of how they levy a tax on gambling. For example, some will tax each bet individually while countries like the UK, tax only the gross profits that gambling organisations make. Territories like Malta and Gibraltar offer competitive tax regimes as well as the benefits of an off-shore financial centre.

Australia has a large gambling population, where statistic show that 80% of its population gambles. Super casinos are also allowed in Australia, with Sydney's Star City reputedly the size of 7 football fields. A recent study also showed that Australians spend more money each week on gambling than they do on alcohol or clothes. State government proceeds from gambling have increased to around $3.8bn per annum, since 1998.

What of other jurisdictions across the globe?

Below is a list of some countries and some interesting figures relating to gambling.

Australia

80% of population gamble
Legal age to gamble is 18
$80 billion gambling turnover in 2006
States received $3.8 billion in gambling duties 2006
Online gambling is permitted

Sweden

95% of population gamble
Legal age to gamble is 18
58 billion Swedish Crowns turnover in 2006
Government received 5 billion Crowns in tax in 2006
Online gambling is permitted

Spain

70% of population gamble
Legal age is 18
€30 billion gambling turnover
Receives €1 billion in gambling taxes
Recently allowed online gambling licenses

Macau

60% of population gamble
Legal age is 18
$6 billion in gambling takings 2006
$1 billion state revenues from gambling
Online gambling is permitted

UK

70% of population gamble
Legal age to gamble is 18 (though lotteries and pools and low stake machine permit 16)
£53 billion gambling expenditure in 2006
UK received £1.3 billion in gambling duties in 2006
Online gambling permitted

US

80% of population gamble
Legal age 18 (most casinos age 21 as this is legal alcohol age associated with casinos)
$82 billion gambling expenditure 2006
States received over $8 billion in gambling revenues 2006
Online gambling prohibited