The industry is concerned at last years 20 percent decline to GBP91.6 million in the levy paid by bookies, which is based on a percentage of the money made from off-course betting. Adding to their worries are estimates that the 2010 levy is expected to drop to GBP76.5 million, a fall of a further 17 percent.

Horseracing authorities claim that the decline is caused by bookmakers exploiting loopholes in the regulations, saying that one tactic has been to move online betting businesses offshore.

The levy is racings principle funding stream and contributes to stable lad and jockey salaries as well as towards training and veterinary research and education. It flows primarily through prize money awarded for each race.

This Wednesday will see a board meeting at which horseracing authorities will decide on the new fee, which they want to structure so as to deliver a yield of between GBP130 million and GBP150 million. It is also expected that they will call on the UK government to close the loopholes such as those presented by UK companies moving their internet betting structures offshore.

The 2a and 2b survivors combine into one field for the first time Monday afternoon for Day 3 action.

Several federal lawmakers had called for the agencies to extend the deadline while they seek to clarify the regulations that it outlines. Some have noted that the rules as they are currently outlined put too much of a strain on bank officers in charge of complying with federal rules. Many of the country’s banks are facing much more serious problems, such as the credit crunch, and may not have the resources to devote to following the new rules.

Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) has been the most outspoken member of the US House of Representatives to come out against the new law. He has proposed legislation that will allow for the regulation and taxation of internet gambling transactions. Mr. Frank says that the tax revenue that such a law could generate could help to pay for the growing federal budget and to cover programs such as national health care.

Senator John Kyl (R-AZ) and Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) voiced their opposition to the postponement, stating that special interest groups representing the gambling industry were behind the delays. The two men are also seen as leaders of the anti-gambling sections of their political parties and could be considered to be making an appeal to their hard-line constituents.

Members of the banking industry welcomed the delay in the law’s implementation, which would force banks to prohibit any transactions between US-based customers and online gaming sites, many of which are hosted overseas. Representatives of the American Banking Association said that they felt the law was too vague and did not clearly define what constituted an “illegal online gambling” transaction, as many customers can buy lottery tickets and bet on horse races online currently.

Currently, the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, or better known as OPPAGA, is reviewing the report findings and will be presenting their final verdict to the rest of the Florida Senate the 1st of this December. Naturally, the Florida branch of the Poker Voters of America is lobbying the OPPAGA with dogged determination before the legislative deadline.

Florida’s cut of the online poker revenue is slated to be in the 20% neighborhood. If the state online poker rake achieves the amount of $226m in the first year of legalization, $331m in the second year, and $457m in the third year, that possibly means a whopping $202 million dollars for the state of Florida and its public projects in the span of three years.

Such a budget boom would definitely be exactly what the the state of Florida needs given that they, like many other states, face the tough decision as to which programs must be cut in order to deal with their current deficit.

The dire situation is not lost on the president of the Poker Voters of America, Melanie Brenner, who explains how this unfortunate situation may be the silver lining for online poker players, “For us to be able to walk in with a solution for their budget problems is obviously very helpful when you are sitting down with an elected official. Although these are unfortunate circumstances, these have really helped give our cause momentum.”

Granted, not all of the states 20% cut will be used for repaving roads and the like. Up to twenty-five percent of the state’s online poker profits will be use to help rehabilitate compulsive gamblers.

Using the same strategy that was successfully implemented to become a major player in Italy, Weizer said Playtech would be building French-only liquidity by forging alliances with the leading French gambling operators already in business on the internet front or likewise seeking to enter the online gambling marketplace. Weizer did not go into detail about these alliances nor would not confirm exactly how many partners the software developer had acquired, but did say the agreements would “work in a balanced way between all licensees” so as to foster mutual success.

Top poker room, Chili Poker, which is already supplied by Playtech, is reported to already have an agreement with France’s second largest ISP, Free, to serve as an online poker platform. Other potential partners are also rumored to be part of the agreement.

Analysts will agree that “balance” is the key to gaining momentum in France, where up until now, monopolization and EU non-compliant trade policies were pushing outside operators out of France. But with pressure from the EU and the online gambling community at large, France has turned around it’s policies and is coming one step closer to liberalization. And that entails more operators and competition vying for French players.

Playtech certainly will not be without competition in the online poker sector. Party Gaming’s CEO, Jim Ryan, also recently announced the online gaming giant also intends to launch a French poker room when legislation is enacted. Still, considering how active the French online gambling market is, there will be plenty to go round.