The numbers 4, 15, 23, 24, 35, and 42 were drawn on September 6 and again on September 10 in consecutive lottery rounds.

Mathematician Mihail Konstantinov commented that the probability of this happening is 4.2 million to one, although he added that such coincidences can happen. Three of the numbers also appeared in the September 13 draw.

Lottery deputy chairwoman Maria Yaneva excluded any possibility of manipulation of the winning numbers, telling the 24 Hours newspaper that the numbers were drawn in a different order each time, and take place in the presence of a special lottery committee that guarantees no manipulation. The draws are also broadcast live in television she said.

An unprecedented 18 people guessed all six numbers when they were drawn the second time on September 10. The winners will each get 10 164 leva (about Euros 5 197). In the first draw on September 6, there were no winners.

The last major jackpot won in the Bulgarian lottery was 3.8 million leva (Euro 1.94 million) in January 2008.

And in Canada the Ontario ombudsman, Andre Marin has urged wronged lottery ticket holders allegedly defrauded by ticket retailers to launch private litigation if the police do not move on cases submitted to them. Marin appears to be exasperated by the slow investigative process on cases from 2007 handed over for criminal investigation.

It seems that the independent research internet gambling company Research and Markets shares the general view on the significance of this sector and the growing trend in Europe to regulation, because it has produced a new look at the phenomenon.

“Privatization of State-Controlled Gambling Operators: Only Hype or a Reality in the Near Future?” is a completely updated second edition of the company’s in-depth examination of the subject and where monopolies are headed, noting that privatisation is becoming acceptable in the global gambling market.

A company spokesperson said that in the past 12 months, many new developments had sparked increased interest in the market, with an growing number of clients requesting detailed updates on the original study. The current edition meets those demands and identifies additional issues.

These include the growing relevance of key drivers for privatisations - ever increasing legal pressure in most EU state; increasing liberalisation and/or tight state budgets. These are putting pressure on state owners to evaluate a potential privatisation of their gambling assets.

The report opines that there is now apparent a “drastic increase of likelihood that state gambling operations will be privatised soon - the number of experts surveyed who believe that some of the top state lotteries/operators will be privatised in the coming 2-3 years nearly doubled compared to MECN’s 2005 analysis and survey.”

Several privatisations are currently being considered - in addition to perennial “hot” privatisations, such as the UK Tote and Milli Piyango, many others are under discussion.

According to the Research and Markets update, several potential privatisations are expected to be at the top of the list: Some Australian and US lotteries/operators, the Hungarian State Lottery, and La Française des Jeux, to name just a few.

“Billions are on the table,” the R and M spokesperson said. “Some of the lotteries/operators that are expected to be privatised in the near future are valued in the double-digit billion dollar range.

“Privatisation is no longer limited to only one method - in the future privatisation will not necessarily mean a change in ownership of shares; in addition, alternative forms such as long-term licenses that transfer responsibility for operations to private companies, are also possible.

The report includes:

Analysis of selected potential privatisations and overview of state operators most likely to be privatised in the near future.

*Case studies of already privatised lotteries/operators.
*Valuation of relevant state-controlled gambling operators.
*Discussion of advantages, disadvantages, and options for privatisation of state-owned gambling operations.
*Many results based on a survey of more than 50 industry experts, including representatives from state lotteries, private online operators, and financial investors.

Over 80 companies are considered in the report, many leaders in the online gambling industry.

Latest official figures show a continued decline in revenues, with the month of August 2009 16 percent lower than August 2008 - that equates to a loss of some $2.5 billion in casino gambling profits for the gambling mecca.

Atlantic City is home to eleven casinos and every one of them reported a decline in profits. The Tropicana resort fared best with the lowest slide of 6.9 percent. The Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino was at the other end of the scale with a reported 30 percent slide from last summer.

Analysts characterised the decline as one of the largest yet in the troubled recent history of the recession hit business, blaming the economic climate but also pointing to other factors such as poor resort maintenance, anti-smoking laws and the continued rise in online gambling despite government attempts to stifle the pastime, where the gambler does not have to travel to play.

The weekend again saw Martonas back in action - and again it was principally Tom Dwan and Phil Galfond who dished out the punishment.

Dwan was the top dog in session profits, leaving with a casino bonuses million dollars for his night’s labours, closely pursued in the mega-earning stakes by Galfond on $821 000.

Martonas contributed around $240 000 to Galfond’s bank account after PLO clashes that boosted Galfond’s winnings for the night by almost 25 percent (the rest came from $500/$1000 NLHE action against various players, which made some $581 000 for the Internet whizz).

For Martonas it was another costly night that saw him/her down by almost a million dollars, re-triggering speculation that his/her bank roll can’t endure too much more of the sort of pounding it has been taking since he reappeared on the high stakes scene some ten days ago.

Dwan is once again on the crest of a wave, winning almost $2.5 million in the last three days, according to the independent stats site MarketPulse. And most of that came from the unfortunate Martonas.

Other big losers on the nosebleed tables over the weekend have been Ashton Griffin (down $415 000) and Patrik Antonius (down $373 000).

There were times when it looked as if Martonas may have overcome his/her losing streak against several top players; taking two big pots in particular looked hopeful for online pokers most mysterious player - one for $417 000 and another for $233 000 - but it wasn’t enough to stop the Galfond express.

Against other players, Martonas lost $50 000 to Patrik Antonius, but took down Di Dang for $200 000 to almost balance the books - mainly in one $223 000 pot. Nevertheless the poker enigma ended the session down $100 000.

Railbirds are now waiting to see oif Martonas pitches up for another Full Tilt blast, which gamestyle he will choose, who challenges him….and whether he comes out ahead or losing. Either way, it makes for exciting high stakes action!

By day 3 the field was down to 25, many of them acknowledged to be among the finest PLO players in the game today, but only nine could make the final table.

Final tablers were New Orleans Internet and live tourney pro Matt Graham in the chip lead on 1.4 million, followed by Ferit Gabriellson (1.2 million), Josh Arieh (1.050 million), Richard Austin (1.030 million), Robin Keston (1 million), Stefan Mattsson and Vitaly Lunkin on 850 000 apiece, Van Marcus (500 000) and Barry Greenstein (780 000).

By 2.30am the heads up stage had been reached, pitting Matt Graham (25), a New Orleans native now resident in Houston, Texas against the respected Moscow pro Vitaly Lunkin (37). The duo were almost evenly matched in chip stacks, but Graham ran into trouble ninety minutes in and was almost crippled, executing a remarkable comeback through a series of double-ups that eroded Lunkin’s at one point massive 13 to 1 chip lead.

By 4.30am it was all over - two hours of exciting heads up action had culminated in Graham prevailing to take home the $679 379 main prize and the bracelet - his second from WSOP and his biggest prize in 16 career cashes to date. The win brings Graham’s career earnings since he started playing poker online three years ago to $1 183 775.

Lunkin’s runner-up prize was $419 832 - his second big-prize win this year after earlier taking down Event 2 - the 40th Anniversary $40 000 buy-in No-Limit Holdem contest, where he picked up $1 891 012 and his second WSOP bracelet.

Virtue Fusion’s CEO Bob McCulloch said, “We are absolutely thrilled with this honour which is a tribute to the vision of the company, its dedicated team of people and our focus on core activities. “

The news of the award has been followed by a slew of tributes to the Alderney company.

Joe Saumarez Smith of Crown Bingo said, “We are delighted to see Virtue Fusion win this award. Their software is undoubtedly the best of breed and they only seem to be pulling away from the competition in terms of improvements.”

“Virtue Fusion’s platform goes from strength to strength, year in and year out. We work closely with VF to ensure the highest standards in their products and technology and we are never let down,” said Angus Nisbet, Gaming Director, Rank Interactive.

Andy Harris, Head of eGaming at Ladbrokes, applauded the award and said, “Congratulations on the award. As a customer of Virtue Fusion for over three years now, it’s good to see your software receiving the industry recognition it deserves.”

Anna Conley, Bingo Operations Manager at William Hill, said, “It comes as no great surprise to us that VFA has been named Best Bingo Software provider, ever since we started to use them we have substantially increased our business and share of the market.”

“We are really delighted to see Virtue Fusion winning this award. It only confirms our thinking that they truly are a market leader in the provision of online bingo,” added Joshua Morris, Commercial Director Virgin Games.

When asked what he thought were the major factors which contributed towards the success of the software, McCulloch replied, “It’s our process of continually evaluating our customers’ needs whilst maintaining our flexible network model which enables operators to retain their own identity. We look forward to Virtue Fusion striving for even higher excellence in the next year.”

Virtue Fusion made a big splash at the Summit. The giant helium filled bingo balls brought in by five enthusiastic bingo players – Legs 11, 69 Either Way Up, Naughty 40, Sweet 16, and Dancing Queen – definitely added a bit of ‘wow’ to an otherwise reserved summit.

According to a report in Marketing Magazine, the gambling group has tasked the top consultancy with overhauling its brand positioning to “respond to changing consumer betting habits.”

Wolff Olins was chosen following a three way pitch with rival branding agencies Elmwood and Heavenly.

Jarrod Hollingdrake, William Hill’s marketing manager, said the agency had been hired on a short-term basis to work on proposals looking at the company’s brand strategy.

Marketing Magazine points out that William Hill is not the first predominantly bricks-and-mortar bookmaker to carry out an overhaul. Last month, betting chain Coral reworked the interior of its UK branches. The revamped look is being rolled out on a trial basis in selected shops, and, if successful, will be extended nationally.

Such activity by high-street betting shops comes as remote gambling in the UK, both though online and via TV channels, is on the rise. In 2009, 9.9 percent of the population took part in at least one form of remote gambling - usually the national lottery, compared with 7.3 percent in 2006, according to the government’s regulatory body, the Gambling Commission.

Beshear’s carefully engineering legislative attempt to expand gambling at the state’s racetracks by adding video gaming machines passed the House last week but was thrown out by the state Senate Appropriations Revenue Committee Monday despite pleas from the horse-racing industry that it can’t compete with neighbouring states that offer gambling.

State Senators voted 10-5 against the measure, with two members abstaining, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

A disappointed Governor Beshear said Monday evening: “The limited gaming proposal was designed to help save a signature industry in peril – an industry that means 100 000 jobs and $4 billion in investment for our state. It is unfortunate that every voice on this critically important issue was not heard and every vote not counted.”

Addressing a Frankfort press conference, Turfway Park President Bob Elliston said Turfway could close by 2010 if Ohio passes gaming legislation and Kentucky does not. Ohio Governor Ted Strickland recently reversed his stance against gambling at racetracks.

The Tohono O’odham Nation is waiting on federal approval of putting 134 acres of land into trust. Once that is accomplished, the tribe plans on building the largest casino in the state of Arizona.

The tribe estimates that right off the bat when the casino is built there would be 1,400 jobs available. The, as the restaurants in the complex are completed, they would offer around another 1,600 jobs.

These are only the permanent jobs that could be filled if the casino becomes reality. The building of the casino itself would provide temporary employment for over 1,000 construction workers. That could provide a big boost to the struggling economy.

The casino complex has five restaurants planned. On the casino floor there would be over 1,000 casino slot machines to go along with twenty five poker tables and fifty other table games. It would also have a 1,000 seat bingo hall.

With the economy worsening in many areas, casinos are becoming somewhat of a savior. Many states have expanded their gambling laws to allow for casinos and developers have been quick to move into these areas.