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In the past few weeks, various news outlets, ranging from ABC to The Guardian, have been reporting on Congressman Barney Frank’s proposed online gambling bill. The bill, which could legalise online casinos in the United States, or at least offer a clear definition of what is “internet gambling”, was approved by the House of Representatives financial services committee last week.

Since then, a variety of news sources have been reporting on what a legal US casino market could mean for operators such as PartyGaming, which lost 58% of its share price when online gambling was deemed illegal the US back in September, 2006.

However, news websites such as ABC have drawn attention to the fact that if Frank’s bill were to be passed by the House and Senate, he has just two weeks to get the legislation before American lawmakers. Frank’s bill has to be passed by the House of Representatives before the November mid-term elections and as Congress is about to take a seven week break, he has just two weeks to get the bill passed by lawmakers, before the deadline.

DC Comics Universe

Following the rave reviews Cryptologic’s Superman and Batman slots received from players and critics alike, the online casino software provider has now introduced a new Green Lantern themed slot. Complete with a classic comic book themed design, as well as the chance to do battle with Sinestro, it’s safe to say that Cryptologic’s latest DC addition will no doubt prove to be a hit with players.

As Cryptologic has already turned three of DC Comics’ best-known heroes into slots, it’s tricky to guess which superhero, or comic book series, will be next turned into a game. Given the sheer amount of DC heroes available, we’ve compiled a list of six DC Comics characters that should never appear in a slot game. In descending order, here’s who we think should be avoided, at all costs:

6. Krypto the Superdog

Simply put, Krypto is Superman’s pet dog and while there’s nothing wrong with the Man of Steel’s canine pal, chances are the hero hound wouldn’t work particularly well in slot form. Krypto has appeared in various DC Comics and even had his own TV show, aimed at young children. For now, we reckon Intercasino should consider creating a Supergirl slot before they move onto Krypto.

5. Blue Beetle

Borgata Casino Resort

MGM Resorts International has announced its plans to sell the land beneath the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It’s believed that Vornado Realty Trust has purchased the land for $73 million, but the deal must first be approved by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.

Earlier this year, MGM revealed plans to move out of Atlantic City, after the New Jersey Casino Control Commission deemed Pansy Ho, who owns a 50% stake in MGM Macau, an “unsuitable” business partner. While it was initially suggested MGM would sell its stake in the Borgata resort, it’s been alleged that the company wishes to cut its ties with the casino. Having found a buyer for the 11.6 acres of land beneath the casino resort, MGM is now in talks with buyers about its 50% stake in the Borgata.

The interest in the Borgata land has been seen as a “modest positive” by Joseph Greff, a financial analyst at J.P. Morgan. Greff suggested that the proposed deal between MGM and Vornado Realty Trust shows that “there are still buyers of Atlantic City assets out there, at least at the right price”.

British Columbia

A security glitch at the new Canadian online casino, PlayNow.com, has meant that the gambling website will remain offline until further notice. The online casino, which is owned by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), launched on 15th July, but was soon shut down after security issues meant that personal details, including credit card numbers, were shared with other players at the casino. At first, a spokesperson for BCLC suggested that the website was taken offline due to a server overload. However, early last week it was revealed that due to a problem with a “data crossover”, the details of 134 users at PlayNow.com were shared with other players, allowing them, in some cases, to wager with someone else’s cash.

Elizabeth Denham, the Assistant Privacy Commissioner of Canada, has now ruled that the PlayNow.com casino must remain offline until the issue is fixed. Originally, the BCLC suggested it was hoping to re-launch the online casino last week, but a statement released from the government-owned corporation suggested that they “will not reactivate the website until an independent third-party review of the system is completed.”

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