San Francisco - PurePlay, an online poker site that allows users to play for cash and claims to be compliant with U.S. laws, announced on Tuesday that it has raised a third round of venture capital, led by Bay Partners, with total funding to date now at $15 million.

Los Angeles - The government of Antigua is threatening to legalize piracy of U.S. music and movies -- with World Trade Organization approval -- should the U.S. fail to end a running dispute over the legality of Internet gambling, Variety reports.

Brussels - The European Union has launched an investigation into U.S. treatment of overseas online gambling operations, with an eye towards possibly launching proceedings against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization, Reuters reported. Several European online gaming services filed complaints with the EU in December, saying that the U.S. is singling out foreign companies for prosecution, while allowing domestic online gambling on horse racing.

London - Bragster, a social network "for dares and social bets," announced on Wednesday that it has closed a $3.5 million first round of venture capital financing, led by Intel Capital.

London - BetNow, a U.K.-based developer of mobile gambling services, has raised an undisclosed sum in its first round of venture capital, led by Balderton Capital, PEHub.com reported.

St. Louis - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT), Google (NASD: GOOG) and Yahoo (NASD: YHOO) have paid a combined total of $31.5 million to settle claims brought by the Justice Department that the companies promoted illegal gambling by serving online ads for the operations between 1997-2007.

Washington - The European Union has accepted a compensation package the U.S. has offered, in response to its withdrawal from World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements on gambling and betting services. "A bilateral agreement was signed in Geneva, which provides EU service suppliers with new trade opportunities in the U.S. postal and courier, research and development, storage and warehouse sectors," the Commission said. "The U.S. also made concessions in the testing and analysis services sector."

Washington - In a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative sent on Monday, six lawmakers -- including House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers -- said the U.S. should consider altering its ban on Internet gambling instead of paying compensation to countries who say the U.S. is violating trade agreements, Reuters reported.

Wilmington, Del. - Zone4Play, a developer of Internet, TV and mobile games content, announced on Wednesday that it has formed a joint venture with interactive TV production company Two Way Media, to exploit opportunities in the U.K. gambling and entertainment market.

Mountain View, Calif. - PicksPal, a free, national online sports competition where users predict the winners of various games, has raised $3 million in its third round of venture capital financing, from Bay Partners and Canaan Partners, PEHub.com reported.

Washington - U.S. banks will not be required to block payments by check from U.S. residents to online casinos as part of a new law that prohibits debit and credit cards' use in such transactions, according to new regulations proposed on Monday, Reuters reported.

Atlantic City, N.J. - Filters already exist to screen minors and compulsive gamblers from online casinos, so the U.S. ban on Internet gambling stifles business and is unconstitutional, a gaming industry trade group that it suing to have the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act overturned argued in federal court on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

San Francisco - BlueBet, a social wagering website where users bet on various topics using virtual currency, on Wednesday launched a public beta test of its service, and said it has received an undisclosed sum from backers including YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim, Xoom co-founder Kevin Hartz, Flixter co-founder Joe Greenstein and Slide vice president Keith Rabois.

London - England has banned online gambling operations based offshore from advertising in the U.K., saying they do not impose stringent enough regulations, Reuters reported. Sites based in areas such as Costa Rica, Belize and the Netherlands Antilles, such as Betfred Casino, will no longer be able to place ads in U.K. papers, on television or online. "I make no apology for banning adverts for Web sites operating from places that don't meet our strict standards," U.K. Culture Media and Sport minister James Purnell told Reuters.

San Francisco - Linden Lab's online virtual world "Second Life" announced that it has banned its residents from participating in any forms of online gambling, several months after saying it would no longer accept any classified ads or event listings related to "simulated casino" activity.

New York - Neteller, a provider of online payment processing for about 85% of all gambling sites that was targeted by U.S. authorities for violating the country's online gambling ban, has agreed to forfeit $136 million as part of a plea deal with the U.S. Justice Dept., The Wall Street Journal reported.

Washington - A new trade group called the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) this week filed suit against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Reserve, seeking to halt enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, The Gambling Newswire reported.

New York - Sona Mobile, a New York-based provider of software for gaming and entertainment applications, on Friday announced that it has received Nevada Gaming Commission approval, allowing the company to actively market and sell their products to gaming venues in the state of Nevada. Shares in Sona were trading up $0.04 at $0.52 on Friday, a gain of about 8%.

Sheffield, England - Cometa Wireless Gaming Systems, a developer of mobile phone gambling technology, has raised $1.9 million in its first round of venture capital financing, led by fellow mobile phone gambling firm Mfusion.