According to an annual PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP report released Wednesday, global gambling revenue (which includes poker) is predicted to pass the $155 billion mark in 2012 after growing at an annually compounded rate of 6.5 percent per year.

Because of new casinos and casino upgrades ocurring around the world, gambling revenue is expected to rise from nearly $114 billion in 2007 the study said.

The financial consulting company identified the Asia Pacific region as the world's fastest growing gambling region with new resorts in the Chinese enclave of Macau as well as Singapore and Thailand helping generate increases of 15.2 percent annually. Revenue from the Asia Pacific region will hit $37.2 billion in 2012 compared with $18.3 billion in 2007.

MONTREAL - Confidence in the ability of Mohawk regulators to police lucrative online gambling operations on the Kahnawake reserve has been shaken following the second cheating scandal in less than a year.

UltimateBet.com, which is owned by a company controlled by former Kahnawake grand chief Joe Norton, acknowledged on Thursday that unnamed insiders had altered its poker software to allow them to see opponents' hidden cards.

"The individuals responsible were found to have worked for the previous ownership of UltimateBet prior to the sale of the business to Tokwiro [Mr. Norton's company] in October 2006," the site said in a statement. "Tokwiro is taking full responsibility for this situation and will immediately begin refunding UltimateBet customers for any losses that were incurred as a result of unfair play."