The issue is the latest development on a long running and apparently constantly shifting stance on internet gambling by the South African government.

For years the politicians have toyed with the idea of legalising online gambling and creating an attractive regulatory jurisdiction which could bring both income and jobs to the country, yet despite extensive research projects, overseas fact-finding missions and endless debate a cogent and final approach remains in political limbo.

Independent estimates suggest that the online gambling market in the southern African country is around Rands 500 million (about Euro 51 million)

In the absence of specific law and national political policy on regulation, the nation’s provincial gambling boards have enforced policies declaring internet gambling illegal, and these have been contested by Casino Enterprises, a land and online gambling company based in neighbouring Swaziland.

The company suffered a setback last year when the Pretoria High Court dismissed an argument that it was not subject to South Africa’s online gambling ban as it operated outside the country.

Casino Enterprises launched an appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal, and this has apparently persuaded the authorities to hold fire pending the result, or a change of national political intentions.

A spokesman for the authorities, Ndanduleni Makhari, said plans to ban online gambling in the country included asking media houses and advertising agencies to pull ad material on online gambling, but this was on hold until the Casino Enterprises appeal is heard on August 23.

The poker information and entertainment website Quadjacks prompted the question by revealing that FTP Doug is in reality a female public relations manager in the employment of Full Tilt called Michele Clayborne.

Apparently the original FTPDoug clocked out some time ago, and Ms. Clayborne has not found it necessary to come forward under her real identity.

Clayborne has thus far not confirmed the allegation, which raises potentially embarrassing questions on her posting integrity.

The respected poker blogger Bill Rini is quoted by Quadjacks as posting last month that: “Actually, the real FTPDoug left the company a long time ago and they just use the name since he had some credibility on 2+2.”

Quadjacks also claims that a recent source claiming to be very close to Full Tilt Poker has confided, with “100 percent certainty” that all the latest FTPDoug press releases have been authored by Michele Clayborne.

The committees mandate is to study the effects of online gambling, as the province’s gaming agency prepares to launch its own site in September 2010.

“We have authorised Loto-Québec to develop online games but we are going to ensure that everything is done to maintain … the fight against gambling addiction,” provincial Finance Minister Raymond Bachand said at a news conference Friday.

The Finance Minister said the committee “…will have total freedom in its methodologies, its opinions and report, which will be made public.”

Bachand added that the committee is charged with monitoring the evolution of the site and the games it offers, and is expected to submit a written report to the minister within three years on the understanding that the government is not obliged to follow its recommendations.

Professors from several Quebec universities, as well as the director of a centre specialising in alcohol and gambling addiction, and a policing expert from Quebec’s Ministry of Public Security will form the committees membership.

University of Montreal psychology professor Louise Nadeau will chair the committee.

Officials estimate the total gaming revenue in Quebec is currently Cdn$50 million a year, and will jump to four times that amount in the next five years.

Loto-Québec will be competing in that market, and has ambitions to claim 40 percent of the total gaming revenues in the province.

Police spokesmen said this week that the syndicate had taken in 7 billion yuan (GBP 679.9 million) during the World Cup alone, and that its influence and activities extended across southern China and Hong Kong.

74 peole involved in the syndicate have so far been arrested in an enforcement initiative dubbed Operation Copperflame.

During several major police actions betting records and equipment associated with online gambling games had been seized, spokesmen disclosed. Investigations turned up over 400 different bank accounts used to process the financial aspects of the betting.

“Police are committed to combating illegal bookmaking activities through intelligence-led operations and liaison with neighbouring enforcement agencies during the World Cup tournament,” a police statement proclaimed.

The Hong Kong busts are dwarfed by earlier anti-online gambling actions mounted by the mainland China police in which a secretive internet betting network headed by a mysterious character known as Dark Brother was smashed. In that operation bets of 100 billion yuan were uncovered.

Asian police forces in several countries have since early June maintained an unrelenting pressure in their efforts to deter gambling on the football World Cup, which concludes in South Africa this weekend.