One of the most intriguing issues in Internet gambling now, we think, is the Justice Department settlements -- mostly because nobody (including us) knows what the heck's going on.

A busy day that, like all conference days, was filled with information, opinion and rumor. To begin, the mobile gambling presenters maintained a modest, wait-and-see stance on growth prospects for their sector. It was recommended that figures from Juniper Research, for the umpteenth time, be taken with the world's largest grain of salt. The Apple iPhone was the subject of much discussion, and nearly every chief executive I spoke with today had a different opinion on the popular device. (The London Telegraph reported recently that Apple sold around 17 million of them in 2008.)

In the wee hours before the Macanese dawn Tuesday, I'm caffeinating myself ahead of what will surely be a fun and busy day at the Asian i-Gaming Congress & Expo. Today's agenda: mobile gambling, one of the industry's most perennially intriguing sectors.

I can't count the number of times I've typed the word startup since Monday. This week, for better or worse, has belonged to the industry’s nascent players.