The micro-nation of Sealand, off the coast of Suffolk, England, located in the North Sea, may have only about 20 member-citizens in all, but it does have its own flag, currency and even an Internet site, where you can learn more about the peculiar state. Sealand is now preparing to launch a new Website, an online gambling casino.

In one sense - its name - Sealand should be most comfortable on the Web, as it is hardly a land. Its fictitious nature would be most fitting with the virtual world. In an age of widely available high speed Internet, this allows a country - any country, Sealand included - to get a slice of the gambling cake as it does so.

The mini-state was founded on September 2, 1967, when Major Paddy Roy Bates occupied the once abandoned sea fort in International waters. It faced international confrontation time and again, having never received recognition officially. Yet it has gone on to print local stamps, de facto functioning as a state, albeit a really small one.

The online gambling site is likely to continue this low intensity confrontation policy. It is not clear at the time how the casino will provide appropriate international banking services for its customers, but it is set to launch on the festive 40th anniversary of Sealand, on September 2, 2007.

The news may have an effect on the international gambling market, draw interesting response from the United States (opposed to online gambling) and the UK (working to regulate the entire market). For now it is the source of some humorous comments, as what welcome bonus will the casino be able to offer, as it never even welcomes tourists or visitors, located on a World War II floating pontoon facility. Now as the state is also on sale, so announced by its leader, Major Paddy Roy Bates, the winning jackpots may actually go towards buying the house altogether… Whichever way it goes, we are sure to hear more about the new casino.