Online Gambling News

 

European Commission Takes up Remote Gambling Association Complaint (PocketFives, 03/18/08)

"To say the last month has been a busy one in the online poker world would not even begin to approach the truth. Late last year, the Remote Gambling Association lodged a complaint with the European Commission alleging that the United States was using discriminatory practices."

 

 

U.S., Costa Rica reach net gambling settlement (PokerListings, 03/16/08)

"According to the Tico Time in Costa Rica, the United States and Costa Rica have come to a settlement agreement in regards to the United States pulling out of its World Trade Organization agreement involving online gambling. As compensation for not allowing online gambling companies based in Costa Rica access to U.S. customers, the United States has offered Costa Rica greater access to other service markets, including research and development, storage, technical testing and analysis."

 

Online gambling may become legal in SA (MyADSL, 03/16/08)

"South Africans indulging in online gaming in SA are doing so illegally — even if the service providers are based in another country or jurisdiction, or hold a licence to operate from another country. Nobody has a licence for online gambling in this country. Themba Marasha, chief operations officer of the National Gambling Board, said he had approached various bodies that have contravened the restriction on advertising, promoting and marketing online gambling organisations."

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US Congressman Wants Details On WTO Online Gambling Settlement Concessions (PokerPages, 03/13/08)

"US Congress has finally become nervous enough about the lack of detail provided by the US Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) over settlements it has reached with several countries to compensate for the US pulling online poker and online gambling from their World Trade Organization (WTO) trade treaties, that Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) has formally requested full disclosure of the concessions granted without Congressional approval."

 

UIGEA Update: Proposed Regulations Rile American Banking Association (PokerNews, 03/09/08)

"While the American Banking Association (ABA) had originally been reported as neutral on the legislation, the organization’s stance regarding the measure has grown strongly more negative. The ABA explored several significant problems with the UIGEA, raising issues so serious that the UIGEA’s "successful" implementation itself is a matter for debate."

 

Gambling laws in U.S. may be at odds (Chicago Tribune, 03/11/08)

"On Monday, the Remote Gambling Association, which represents the European operators, asked the European Union to investigate U.S. laws forbidding online gambling, a move that could lead to a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization. Key to the dispute is the question of whether online betting companies are unfairly being forced out of the U.S. market. In the U.S., wagering on horse racing is allowed across state lines."

 

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Germany Takes Tough Stance Against Online Poker (Poker Player Newspaper, 03/09/08)

"Germany’s legislation makes it illegal for banks and financial institutions to process payments with online gaming sites, including those solely dedicated to poker. There is also a strong possibility that German Internet service providers will block access to gaming sites. The ban in Germany is a major step backwards for European poker, however many players are optimistic that the legality of the ban can be addressed via the European Union."

 

Mandelson pot shot at gaming prohibitionists (The Guardian, 03/11/08)

"Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner, has called for US prosecutors to stop targeting online gambling companies with links to Europe - including London-listed PartyGaming, Sportingbet and 888. The EU is backing an industry group which says the US is breaking free trade commitments by seeking to prosecute overseas online gambling companies that stopped taking bets from America after prohibition 17 months ago. The support does not affect a deal under which the US extended certain trade concessions after passing the unlawful internet gambling enforcement act."

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Internet Gaming Rules Face Long Odds

"It's not easy making rules for a U.S. law intended to deter illegal Internet gambling by choking off the flow of funds to offshore sites. That's because no one seems to agree on what the law covers. Officials at the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve found that out after sifting through more than 200 comments from banks, gamblers, church groups and members of Congress on recommendations for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. The basic sentiment was that their Oct. 4 proposal, which depends on financial institution enforcement, won't work."

 

 

California Poker Bill to Reach Committee this Month

"Bill AB2026 is a study bill, aimed at exploring whether or not a California-only online poker room would be legal. "Our understanding of the law is that so long as the player and server are in California, it would be legal," said Levine. "But that's what we are trying to find out." The bill will be heard in Committee on March 20. Should the study show that a California online poker room would be legal, Levine would then push for regulation and legalization."

 

Charges expected after Leicester gambling raid
"Charges of illegal gambling will probably be filed soon after a raid at a former Leicester sports bar netted cards, cash, poker chips and three video poker machines, said Allen Page, district supervisor with the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement division. ALE agents and Buncombe sheriff's deputies raided the former Legends sports bar at 128 Newfound Road on Feb. 24 after a six-month investigation and surveillance."

Bill that would allow schools to act as civic centers advances

"Texas Hold 'em tournaments at your public school? Maybe. HB322 passed its first Senate test Monday stating that public schools would be used as civic centers under the direction of the school administration. The intent of the bill is to free up public schools to be used for recreation activities in the community. One senator asked if it would mean poker tournaments in public schools."

 

Surprising Support For Online Gambling

"According to a report from the Cape Cod Media group, at least twenty organisations have spent substantially in order to lobby in support of US online gambling issues, and the list has some surprising names on it. Lobby firms in the US are mandated to disclose the amounts and causes for which they are lobbying. The report says that some of the companies had already spent $2.65 million on Internet gambling during the first six months of 2007. Added to amounts declared by other organisations since then (see previous Online-Casinos.com/InfoPowa reports) it makes for impressive sums of money."

 

 

MasterCard Spent $1.8M Lobbying

"MasterCard International Inc. spent $1.8 million in 2007 to lobby on Internet-related issues and on fees merchants pay when customers use credit cards. The Purchase, N.Y.-based company spent $880,000 in the second half of 2007 to lobby Congress, according to a disclosure form posted online Feb. 13 by the Senate's public records office. It lobbied on gambling regulations and the use of credit cards to purchase illegal material on the Internet."

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EU executive battles France over gaming - lobby
"The European Commission has given France until the end of this month to change a planned law that would oblige banks to block payments on behalf of online betting firms, a gaming lobby said on Monday. The European Gaming and Betting Association said the draft law would apply even to online gaming operators fully licensed and regulated elsewhere in the European Union."

RGA supports EC online gambling action
"The Remote Gambling Association has joined the European Gaming and Betting Association in applauding the European Commission's decision to pursue action against Greece and the Netherlands' online gambling laws. Last week the European Commission announced it has formally requested that Greece and the Netherlands amend their online gambling laws to follow European Union laws."

Gambling can lead to addiction, debt
"Many Americans gamble for fun and recreation. For a small percentage of people, however, gambling can become a serious addiction with just one simple bet and a big win, according to Rob McKinley, a nationally certified gambling counselor with the National Council on Problem Gambling. McKinley said compulsive and pathological gambling increased in adolescents and seniors, most likely because of the availability of different forms of gambling including sports betting, online gambling, casinos and even bingo."

Prof finds campus gambling addictions prevalent
"A recent pilot study found that 7 percent of 400 randomly selected undergraduates on the campus showed signs of gambling addictions, while the university has no gambling awareness programs. Public Health Professor Stephen McDaniel, who led the study, said the lack of any gambling addiction awareness program on campus worried him. If students don't know what a gambling addiction is, they won't seek help, he said. The preliminary research results showed, more than anything, that more serious studies needed to be done, McDaniel said."