Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars Done As We Know Them?

The online poker community was abuzz with excitement over the news that Rep. Barney Frank’s (D-MA) HR 2267 online gambling bill had been marked up in the House Subcommittee with a vote of 41-22-1.  This was being heralded as the most positive outcome the online poker sector has seen in years.

Not so fast say some industry experts. 

HR 2267 is proposed legislation that seeks to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for the licensing of Internet gambling activities by the Secretary of the Treasury, to provide for consumer protections on the Internet, to enforce the tax code, and for other purposes. But a handful of amendments were added to the original measure, some of which would almost certainly shut out today’s top two online poker rooms from the US market.

“No one who took a bet or wager on or after the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006, processed payments, or received ‘assistance’ can be licensed,” Joe Brennan, Jr. of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association pointed out.

Full Tilt and PokerStars have continued to accept customers from the US since enactment of UIGEA.

Another expert on the industry, who wished not to be identified, suggested such legislation would ultimately be beneficial for both online poker rooms.

“Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars would likely be acquired.  A U.S. company would want to buy most of the software, perhaps Facebook or a similar enterprise.”

Employees currently based in online gambling Meccas like Costa Rica would be moved to the US where they can provide their expertise.

“No company in the U.S. would be set up to do this on their own,” the expert said.  

Of course online gambling ventures have long found a way around most, if not all, obstacles standing in the way. 

For example, what is to stop a Full Tilt Poker from purchasing a European-based brand that has not accepted U.S. customers since passage of UIGEA?  Let’s say Everest Poker.  Full Tilt Poker becomes Everest Poker and Everest’ management team heads up the business.  This is one way that the European online card rooms can enter the U.S market with a bang.

It would be difficult to envision a situation whereby Full Tilt and PokerStars do not somehow benefit from any new laws being that they are two of the biggest supporters of the Poker Players Alliance and have lobbied extensively for legalized online poker in the States.

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher

Source: Gambling 911

http://www.gambling911.com/poker/full-tilt-poker-pokerstars-done-we-know-them-072810.html

Online casino business predicted to increase by 80% by 2014

iGaming Business report has some interesting predictions

Publishing company iGaming Business has released the results of a survey predicting that the online casinobusiness could grow by almost 80 percent between now and 2014.

The Global Business of Online Casinos report claims that by the end of 2010, the online casino market will be worth $4.7 billion globally in terms of gross gaming yield, and will rise to $5.8 billion by the end of 2012 and to $7.1 billion by the end of 2014 - an increase of 79 percent from 2009.

The report tracks recent trends and strategies of successful online casino operators, and gives a step by step history of the industry and statistics on starts-ups and expanding enterprises.

It reveals that, according to industry insiders, successful online casinos cost an average of $1.5 million in start-up costs but need very few employees compared with their land-based counterparts, which can cost $300 million to set up and operate.

Large non-gambling brands such as media companies looking to diversify into other markets or monetise existing online content are finding the online gambling space increasingly attractive, the report notes.

“Each online casino operator is looking to participate in a sector becoming more socially acceptable, benefiting from a liberalised regulatory structure in some markets, and enjoying very substantial growth across many key demographics including those that have been hard to reach through other types of gaming or betting such as women,” says author Rachel Church-Sanders.

“Add to that the growth in social networking, mobile apps and microtransactions and multiply that by the growing number of people globally with broadband connections and wireless access, and the future certainly looks rosy for the online casino sector.”

Church-Sanders reports that the ndustry consensus is that successful operators will provide a wider variety of games. However, as well as looking for the new next ‘killer app’, operators should not lose sight of the appeal and importance of familiar and easy to learn games such as roulette.

The rise of social networking sites, applications and smart-phones has many operators integrating these new technology developments into marketing strategies to attract and retain new and younger punters.

Source: www.latestcasinobonuses.com

http://www.latestcasinobonuses.com/article/online-casino-business-predicted-to-increase-by-eightypercent-by-twozerofourteen

Online Gambling ban in Cyprus imminent?

The home of many online gambling firms plans to ban internet gambling

The confused status of online gambling in Cyprus could be clarified soon, with the government completing a draft law seeking to ban the pastime. Following government approval, the bill will now go forward for European Commission and domestic parliamentary debate.

The irony of a nation that is the registered home of hundreds of online gambling companies banning internet casino gambling has not been lost on many industry observers; nor has the millions of dollars that the pastime attracts to the Mediterranean island.

Announcing the completion of drafting on the bill, which bans internet casino games like roulette, poker, and fruit machines, the Minister of Finance, Charilaos Stavrakis, told the Cyprus Mail: “These [online] casinos have been created on every corner of Cyprus and anyone, young or old can basically gamble in the same way it is done in casinos abroad.”

Initial reports in the newspaper appear to indicate that internet sports betting will be permitted, but only through regulated and licensed companies. The bill provides for the creation of a gaming board in Cyprus, which will ensure that a percentage of the total betting conducted in Cyprus will accrue to the state as tax revenue.

The minister could not say what this percentage would be, but speculated that it would probably be around 10 percent.

Operators caught breaking the new law will have their premises sealed until the case has been finalised, the minister revealed in a reference to reports that when police raid illegal venues and seize equipment, the operators simply re-equip and return to business.

Turning to the possibility of land casinos being accepted on the island, the minister reiterated the government’s decision not to license such casinos in Cyprus.

“It would be an oxymoron to legally allow the operation of dozens of online casinos in Cyprus in the shape we have today and not allow the creation of a real casino,” the minister said. “With this decision the government remains consistent with its initial position that it is against the creation of [land] casinos and online casinos for social and other reasons.”

The Cyprus Mail notes that in his election manifesto president Christofias vowed to stamp out electronic gambling.

Source: www.latestcasinobonuses.com

http://www.latestcasinobonuses.com/article/online-gambling-ban-in-cyprus-imminent

House panel passes Internet gambling measure

In America, the House Financial Services Committee has voted in favour of a measure that would legalise and regulate some forms of online gambling as well as overturning an existing law that bans Internet wagering.

The Committee voted 42-21 in favour of the measure which was sponsored by Democratic Representative Barney Frank. The vote doesn't make Internet gambling a foregone conclusion but it does increase the likelihood that a bill could go before the House, possibly later this year. Rather than banning online gaming websites, the new legislation would regulate US-based sites instead.

A number of amendments were made to the original bill including raising the minimum age for online gambling to 21, banning the use of credit cards for deposits and prohibiting advertising aimed at young people. Bets on sporting events such as the NFL and MLB would remain off limits.

The vote was welcomed by online poker advocacy group the Poker Players Alliance. 'The fact is, online poker is not going away. Congress has a choice ― it can license and regulate it to provide government oversight and consumer protections, or our lawmakers can stick their heads in the sand, ignore it, and leave consumers to play on non-U.S. regulated websites in all 50 states,' said former Senator Alfonse DíAmato, chairman of the organisation. 'I'm glad the Financial Services Committee today overwhelmingly chose to act and protect Americans as well as preserve the fundamental freedoms of adults and the Internet.'

The US offshore Internet gambling market is worth around $5.5bn but that figure could balloon should the US legalise online gaming.

Source: Igaming Business

Rival Slot

News

BOX24 LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE RIVAL SLOT

9 March 2010

(PRESS RELEASE) -- With great pleasure, Box24 Casino is proud to announce the launch of the EXCLUSIVE new Rival Slot - Diamonds Down Under!

This 15-line 5-reel slot machine is available ONLY on Box24 Casino and will not be found anywhere else.

Diamonds Down Under - Game Features:

The land Down Under is filled with adventure, natural wonders and a rich culture. Try your luck at the Australian diamond mines and you may be surprised what you find.

Special features include:

• The possibility to win 100 FREE SPINS with a 3x multiplier
• Rival gaming's top paytable
• Free spins retriggered
• Wilds featured on every reel

See what you may encounter along the way, but keep an eye out for the crazy crocodiles looking for an extra meal.

Make sure you use the maps to locate the best dig sites and mine those diamonds. The more maps you get, the more diamonds you're sure to find!

source:www.gpwa.org

SLOTO'CASH CASINO LOOKING TO THE STARS

15 March 2010

CURACAO, Netherlands Antilles -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Sloto' Cash Casino is known for remaining on the cutting edge with the services and products that it offers to its players and its affiliates. Many players who are regulars at an online casino have their own strategies and superstitions that they rely upon to help them win. This is why Sloto'Cash has decided to feature this exclusive numerology column for players to be more informed and have fun by finding out their lucky numbers for the game play.

Sloto'Cash will run this numerology column and focus upon posting players' lucky numbers. With this information available, visitors of Sloto'Cash will be able to decide on their numbers and maybe use those for their bet. They may choose to use their lucky numbers to play at certain times of the day, place bets in certain denominations, or to help them to determine which numbers to play when they're engaged in table games like roulette or select number of lines within a slot game.

Not only will this great information be available from a numerology expert to players, but Sloto'Cash will also be using this column to the advantage of all players, even offering exciting casino promotions based on players' numbers included in the columns; increasing their excitement of their playing entertainment. To help launch this new project, Sloto'Cash has an interesting outline for the column's first entry that helps everyone find their numbers based on the letters in their names. Available for all to browse, historically, numerology has had most significant influence upon women.

Numerology can be traced back in ancient history. Egyptians and Babylonians are thought to have practiced the occult science of numerology. Numerology is related to astrology and numbers found in nature. Greek philosopher Pythagoras (originator of Pythagoras theorem) believed that the entire universe was ordered mathematically and that everything in it could be expressed numerically. Pythagoras believed numbers held the key to the universe! Sloto'Cash's numerology column will be written by practitioner Leah Gray.

Players are encouraged by Sloto'Cash to check in often to review added features to the numerology column and see how that can help them improve their gaming techniques each and every time they logon to play with the many games offered by Sloto'Cash's extensive game inventory.

Source:www.gpwa.org

TWO SENATORS INTRODUCE ONLINE GAMBLING LEGISLATION

23 February 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative applauds the introduction of legislation today by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010, which includes provisions to legalize, regulate Internet gambling.

"With so much media focus on the differences between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, this bipartisan initiative highlights the growing support on both ends of Capitol Hill for replacing the failed prohibition on Internet gambling with a system to regulate the industry, protect consumers and generate billions in new revenue," said Michael Waxman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. "We applaud Senators Wyden and Gregg for taking the initiative to address and drive this issue."

Provisions in the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010 to regulate Internet gambling are similar to those included in the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267), introduced last year by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA). Similarly, Chairman Frank's bill has attracted a bipartisan group of 65 co-sponsors, including Representatives John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the Committee of the Judiciary Pete King (R-NY), ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Senator Wyden previously introduced an amendment in the Senate Finance Committee to use Internet gambling revenue to offset the costs of health care reform. That amendment was not brought to a vote, given the decision by the Committee to limit revenue provisions to matters closely related to heath care.

A Joint Committee on Taxation analysis found that regulating Internet gambling, as proposed in companion pieces of pending legislation introduced by Chairman Frank and Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA), would generate nearly $42 billion over 10 years for the U.S Treasury. The analysis is based on the provision of a federal license for operators that would allow them to offer online gambling throughout the U.S., while maintaining existing federal prohibitions on any form of sports betting.

Source: http://www.gpwa.org/article/two-senators-introduce-online-gambling-legislation-192662

Legal/Regulatory Updates

Source: http://www.casinoaffiliateprograms.com/news/International-Online-Gambling-Update.php

International Online Gambling Update

Feb. 10, 2010

Online Gambling Regulation Gets Debated in China, India, Canada, France and Finland

February 10, 2010 (CAP Newswire) – Has online gambling ever attracted this much attention? Given the non-stop political battles in the U.S. that have increasingly spread from the federal to the state-by-state levels, and considering how nations all around the world have found themselves forced into political situations where online gambling has to be either regulated or outlawed, it seems like a new online gambling legal battles is in the news every day.

The biggest such story currently, besides the unending American debate, is China. Online gambling, and even non-gambling related Internet gaming itself for the most part, is strictly off-limits in the country, but it's thought that many Chinese citizens gamble online, anyway. That’s why the government is reportedly planning a big crack down.

This new crack down will "concentrate on investigating major and important cases of online gambling, knock out domestic and foreign groups that organize online gambling, and severely punish the criminal elements", according to an article in Reuters; read it here.

In a statement from the Chinese government quoted in the Reuters article, China stated that it will severely punish those it feels is guilty of running "underground banks and third-party payment platforms that provide banking services needed for gambling ... as in pornography crackdowns, website operators will also be targeted."

No huge surprise there, given that China is notorious for its attitudes towards restricting its citizens’ online activities. In fact, Google is even considering not doing business in the country, which is significant. With its aspirations to be a globally dominant brand, saying no to the country that could soon become the world’s biggest Internet market is a bold financial decision for the company. Read about that here.

In France, the new, somewhat tentative plan to regulate online gambling seems almost to be creating more difficulties for online gambling operators — particularly those that aren’t French. A group of more than a hundred French casinos have filed a legal complaint against six online foreign casinos including big names like Bwin, Unibet, and Sportingbet, apparently for offering online gambling to French citizens. This comes as France prepares to implement its new gambling laws, and seems designed to ensure that only French operators are allowed in on the action. Read more here.

India is also undergoing controversy related to online gambling, based on a new proposal to legalize online lotteries across the nation. Of course, the anti-gambling elements that seem to exist in every country have launched campaigns opposing the idea; Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac is resisting the plan based on his idea that there exists a "nexus between online lottery mafia and Congress". Read more here. 

More positive news is happening in Finland, where The Finnish Slot Machine Association (RAY) has been granted permission from the government to start offering poker and other casino games on the Internet. “RAY plans to introduce a variety of internet poker and casino games, which it believes will create an income of around 25 million euros annually,” writes Finnish news site yle.fi.

The rules will be fairly strict: “Internet games will be strictly supervised in accordance with government regulations. Both RAY and the Finnish National Lottery must verify both the address and identity of the player and ensure that no minors participate.” Read the story here.

Finally, in Canada, the Quebec Government is starting a new push to legalize and regulate online gambling. “Months ago, Loto-Quebec announced its intentions to start offering online gambling services. All that was needed was the approval of the government, and this week, Finance Minister Raymond Bachand confirmed that legalization was in the works,” writes Terry Goodwin at CasinoGamblingWeb.com. Read the original story here.

Confirmed: Visa declining US egaming payments too UPDATED

Jon Parker

THE CRACKDOWN on US online gambling credit card payments that began on Wednesday is being operated by Visa as well as rival US credit card giant Mastercard,EGRmagazine.com has now confirmed, with tens of thousands of US online gamblers likely to have been affected.

As reported yesterday, US-facing operators were hit by an overnight tightening of restrictions on the use of credit cards for egaming transaction ahead of the implementation of America’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) law on 1 June, which bans the facilitation of online gambling by banks and other payment companies. 

The action was at the time of writing confirmed as applying to US-registered cards issued by Mastercard, but rumours that a crackdown had also been launched by Visa had not been substantiated. However eGaming Review has now confirmed that these too are subject to the ban. 

Repeated attempts to use a US-registered Visa card by an eGaming Review reporter on PokerStars last night were declined, with the American poker giant sending an email in response that read: 

“Status: DECLINED. 

“Your credit card transaction has been declined. If your credit card information was entered correctly and you have sufficient funds, your transaction was probably declined due to Internet gaming restrictions set by your credit card issuer.” 

However the US poker giant stressed that unlike many egaming sites, PokerStars never codes '7995'  online gambling transactions as other forms of e-commerce, and that it offers alternative payment means for US customers whose credit cards are rejected.

The company said: "PokerStars does not, nor ever has engaged in the practices of 'mis-coded' crdit card transactions. We have therefore been unaffected by any crackdown by Visa or Mastercard to close down such 'mis-coded' accounts. We allow the issuing bank to decide whether the transaction should be approved or declined according to the correct coding of that transaction as 7995. The only way that PokerStars is affected by credit card declines is when issuing banks in the United States (or indeed any other country) decide that they will decline 7995 coded transactions. In such instances it is company policy to provide the player with an alternative payment method." 

The UIGEA was originally supposed to have been enforced from 1 December 2009, although the US treasury later approved a delay allowing companies until 1 June this year to comply.
  

Source: http://www.egrmagazine.com/news

US subsidiary opened by pro online gambling Financial Group

LatestCasinoBonuses: 10th of February 2010

UC Group has played an active role in lobbying for legalised online gambling in the United States

Three former senior executives from MasterCard are betting that lawmakers will soon regulate legalised Internet gambling in the United States, and have set up shop to facilitate wagers as a U.S.-subsidiary for a United Kingdom payments processor.

A staunch advocate of legalised online gambling in the USA, UC Group Ltd launched its US subsidiary SecureTrading, and released a statement assuring interested parties that it is poised to provide “safe financial transactions and required consumer protections” in the United States in anticipation of federal legislation.

The UC move comes in the wake of recent developments that have seen MasterCard and more recently Visa blocking the placement of financial transactions with online gambling sites despite delays in the implementation date for the UIGEA and an imminent push by Congressman Barney Frank to legalise online gambling.

SecureTrading’s chairman, Chris Thom, was chief risk officer at MasterCard, where he spent 11 years. The subsidiary’s chief operating officer, Ted Friedman, previously worked at MasterCard New York and Europay International in Belgium. And T.J. Sharkey, its head of customer sales and support, spent 17 years at MasterCard, recently as the group head of Global Merchants and Acquirers.

"Momentum for regulating Internet gambling in the U.S. has been building for some time," said Thom. "As Congress prepares to take the final step, SecureTrading Inc.'s turnkey system is primed to enable our customers to go live the moment Internet gambling is regulated."

SecureTrading Inc.'s services will enable licensed gambling operators quickly and efficiently to be in full compliance with Internet gambling regulation. Offerings include player registration, verification and validation to ensure that the player is not underage and is in a location where online gambling is legal. The company also provides financial payments processing, anti-money laundering and fraud tools, tax computation and collection, payment and reporting; and responsible gambling tools that will allow players to self-exclude from online gambling activity or elect online to seek help in real-time for problem gambling.

"Individually and collectively Chris, Ted and T.J. have extensive experience in the Card and Banking industry for providing Internet payment services across multiple market sectors," said Kobus Paulsen, Chairman of UC Group Ltd. "They bring substantial value to SecureTrading Inc. and our customer base as we prepare for the passage and implementation of online gambling regulation in the U.S."

Mastercard crackdown leaves US players unable to pay 04/02/2010

Jon Parker

US-FACING operators have been hit by an overnight crackdown on online gambling payments by credit card giant Mastercard. 

The US company is believed to have toughened its stance on the widespread practice of operators coding egaming transaction as other kinds of online commerce, which will all its US customers from using their cards to gamble online. 

Rival US card giant Visa is rumoured to have taken a similar measure, although this could not be confirmed at the time of writing. 

The action is a sign that banks and payment companies are preparing for implementation of America’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which bans the facilitation of online gambling by payment companies. 

This was originally supposed to have been enforced from 1 December 2009, although Congress approved a delay allowing companies until 1 June 2009 to comply. 

The development will increase reliance on alternatives to credit card deposits such as those offered by Entropay, EwalletXpress and Poker Echecks, which work similarly to traditional paper cheques but are issued electronically, allowing players to deposit and play from an electronic wallet. 

Sites likely to have been hit by the Mastercard move include US sports betting giantSportsbook.com, which today announced that it will leave the Cake Poker network to join Ireland's Merge Gaming network.

The action by Mastercard coincides with a federal appeals court ruling this week upholding a contempt order for refusing to comply with a grand-jury subpoena against two companies owned by Canadian Douglas Rennick, who is accused of processing more than $350m in payments for Internet gambling companies.

Source; http://www.egrmagazine.com/news/514743/mastercard-crackdown-leaves-us-players-unable-to-pay.thtml

SC JUDGE SAYS POKER A SKILL GAME

5 October 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide (nearly 10,000 in South Carolina), today lauded the ruling of a South Carolina court that confirmed that poker is a game of skill, and thus should not be considered gambling under the law.

"Poker is not a crime in South Carolina or anywhere else, and we are grateful to the court for compiling the overwhelming evidence that proves this case and protects the rights of players," said John Pappas, executive director of the PPA. "This ruling is fully consistent with the declarations of other judges and juries across the country that Texas Hold'em is clearly a game of predominant skill and adults who play should not be criminalized."

Five individuals had been convicted of illegal gambling. The trial court found that poker is a game of skill, but left it to a higher court to decide if state gambling laws were overly vague. The higher court agreed and reversed the convictions. In addition to holding that the law was overly broad and vague (as it could be used to convict anyone playing poker in their home), the court embraced the use of the predominance test, citing the "overwhelming" evidence that skill dominates chance.

"All poker players are well aware that the game is based on making the correct, informed decisions, not just mere chance, and games of predominant skill should not be classified in the same league as slot machines or lotteries," said John Ridgeway, South Carolina State Director of the Poker Players Alliance. "We're very pleased that the judge considered the overwhelming evidence and came to the same conclusion. This is a well deserved legal victory for the players, the American game of poker, and for common sense under the law."

PPA's Litigation Support Network has been involved in a string of legal victories by providing expert witnesses, preparing arguments for trial, and filing amicus briefs with the courts. For more information on these cases and a copy of the judge's order, please visit. www.theppa.org.

Source: http://www.gpwa.org/article/sc-judge-says-poker-a-skill-game-179905

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION DELAYS UIGEA IMPLEMENTATION

30 November 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Department of the Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke today announced agreement to delay for six months, until June 1, 2010, required compliance with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). The move blocks regulations to implement the legislation which requires the financial services sector to comply with ambiguous and burdensome rules in an attempt to prevent unlawful Internet gambling transactions. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) has scheduled a House Financial Services Committee hearing for December 3 to discuss Internet gambling legislation and the opportunity to effectively regulate the industry.

"We see this move by the Obama Administration as a decision to halt implementation of UIGEA in order to give Congress time to enact an alternative approach of regulating Internet gambling instead of prohibiting it," said Michael Waxman, spokesperson of the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. "This decision is the latest evidence that momentum is building for a shift in policy and a rewrite of U.S. Internet gambling laws to provide for regulation and taxation instead of prohibition. Over the next six months, Congress should act to create a framework that regulates Internet gambling to protect consumers and collect billions in much-needed revenue for critical federal and state government programs."

Representatives of the financial services industry, including the Chamber of Commerce and Financial Services Roundtable, have stated publicly that rules to implement UIGEA are ambiguous, burdensome and unlikely to stop Americans from gambling online. In testimony before Congress in April 2008, Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve System representatives acknowledged the challenges U.S. financial institutions will face in attempting to comply with UIGEA, especially given the chance of multiple interpretations of what may or may not be illegal Internet gambling activity. Recognizing the danger UIGEA posed to the U.S. banking system, the House Financial Services Committee voted in 2008 to suspend UIGEA implementation.

The Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2267), legislation introduced by Chairman Frank in May 2009, would establish a framework to permit licensed gambling operators to accept wagers from individuals in the U.S. The legislation, which has attracted a bipartisan group of more than 60 co-sponsors, mandates a number of significant consumer protections including safeguards against compulsive and underage gambling, money laundering, fraud and identity theft. Additional provisions in the legislation reinforce the rights of each state to determine whether to allow Internet gambling activity for people accessing the Internet within the state and to apply other restrictions on the activity as determined necessary.

The Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act (H.R. 2268), introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) as a companion to Chairman Frank's bill, is anticipated to generate nearly $42 billion over 10 years for the U.S. Treasury primarily through ensuring that applicable individual and corporate taxes and license fees on regulated Internet gambling activities are collected.

Source: http://www.gpwa.org/article/obama-administration-delays-uigea-implementation-191696

Iowa wants sportsbetting

In America, the midwestern state of Iowa could become the next to allow sportsbetting at its racetracks and casinos after two individual measures were put before local legislators late last week.

Owing to a brief experiment with parlay sportsbetting in 1976, only Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon are allowed to offer sportsbetting in any form in the US but this position is currently being challenged at a Federal level by New Jersey as discriminatory towards the remaining 46 states.

The first measure, SF2129, was introduced by Iowa State Senate President Jack Kibbie and would, if passed, give the state’s Racing And Gaming Commission the authority to license sportsbetting on professional and amateur events.

“I think we ought to have sportsbetting in Iowa,” said Kibbie.

“They’re probably betting on them anyway but we’re not getting any tax. I think it would raise a lot of money.”

A second proposal, SF2130, was put forward at the same time by fellow Democrat Steve Sodders and would, if ratified, legalise wagering only on professional sports. The State Senator revealed that he hoped the proposals would begin a conversation about legalised sportsbetting in the state and he planned to contact members of Iowa’s congressional delegation to enlist help in lifting the Federal prohibition.

“We think that we ought to be able to regulate that here and have sportsbetting if Iowa desires to do that in our casinos,” said Sodders.

“Why not let them do that betting here than in other states that are getting the revenue for that?”

Sodders told the Sioux City Journal newspaper that the fact that huge sums of money were being wagered on this weekend’s Super Bowl is evidence that there is consumer interest in betting on sporting events. He said that channeling this activity through state-regulated outlets would help prevent problems associated with clandestine betting options.

Kibbie speculated that his measure could see as much as $100 million in new revenues raised in Iowa if sportsbetting were taxed at the same rate as other betting activities.

“This bill hinges on Federal legislation to open it up,” said Kibbie.

“There are people that would like to bet on sports who don’t bet on other things.”

Source: http://www.igamingbusiness.com/content/iowa-wants-sportsbetting

The restricted states are:

• Michigan
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• Oregon
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Indiana
• Nevada
• South Dakota
• New Jersey
• New York
• Kentucky

New licensing framework from Alderney

LatestCasinoBonuses: 19th of January 2010

New modular system more better suited to oher regulatory environments

Delegates to this year's IGE-ICEi show in London late January will get a first hand look at some reportedly useful changes made to the licensing regime operated by the States of Alderney.

This year sees the introduction of Alderney’s new licencing framework, which reflects not only the changing dynamics of the online gambling industry but also the new regulatory environment unfolding in Europe and further afield.

Based on a modular system, where operators need only choose the parts they regard as best suited to their particular business model, the new scheme is more flexible and has reduced costs for many, maintaining Alderney’s reputation as the lowest cost online gambling
jurisdiction in Europe.

The new Category 1 licence, which has been introduced to cater for the increasing trend for operators to outsource gambling activities, can be granted in as little as 4 to 6 weeks, significantly shortening the licence application phase.

The Category 2 licence meets the demand created by the extraordinary growth in B2B services, where Alderney’s superior technical infrastructure is an impressive base from which to provide fast reliable services across the globe.

A third major change has been the introduction of a system which can recognise and licence equipment located outside of the jurisdiction, a move which meets technical requirements such as consistency and performance in game betting products, live feeds, the rise in globally based gaming platforms and the advent of cloud computing.

"However well thought through, a significant revision of the licensing legislation fills you with some trepidation as to how it will be received," said Alderney’s director of eCommerce Development, Robin Le Prevost. "But I think we can say, even though it is early days, [that] the new scheme seems to have hit exactly the right note, and enquiries and applications have shown a significant increase."

"2009 continued a pattern of growth for Alderney as a jurisdiction, but was a difficult year for some - especially the new start-ups, but one can sense a new energy and we are very much looking forward to 2010."

Kentucky Appeals Court Blocks Seizure of Online Gambling Domains

Source: http://www.gpwa.org/news/index.asp

Tell Gaming is going with OddsMatrix

Leading software provider EveryMatrix Limited has announced that Scandinavian online casino and poker operator Tell Gaming has signed an agreement to utilise its OddsMatrix fully managed sportsbook from March.

Valletta-based EveryMatrix revealed that OddsMatrix would be integrated into Tell Gaming’s existing Microgaming poker and casino platform to offer customers a wider choice of betting and gaming options using their existing accounts.

“We have chosen OddsMatrix because it is a fully managed and low-cost sportsbook with the most comprehensive range of markets available with competitive odds on the market today,” said Thomas Jonsen, Marketing Manager for Tell Gaming.

“The solution fits in well with our local target markets since our customers will be able to bet on events that interest them the most. We expect the sportsbook to be a key revenue generator for Tell Gaming this year because of the forthcoming World Cup.”

OddsMatrix is a fully managed sportsbetting solution that enables poker, casino and bingo operators such as Tell Gaming to rapidly and cost-effectively launch a sportsbook product without the risk and expense of setting up their own service. It manages event creation, odds compilation and risk while providing an integrated player handling and bonus system all within a customised design and back-office.

“We are happy to welcome Tell Gaming to the rapidly growing OddsMatrix sportsbook family,” said Stian Hornsletten, Chief Executive Officer for EveryMatrix.

“OddsMatrix will allow Tell Gaming to maintain focus on its core competences such as customer service and marketing while OddsMatrix will take care of the risk management. As a result, Tell Gaming will have a strong and competitive sportsbook presence before the World Cup kicks in.”


Source: igamingbusiness.com

Online Poker: 6 Month Delay in UIGEA Regulations

Good news for online poker players as Gambling911.com can reveal that the US Treasury Department is expected to delay implementation of regulations that would require banks to stop online poker and other gambling transactions via credit cards.

A number of high profile sources have informed Gambling911.com of this development.

UIGEA is short for the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act, passed in October 2006, which made some forms of online gambling illegal but exempted others such as horse racing and state lotteries. 

Banks and other financial institutions originally had until December 1st, 2009 to comply with the UIGEA rules. The new guidelines have become especially watered down in recent months.  Wires and bank checks are no longer mentioned as part of UIGEA.

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) has been lobbying hard to delay the scheduled regulations and appear to have had some success on this front. 

A hearing on this matter is slated for December 3 but Gambling911.com has already learned that the postponement is "expected" according to our sources. 

Barney Frank's office was expected to release a statement shortly. 

Source: Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher

Bulgaria gambling tax issue still not resolved

The compromise 12 percent tax on gambling dislocates the Prime Minister's plans.

Last week's compromise tax of 12 percent on all Bulgarian gambling turnover may have suited members of parliament, but it has not gone down well with prime minister Boyko Borisov, who wanted to balance the budget with a 15 percent tax.

Borisov's plan was to use the tax revenues generated by a 15 percent rate to avoid tax increases on hard liquor and maintain assistance to young Bulgarians trying to purchase a first home.

The Novinite news agency reports that after discussions with the parliamentary Speaker, Tsetska Tsacheva, Borisov announced that he had asked his GERB party and parliament for the 15 percent rate. However, parliamentarians had already approved amendments eliminating the first home proposal.

Characterising the amendments as a mistake, the prime minister vowed to reverse these decisions.

The prime minister told local media that he required the 15 percent gambling tax to balance the budget and allow him to meet commitments to Bulgarian grape growers not to increase the hard liquor tax.

The Bulgarian parliament voted at first reading on November 4, 2009 in favor of an increase in the tax rate on gambling activities from 10 percent to 12 percent as part of amendments to the Corporate Income Tax Act . The amendments are expected to come into force in January 2010, harmonising all Bulgarian gambling tax rates.

The Bulgarian Association for Entertainment and Gambling Games has protested the 12 percent rate, saying it will cause the collapse of the gambling industry with the loss of 40 000 jobs.

Source: LatestCasinoBonuses: 26th of November 2009

Polish gambling regulations rapped

Draft regulations shows signs of Internet censorship, says EU body

With all the furore over government corruption and draconian new anti-gambling regulations going on in Poland over the past month, it is not surprising that observers have lost sight of a draft due for discussion next week onInternet gambling measures. And the content does not look promising.

The Office of the Committee for European Integration (UKIE) brought the issue back into sharp focus this week when it criticised the Polish government draft measures for the control and presumably restriction of online gambling. The publication Gazeta Wyborcza picked up the comments, which were subsequently carried by other Polish media outlets.

UKIE apparently does not like provision in the regulations that suggest ISP blocking, a move which the Australian and Italian governments discovered the hard way is guaranteed to get both taxpayers and Internet freedom bodies in a censorship lather.

Gazeta Wyborcza claims that there are several hundred thousand players in Poland who gamble on the internet and will not accept censorship easily.

"Officially, online gambling is currently forbidden however there are no tools to execute these regulations," the publication reports.

The new regulations envisage that Internet service providers would have to block access to internet sites at the direction of government officials from the Polish tax offices, the Internal Security Agency (ABW) or the police, a prospect that raises the spectre of official and possibly covert censorship.

In the Australian debacle the government agency concerned had to face some embarrassing questions regarding nonsensical and irrelevant bans imposed by uninformed government bureaucrats .

Like the Australian issue last year, Polish bureaucrats plan to build a register of forbidden Internet sites, which will also include paedophile and Fascist related websites. Before the draft bill is voted on in the Sejm it will have to be sent to the European Commission to assure that it does not violate any rights, as Poland is a member nation in the EU.

Meanwhile, reports on the overall ban on gambling outside of casinos in Poland indicate that the sections of the new law that prohibit marketing and advertising of non-casino gambling may not apply to foreign companies involved in lucrative sports sponsorships with Polish football clubs.

Observers claim that companies falling into this category have been exempted from the advertising provisions insofar as they will be permitted to display their company names or other branding and marking on shirts, banners and billboards. But no advertising directing customers to websites is permitted.

Companies such as Expekt, Bwin, Unibet and Betclic are all known to be involved in multi million Euro sponsorships with prominent Polish football clubs, and the consequences of interfering with these arrangements have been pointed out to the politicians by senior football authorities.

Source:LatestCasinoBonuses: 27th of November 2009