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EU May Challenge UIGEA Outlawing Online Poker and Online Gambling PaymentsWed, Jan 31st, 2007 @ 12:00am The European Union's (EU) top financial regulator, Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, told the European Parliament on Tuesday that the United States is using "protectionist" legislation to stop foreign online poker and gambling companies entering the US online betting market, and that it may trigger legal action before the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The "protectionist" legislation McCreevy referred to is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) which the U.S. signed into law last October, causing many UK listed gambling companies to plummet billions in value. The UIGEA did not make online poker illegal. Nor did it update the 1961 Wire Act which specified that the only form of illegal gambling is sports betting over the telephone, which has, by extension, been applied to sports betting over the Internet. Instead the UIEGA did make it illegal for financial institutions to handle gaming transactions between US residents and online gambling sites. The UIGEA also exempted certain forms of state-sanctioned online gambling such as horse race betting and state lotteries, adding further weight to McCreevy's criticism of U.S. protectionism. McCreevy told reporters the U.S. rules were a "prima facie" case of protectionism [meaning there is sufficient evidence to prove it]. He also added that the WTO is a possible venue for tackling the U.S. rules. However, because EU and US trade officials are currently trying to restart talks on a sweeping global trade deal - the Doha round, McCreevy said he would not rush to file a complaint. "It's not something of major momentum," he remarked. Nor, he noted, has he had any face-to-face talks about the issue with Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner. Meantime, the tiny Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has been trying to resolve a similar protectionism case against the U.S. which they originally filed with the WTO in 2003, in what is viewed as a David versus Goliath situation. In their case, Antigua challenged US laws blocking non-US internet gaming companies from operating inside US borders, arguing that US trade officials had signed the 1995 GATS treaty committing it to allowing foreign entrants to its lucrative online gaming market. The WTO ruled in Antigua's favor in 2005. In April 2005 the WTO Appellate Body, in response to an appeal lodged by the US, ordered the United States to comply either by lifting its ban on foreign operators or by withdrawing a "discriminatory" exemption for US online horse-racing betting sites, within 18 months. Antigua and Barbuda complained the US had not complied with the 2005 ruling, so the WTO agreed in July 2006 to investigate their complaint. This resulted in a ruling last week, January 25, admonishing the U.S. for not taking steps to comply. The WTO's final public report on Antigua's case is due March 2007. Read Related Articles:
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Bill to Legalize Online Poker & Online Gambling Introduced by Barney Frank Bill Creates Exemption for Properly Licensed Operators to UIGEA's Ban
Frank to Introduce UIGEA Repeal Bill Today- Online Poker Applauds U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank's press office confirmed that today at 10am ET, Frank will hold a press conference to discuss legislation he is introducing to repeal the controversial Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which Frank has called "one of the stupidest things I ever saw."
UIGEA Repeal Meetings Give Hope to Online Poker Players Several meetings were held this past week in Washington DC to strategize how to challenge the U.S. Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which signals hope for online poker players that UIGEA repeal efforts are coming to a climax in the coming months.
USA loses WTO Appeal in Online Poker & Online Gambling Case The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled again March 30 against an appeal by the United States in a long-running David versus Goliath case brought by the tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda against the United States initially in 2003 alleging that the U.S. discriminates against online gambling (including online poker) companies that are not located within the United States.
New Web Gambling Study Could Lead to Legal Online Poker in USA Again Two Nevada lawmakers are working on legislation for an 18-month study of online gambling to determine whether online gambling can be effectively regulated in the United States.
Kyl asks Bush to Enforce UIGEA to Counter Frank's Repeal of the Anti-Online Poker Bill Arizona Senator Jon Kyl (R) sent President George W. Bush a letter thanking him for his protection of family values and urging him to act immediately in ensuring that the forthcoming regulations for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are as strictly enforced as possible.
EU May Challenge UIGEA Outlawing Online Poker and Online Gambling Payments The European Union's (EU) top financial regulator, Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, told the European Parliament on Tuesday that the United States is using "protectionist" legislation to stop foreign online poker and gambling companies entering the US online betting market, and that it may trigger legal action before the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Does U.S. Want Online Poker & Online Gambling All To Themselves? The respected UK newspaper The Telegraph carried a hard hitting article this weekend which suggested that the US crackdown on online gaming, including online poker, may not be so much about morals as hard cash.
PPA President's State of Poker Address In parallel to the 'State of the Union' address US Presidents traditionally delivers to Congress each January, Michael Bolcerek, president of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), posted a 'State of Poker' address on the organization's web site, reviewing where poker is today and where, with poker players' help, it can go in the future.
Online Poker is OK Intrastate says US Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) A surprising and little-tapped benefit of last year's Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is that state residents are allowed to participate in Internet gambling which is conducted within their state borders, casino attorneys say. This includes online poker too. |
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