|
PokerPages > Poker News > Poker News
Poker News - Poker News
Search News:
EU to Escalate Online Poker and Gaming Operators' claims against USATue, Jun 24th, 2008 @ 12:00am Because the US last week brushed off claims from the European Union that it was discriminating against its companies, the European Commission is about to escalate the case where European online poker and Internet gambling operators claim that US gambling laws are being targeted at European companies to protect certain US operators, such as the websites run by the US horse-betting industry. Responding to formal European Commission questions, Susan Schwab, the US trade representative, in a letter said there was "no basis for any allegation of 'discriminatory enforcement' of US gambling laws" according to reports in the Financial Times. The dispute is likely to escalate next month when Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner, sends a delegation to Washington to press its case with US lawmakers and hold a press conference. The focus of the dispute is the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) which strengthened anti-sportsbetting laws banning telephone betting, making it illegal for financial institutions to handle transactions between US residents and online gaming operators outside the USA. The result was an exodus of European online gambling operators taking US bets and the loss of billions of dollars of revenues, a large number in publicly registered companies. Despite this, the US Department of Justice is pursuing UK-listed companies, including PartyGaming, Sportingbet and 888 Holdings, for violations of its gambling laws, seeking settlements for their liabilities, and has issued subpoenas against some of the European-based banks that advised them. The Commission is investigating the claims of the Remote Gambling Association, the industry's London-based trade body, that though US operators are in a similar legal position, they are continuing their operations in the US unhindered. Clive Hawkswood of the RGA said the US was guilty of "unfair and discriminatory treatment of the EU gambling industry and the continuing threat of prosecutions cannot be allowed to go unchecked." But the USTR has told the Commission its queries were based on mistaken assumptions, saying the 2006 legislation did not alter which gambling activities were lawful or unlawful. Enforcing US law and bringing charges was based on a number of factors, but nationality was not one of them, the USTR added. A World Trade Organisation panel last year ruled that the US was in breach of its commitments to providing access to its online gambling markets. The US responded by unilaterally withdrawing its WTO commitments on gambling services, leading to compensation deals with a host of countries, including the EU. Based on Article in Financial Times by Roger Blitz Read Related Articles:
More Poker News Articles
Fabrice Soulier Joins Everest Poker's Pro Roster To further strengthen its support for French poker in anticipation of the opening of that market, Everest Poker has signed renowned French poker pro Fabrice Soulier as its latest ambassador.
HHPT Co-Sponsors Bayou Poker Challenge Ladies Event Dec. 20 The HighHeelsPokerTour (HHPT), the first all women's poker tour launched on the East coast, will wrap up their 2009 schedule at Harrah's New Orleans on December 20th where they will co-sponsor the Ladies Event #14 no-limit Hold'em at 12 pm.
OPPAGA Reports on Florida's Online Poker Options Given that UIGEA permits individual states to regulate online poker, the Florida Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) published a report this week presenting three options available to Florida State lawmakers in order to protect consumers from unlawful internet poker: regulate it, prohibit it, or carry on with the status quo pending federal legislation.
BC Poker Champion Arrested, Charged with Manslaughter Just two days after taking down the BC Poker Championships Main Event, Sophon Sek of Cloverdale, BC, was arrested in connection with one of the most storied crimes in the Province's history.
Local Businessman Bags European Poker Tour Vilamoura Bling The European Poker Tour rolled into the Casino Vilamoura last week, instantly generating the richest poker prize pool in the nation of Portugal's history.
Keikoan Captures Harvey's Lake Tahoe WSOPC Championship This week marked the finale of the biggest annual tournament series in Northern Nevada, the WSOP Circuit championship at Harvey's Lake Tahoe. While the Main Event saw only a modest turnout, it did boast of a tough final table, and a WSOP bracelet owner as the eventual champion.
WSOP Main Event Champ Joe Cada to Appear on Letterman The poker world will receive some late night attention tonight as "The Kid" Joe Cada, the youngest champion in the four decade history of the World Series of Poker Main Event, takes a seat next to embattled talk show host David Letterman.
First Korean Champ of Asia Pacific Poker Tour Crowned in Cebu Another stop on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour is in the books, this time it's the APPT Cebu in the Philippines, and for the very first time a Korean player has come out on top.
Pollack Done as Commish of World Series of Poker Just three days after crowning Joe Cada as the 2009 Main Event champion, officially closing the special 40th anniversary run of the World Series of Poker, Jeffrey Pollack has resigned his post as Commissioner of the WSOP.
Durrrr Signs as Team Full Tilt's Youngest Member Tom "durrrr" Dwan is the newest member of Team Full Tilt, the online site's highest level of affiliation. At 23, Dwan is the youngest of the now 14-person team. The high stakes cash phenomenon was nominated for induction this year into the Poker Hall of Fame until the Hall of Fame Governing Council decided he was too young to meet the "has stood the test of time" qualification. |
 Online Poker »
Poker News »
Blog Coverage
Top News
Fabrice Soulier Joins Everest Poker's...
HHPT Co-Sponsors Bayou Poker Challenge... BC Poker Champion Arrested, Charged with... Top Tournaments
|
Discuss this article in our forum
Print this article
All Poker and free play poker content ©2009 Advanced Global Applications, LLC. All rights reserved.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, visit either: National Council on Problem Gambling or Gamblers Anonymous International Service