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France Still on Path to Regulate Online Poker and Online GamblingWed, Jan 30th, 2008 @ 12:00am Interactive Gaming News (IGN) reported a conversation held this week with Wes Himes, managing partner of public affairs consultancy Policy Action, about the direction France is taking towards regulating online poker and online gambling, to open the French gaming market now dominated by the French state-monopolies Francais des Jeux and Pari-Mutuel Urbain (PMU). The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has repeatedly ruled that any gambling or betting business legally established in one EU state can offer its services anywhere else in the 27-nation bloc. They also note that any restrictions can only be for reasons of general public interest, and only if uniformly applied. If a country violates those rules, the office of Charlie McCreevy, the internal market commissioner for the European Commission (EC), warns then prosecutes any violators. McCreevy has repeatedly challenged France to open their gambling market to other EU-based companies. His office has been meeting with French officials since Nov 2007 to try to find a solution to end the legal action the EC has underway against France, and before France takes over the EU presidency in June. "The French government has indicated following discussions with the European Commission a willingness to look at and possibly propose a regulated regime for the provision of online gambling and betting," Himes told IGN, a subscription-only newsletter put out by the River City Group. After last November's meetings, official spokesman Oliver Drewes noted that "A process of intense dialogue will be started on technical and political issues with the aim of meeting again in early February" (click here for related news). FRENCH REPORT HOW TO REGULATE ONLINE GAMBLING COMING Parallel to discussions between France and the EC, Himes also relayed to IGN that a French civil servant will "be drafting a report for sometime before the summer, which will provide a sort of background on the industry and most likely make some recommendations as to how to accommodate and regulate an online gambling market in France." Regarding rumors of a mid-March resolution, Himes opined, "Well, I think March 2008 might be correct for the report; but I think in terms of actually seeing legislation, we're quite far from there right now." Most recently, gambling as a whole received good news from French courts, when on January 18, the French court decided to determine whether the French national betting monopoly is compatible with EU rules, and placed the burden of proof on the French authorities to justify that their gaming's regulatory framework is consistent, proportionate and justified (click here for related news). Read Related Articles:
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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 murders 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.
Joe Cada Becomes Youngest World Series of Poker Main Event Champ History was made early Tuesday morning in Las Vegas as 21-year-old Joe Cada outlasted Darvin Moon in heads-up play to claim the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet and more than $8.5 million.
Moon and Cada Heads-Up, Ivey 7th at WSOP Main Event Final Table After a marathon session at the most esteemed table in the poker world, a 21-year-old and a logger are set to go one-on-one for the World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet. |
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