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Top 10 Poker News Review of 2007Tue, Jan 1st, 2008 @ 12:00am PokerPages.com counts down the top ten poker-related stories of the year 2007, to see how poker has fared over the past year. #10 Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft Pay $31.5 Million in DoJ Settlement Without contesting or admitting wrongdoing, the three giant Internet companies agreed to pay $31.5 million to settle with the US Department of Justice, who claimed the three online companies accepted illegal gambling ads from offshore operators. Though the settlement amount paled compared to a typical day of income, the DoJ claimed victory because they say it set an example to the rest of the world about the seriousness of the DoJ's claims that Internet gambling is illegal. Yahoo and Google now face a civil liability suit in California. #9 Congressman Barney Frank Introduces Internet Gambling Regulation Bill Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), Head of the powerful Financial Services Committee, introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 (IGREA), HR-2046, that would create an exemption to prior bans on online poker and online gambling for properly licensed operators, allowing US residents to lawfully bet online. Frank, who openly speaks out against the UIGEA calling it ´one of the stupidest things I ever saw,´ and a blatant infringement on the rights of hard working Americans, urges US poker players to continue to contact their congressmen, as that is the only way the bill will move forward. IGREA currently has 45 co-sponsors. #8 World Series of Poker Numbers Drop For First Time in 15 Years The number of entrants to the 2007 World Series of Poker declined for the first time in 15 years, although the decrease was not a result of declining popularity. WSOP executives announced early in the year that they would not be accepting registrations from online satellite tournaments because of the newly passed Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). This was the main cause in the drop in numbers and only one of many very significant negative ramifications of the new US law. #7 Bill to Exempt Online Poker & Skill Games from UIGEA Introduced by Robert Wexler Congressman Robert Wexler (D-Florida) introduced The Skill Game Protection Act to make 'skill' games, including poker, mah-jongg, bridge, and chess, exempt from current laws aimed to stop online gambling in the USA, including the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). A spokesman for the Congressman stated that skill games should be treated differently from games of pure chance. ´You win and lose based on your ability and it's a deserving distinction.´ Wexler's bill currently has 21 co-sponsors. #6 iMEGA Files Lawsuit to Block UIGEA Enforcement While most poker players were watching the 2007 WSOP, the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve to stop enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). Initially the case did not get much attention, but its impact on U.S. Internet gambling industry as a bell weather reflecting stopping abuse of the Internet overall is now better recognized. The New Jersey District Court judge was scheduled to make her ruling in November, but to date no judgement has been delivered. If the judge rules in favor of iMEGA the UIGEA will be temporarily restrained. #5 U.S. Settles World Trade Organization (WTO) Disputes by Removing Online Gambling from Treaties Triggering Compensation Claims by WTO Members Antigua & Barbuda became the smallest nation to ever successfully win a case in the WTO. The UIGEA was deemed illegal by a WTO panel and the US was forced to give concessions to the tiny island nation. Instead, the US withdrew its GATS commitments, which allowed countries belonging to the WTO to claim sanctions from the US. The US settled the $100 billion concessions with the European Union, though many question if there is any value to it, and a WTO panel gave Antigua only $21 million of the 3.4 billion annually till the US complies with the WTO ruling. Both figures are substantially lower than were expected. The US proved its international power in the WTO case yet many believe their tactics will backfire when it comes to arguing a similar position against China's patent and copyright violations. #4 World Series of Poker Flattens Payout to Money Finishers in 2007 WSOP Event, Expands to Europe Okay, this is two events combined into one. In response to feedback from players, the payout schedules for the 2007 World Series of Poker were flattened, so most players who finish in the money in the 55 events received a higher percentage of the prize pools than in 2006, but those reaching the final table received less. Also Harrah's expanded the WSOPE, the first time WSOP bracelets were awarded outside of USA. #3 United Kingdom Implements Gambling Act of 2005 While the U.S. tried to stuff out Online gambling in 2007, the United Kingdom proved to be a leader in the industry as they opened up their online market to the world through regulation and taxation. But the implementation did not go so smoothly, as new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, set a tax level so high that no online companies chose to relocate their operations to the UK. Meanwhile, the first gambling ads appeared on TV and radio from licensees located in jurisdictions approved on the ´White List.´ #2 Neteller Execs Arrested, Reach Settlement, and Neteller Finally Returns Online Poker Players Money After the U.S. DoJ arrested then struck deals with Neteller co-founders Stephen Lawrence and John LeFebvre, it took a much longer time than many US-based online poker players thought was necessary, but Netteller finally returned players' money. Frustration over lack of information and action by Neteller to refund their money lead to the formation of a group called the Neteller Customer Coalition (NCC), who pressed Neteller for the money to be returned. #1 Bodog asks Whether Domain Names are Subject to Seizure in Patent Dispute A legal order in a patent infringement dispute with 1st Technology LLC of Las Vegas Nevada, caused the loss of most of the Bodog.com domain names. However, the more far-reaching aspect of this case for the Internet is that the Legal team representing Bodog Entertainment Group SA, in an offensive move to recover domain names for its online poker and online gaming sites, filed a motion asking the Washington court handling the ongoing dispute a very interesting question: Are Internet domain names considered 'property' that can be subject to seizure to collect on a judgment? A ruling has yet to be forthcoming. PokerPages.com wishes to give a nod of thanks to the writers and editors of Casino Gambling Web who published their version of the top ten news of the year for gambling. Other Noteworthy News While there are many noteworthy poker news stories, not all made this top ten list of poker news having the most impact during 2007, but we mention a few of them here: Firstly are the many poker rooms that struggled to survive the UIGEA, including PartyPoker and 888.com's Pacific Poker two public companies devastated by the US law. Also regulations for enforcement of the UIGEA were proposed and were available for public comment till Dec 12. And UK gambling licensees were told by the UK Gambling Commission that they cannot offer seats in any poker event located outside the Commission-approved ´White List´ areas of approved jurisdictions. And finally, there is a constant struggle throughout world between free trade and state/province/tribal and national governments to balance their budgets by initially approving or increasingly protecting government-sponsored gambling. That POKER remained the top Lycos search item for a second year running reflects how poker continued to grow in popularity during 2007. Poker also became more widespread as the opening of the first tournaments played in China and the Philippines reflects. 2008 does not look to be slowing down either- PokerPages.com looks forward to continuing to bring you informative and up to date Poker News!
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