PokerPages Home PagePokerPages Poker School
Sign into School:
Username
Password
Tournament News:   Daily     New     Last Month     This Month     Next Month     WSOP      WSOPE     WPT     EPT     APPT     LAPT

PokerPages > Poker News > Poker News

Poker News - Poker News

UIGEA Online Gambling Ban Creates Opportunity says Irish Gov't Study

by PokerPages.com
Fri, Jul 11th, 2008 @ 12:00am

An Irish government committee set up in 2006 to review how to improve regulation of gaming and casinos, which would apply to both live and online poker games, has stated that Ireland could benefit from the restrictions the United States placed on Internet gambling with passage of the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), if the right reforms and legislation were made.

The committee noted that as a consequence of UIGEA, many gaming operators were looking to relocate to Europe.

"The recent United States prohibition of payment mechanisms for gambling online, presents a window of opportunity for Ireland," the country's Casino Committee said on Thursday.

Ireland's economic success over the last decade has been driven, in part, by its ability to attract investment by foreign firms. For example, Google and Yahoo have set up European headquarters in Dublin, as well as gaming software and processing system developer Cryptologic.

Ireland's low corporate tax rate of 12.5 percent has been another key factor in its ability to attract foreign investors. The committee also proposed discussion with Finance Minister Brian Lenihan regarding "possible competitive taxation rates."

"Should this opportunity be grasped within the appropriate timescale, Ireland, as a gaming friendly centre of excellence, can reasonably expect to attract a reasonable portion of this dynamic industry," the report said.

However, the committee did suggest that Internet gambling should be strictly regulated to protect minors and the vulnerable, prevent criminals from entering the market, and ensure the trust of e-gambling customers. It did say that blocking Internet gaming along the lines of the U.S. ban presented numerous difficulties.

CURRENT RULES ARE PRIMITIVE

In relation to brick and mortar casinos, which are now illegal in Ireland, the report found over 30 establishments were providing games such as blackjack and poker by operating as private members clubs. The legislation governing gambling dates back to 1956, and are primitive, according to the report.

The current regime had created a "patchwork quilt of licensed funfairs and amusement halls" that bore no relation to public demand and was economically inefficient, it found.

Should the government decide to legalize gambling, the committee stresses that it be done with respect for European Union laws and in compliance with international guidelines concerning money laundering. The report recommended enacting a "restrictive licensing regime." It added, if casinos were legalized, they should pay a higher rate of tax than the 1 percent of turnover currently applied to bookmakers.

The committee also recommended that (casino-style) gaming and betting on activities such as sports should kept separated.

"There should be no betting of any kind permitted on or in any licensed gaming premises," the report said. "Likewise, there should be no gaming activity of any kind permitted on or in any betting or bookmakers' premises."

Read Related Article:

  • CryptoLogic Moving to Ireland Jan 2007
  •  

     
     

    More Poker News Articles

    UIGEA Delayed 6 Months in Temporary Victory for Online Poker
    12am Thu Dec 3rd, 2009

    Days before the December 1 deadline for implementing the UIGEA, the U.S. government announced a six-month postponement of the poorly defined anti-gambling regulations. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board jointly released a statement moving the deadline for UIGEA compliance to June 1, 2010.

    Fabrice Soulier Joins Everest Poker's Pro Roster
    12am Thu Nov 26th, 2009

    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
    12am Wed Nov 25th, 2009

    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
    12am Tue Nov 24th, 2009

    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
    12am Tue Nov 24th, 2009

    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
    12am Sun Nov 22nd, 2009

    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
    12am Thu Nov 19th, 2009

    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
    12am Wed Nov 18th, 2009

    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
    12am Tue Nov 17th, 2009

    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
    12am Sat Nov 14th, 2009

    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.

    PokerPages
    Newsletter
    Online Poker »
    Poker News »
    Blog Coverage


    Top News
    Top Tournaments