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Ukraine Parliament Upholds Gambling Ban- Poker Likely To BenefitFri, Jun 19th, 2009 @ 12:00am Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has overridden President Viktor Yushchenko's veto of a bill that will ban gambling for several months until a new law will set up a government-controlled area for gambling on the shores of the Black Sea. As poker is classified as a sport in the Ukraine last year, and not gambling, it could have a positive effect on poker, similar to what is happening in Russia. With 300 votes required to overturn the veto, 390 deputies supported the anti-gambling law, which was first passed on May 15 a week after a fire in a casino in Dnepropetrovsk, to the southeast of Kiev, killed nine people and injured 11. Law makers noted that they do not want Ukraine to remain void of legal gambling forever. The idea is to put a temporary ban in place while parliament works out tougher restrictions that may relegate gambling to certain geographic areas, such as the Crimean peninsula. The provisional ban comes into effect the end of June according to most recent media reports. President Yushchenko says he supports the idea of a gambling ban, but refused to sign the draft law. He called the far-reaching bill poorly conceived and populist. He asked the Supreme Rada to improve it, noting that it was not acceptable for 200,000 people to immediately lose their jobs, especially during the economic crisis.. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko had previously vowed to ask parliament to override the presidential veto, saying: "Ukraine should not destroy its life, spirituality and morals while being guided by such corrupt vetoes by the president." SIMILARITY TO RUSSIAN BAN BENEFITING POKER In 2007, Russia passed a Gambling bill mandating that all gambling establishments be located in four special zones relegated to the outskirts of the vast country, beginning July 1, 2009. This pushed some Russian operators to expand in the Ukraine. Ms Tymoshenko said Ukraine could copy Russia's plans for limiting gambling venues in non-residential zones. But plans have yet to be revealed and gambling operators are wondering how they will close at such short notice if the law takes effect. "We do need better regulation but this is not the way to do it. In one moment, more than 200,000 people could lose their jobs," said Grigory Trypulsky, vice- president of the Ukrainian Association of Gambling Operators. As in Russia, poker tournaments may increase in popularity in the Ukraine, because poker tournaments in both countries are classified as an official sports competition instead of gambling, so are exempt from general gambling laws (click here for related article on Russian Poker on the rise). Read Related Articles:
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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.
PokerStars Launches New UK and Ireland Poker Tour PokerStars.com has announced the start of a new poker tour with stops throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) will kick off in Galway, Ireland in mid-December, and the first event in the UK will be held in Manchester in February.
Peerless Media Agrees to Purchase World Poker Tour Enterprises According to a Monday press release, WPT Enterprises Inc., mothership of the World Poker Tour, is now the rightful property of Peerless Media, Ltd., subsidiary of online giant PartyGaming.
Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho Hit the Amazing Race Rail After surviving six legs of the Amazing Race by the skin of their teeth, poker pros Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho were finally eliminated in the CBS reality show's most recently aired episode. Michelle and Ho, the last women standing in the 2008 and 2007 World Series of Poker Main Events, gave reality television fans another chance to watch poker personalities compete away from the felt. Annie Duke garnered quite a following earlier in the year on another reality show competition, NBC's Celebrity Apprentice. |
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