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Will France Move Forward March 31 with UIGEA-like Law?Wed, Mar 5th, 2008 @ 12:00am A statement made this week by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) focused attention on how the European Commission (EC) has given France until March 31 to change a planned law that would oblige banks to block payments on behalf of online gambling firms unless they are part of the French state monopolies Francaise des Jeux and PMU. The EGBA states the draft French law would apply to online gaming operators fully licensed and regulated elsewhere in the European Union. 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, and that any restrictions can only be for reasons of general public interest, if uniformly applied. The EC issued final warnings called 'Reasoned Opinions' to France after rejecting their explanations for their protectionist gambling monopolies. If corrective action is not taken, France will be sued by the Commission in the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Malta, an EU state where some online gaming firms are registered, also put its name to the detailed opinion. "Today's action consolidates the Commission's position that unjustified payment blocking in our sector clearly contravenes EU law," Sigrid Ligne, EGBA secretary general, said in a statement. "If France then decides to adopt the text despite the Commission warnings, the Commission can immediately launch infringement proceedings," the EGBA said. The Commission and French government officials are to meet this week in a bid to avoid EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy taking France to the EU's top court for restricting gaming firms from elsewhere in the EU. France has said earlier that it is willing to introduce a "controlled opening" in its sector. In recent weeks McCreevy has stepped up legal action against Germany, as well as the Netherlands and Greece. Overall, the EC, an executive arm of the EU, currently has taken action against 10 member countries whose national gaming regulations are contrary to the higher level EU rulings. Read Related Articles:
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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. |
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