Online Gambling Press

Online Gambling Advocacy Group Launches Major Ad Campaign

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Representative Barney Frank has introduced legislation that would overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Rep. Frank has received growing support for the Bill from lawmakers, and he is also receiving support from outside of Congress.

The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative has launched an advertising campaign aimed at convincing lawmakers to end the prohibition on Internet gambling. The campaign is being used to educate people in the US on the dangers associated with millions of Americans gambling online in an unregulated industry.

“As Congress searches for ways to pay for health care reform and other worthy programs,” said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, “it should end the unsuccessful prohibition of Internet gambling and start collecting taxes on the billions in revenue currently lost to unlicensed, offshore gambling operators.”

Frank has taken a slightly different approach. While he agrees that offshore companies should not be receiving the benefits of people in the US gambling online, his concern is more with the freedoms of these people.

Rep. Frank and a growing list of lawmakers are in favor of changing the current laws and allowing people to gamble in the comfort of their own homes. A regulated system, according to Frank, would ensure that people in the US were protected against bad business from these online gaming companies.

While Frank has attempted to overturn the UIGEA before, he seems to have growing support amongst his peers. Senator Robert Menendez from New Jersey has introduced separate legislation that would legalize online poker.

The new ad campaign from the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative will appear on such prestigious publications as The Washington Post and The Huffington Post. Ads will also run on Politico.

Smart-Live Issues Statement Regarding Affiliate Matter

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In case you missed it on Tuesday, the folks from Smart-Live’s online gambling affiliate program addressed concerns over the recent "suspension" of said program here at Gambling911.com. 

We were among the first to report on this situation and will continue to monitor it.

From Smart-Alive:

"We deeply regret that many of you are so disappointed. Whilst we quite expected this response, some clarifications need to be made on our part to ensure that we are communicating our position as effectively as possible. First of all, we want to reassure everybody that the Smart-live affiliate program has not shut down -as stated from different sources – but is momentarily suspended, in light of some technical issues that need to be 100% sorted out before launching the whole new affiliate program again.

"In fact, previously we have managed to continue running the whole process with a very manual processes, we feel that this cannot be done in future, because of an increased number of affiliates, traffic and the next launch of the poker platform. The new management and affiliate team strongly believe that transparency is the main value in a business relationship with our affiliates and partners. So, instead of hiding behind the trees and claiming that everything is ok – and we bet there are some out there doing just that- we would rather be honest and prefer to pause the program for some weeks, get exclusively focused on what needs to be sorted out, changed and implemented and get back in the arena in the best possible shape.

"Secondly, during the closure period, existing affiliates will continue to be paid for the revenue generated by existing customers referred. Each one of our affiliates will be provided with a specific report showing all the values and the amount of updated commissions as soon as the program is live again. We are honouring our Lifetime revenue commissions and have no intention to renege on this. It is just that whilst we are sorting out the issues affiliates will not be able to view statistics. Finally as a gesture of good will once we are 100% confident that everything is stable with the program, we will be ready to reward all existing affiliates with an increased flat rate of 40% commissions on net revenues for the first 2 months once that we re-launch the program. We hope that this clarifies our situation and looking forward to seeing you all again soon when we have better news! Many thanks Smart Live Affiliates."

 

Ashcroft: Online Gambling Enemy Number One

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There was a time early on in the Bush Administration when Attorney General John Ashcroft was considered among the biggest enemies of online gambling.  Many believe it was he who got the ball rolling to quash the industry.  Investigations were begun on his watch though the resulting prosecutions came much later after he had left office. 

Yael T. Abouhalkah, a Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist described Ashcroft states that: "The cases involving Ashcroft, Missouri’s ex-governor, will get plenty of media attention. Democrats and liberals have been calling for former Bush administration officials to be held accountable for their actions during the war on terror.

"Ashcroft’s actions were "repugnant to the Constitution, and a painful reminder of some of the most ignominious chapters of our national history."

And Abouhalkah’s headline is entitled "Ashcroft’s Abuses Defied the Constitution". 

He points to a federal appeals court criticism of the former Attorney General saying he violated the rights of U.S. citizens after 9/11. It’s an embarrassing development for Ashcroft given his former role as the nation’s top law enforcement officer.

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher 

Over 30 Microgaming Online Poker Skins Liquidated

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Online gambling and poker software company, Microgaming, once had a stellar reputation.  They are still a respected firm for the most part, but this year has been especially tough on the group beginning with the state of Kentucky singling out Micrograming in its efforts to seize some 141 online gambling domain names, an effort that failed thanks to a winning appeal by The Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association.

The company has had its once impeccable reputation tarnished by licensee Grand Prive (Bella Vegas Casino), which decided to cut off all its "life time affiliate partners" and Microgaming has remained nonresponsive.

This week, licensees Eurolinx and BetonBet Poker were dissolved.  Over 30 online poker skins of Microgaming have been dissolved in the past year.

Dan Stewart of PokerScout.com explained to Poker News Daily, ‘Microgaming has seen its market share decline, but then again so have a lot of sites, which have been losing share to PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. The Microgaming Network still has a healthy amount of traffic and we don’t know how much business the individual licensees are doing’.

One individual familiar with the online poker sector who wished not to be identified told Gambling911.com that "the Microgaming online poker network is full of poker sharks", players who win often.

"More so than most of the online poker rooms out there," he added.

As much as $140,000 in player funds are supposedly frozen on Eurolinx, according to CrunchPoker.com. 

Ladbrokes and Stan James remain two of the network’s most reputable exponents.

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher 

Online Casino’s leave UK

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The online casino providers in the United Kingdom (UK) have had it with the high taxes on online gambling in the country, the providers choose to leave the county in order to flee the high taxes.

Online casino provider and bookmaker William Hill is leading the other providers on a possible exodus from the UK, by setting an example with them moving to Gibraltar. From there they can take advantage of the British law, leaving them to pay only a fraction of the tax they pay now. The sports leagues have asked the government to investigate the irregularity’s in the tax structure, it may be too late. William Hill finished transferring its online gambling division to Playtech, which is located in Gibraltar. William Hill is expected to pay only 10 percent of the gambling tax they payed in the UK. The government and sports leagues fear that other internet gambling providers will follow William Hill’s example and leave the country as well. Ladbrokes, one of the other big internet casino providers and bookmaker said: “Our preferred position is to remain in the UK but we have to remain alert to competitive developments.” They added by saying they will leave the UK when William Hill does. The ironic part is that the end result of the unfair taxes on gambling and online casino’s is creating a situation in which almost no taxes are collected, by being greedy and trying to maximize revenue the government drove jobs and revenues overseas. The sports leagues are afraid of fraud and match-fixing because control on betting patterns will be harder to maintain.

Italian “crisis legislation” could open up online gambling regulations

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The still restrictive laws on offering online gambling to Italians could be in for a more enlightened remake, industry observers are speculating. And it could happen before the end of 2009.

The reason behind the optimism is a recent slew of Italian “crisis legislation” proposals prompted by tough economic conditions and natural disasters this year, which have increased the need for additional tax revenues. However, anticipation should be moderated by the fact that the national regulator, the AAMS, has yet to make any formal announcements on what is and is not allowed, and when implementation might take place.

The speculation is that the Italians may be about to add cash games to lighten up the “tournaments only” regulations for online poker, and that online casino games will be added to the list of permissible online activities, along with new licences for scratchcard gaming.

The delay is reportedly not with the politicians, but with the regulator.

Kentucky Seizes US Gambling URLs

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The The public of Kentucky seized from one to another 140 realm names quality to online casinos and card rooms Tuesday. It did for this reason at the command of Franklin Shire Tour Flatter Account Thomas Wingate following the state’s General Security Retired apartment filed a beseem opposed to the sites in conclusion week.

Gov. Steve Beshear announced the cause at a push parley Monday, declaration it named 141 sites registered Read the rest of this entry »

US-EU Gambling Dispute Potentially Headed for WTO?

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According to each European busy vigor assign places to, the controvert upper U.S. compulsion actions in opposition to European Concert online gaming companies could have existence headed to the Planet Profession Making real soon.

“It looks same a great deal being of the class who granting that this difficulty command … subsist sent to the WTO at the come to an end of the commission's inquiry,” Metallic vein Covered wagon Read the rest of this entry »

Koreans Bust Gambling Ring

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Saturday, Southern Korean officials from the Seoul Central Prosecutor’s station charged four individuals in relationship by any unlicensed playing for money racing-ground. Precedents are holding the four suspects destitute of admit to bail though they keep on to search into the ring.

Single in kind of the suspects has been identified because “Lee.” According to prosecutors, he opened a land-based casino in Manila, the Philippines Read the rest of this entry »

New Website Sheds Light on US Online Gambling Legality

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The world of online gambling was rocked when the October 13, 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was put into law in the US. Many thought that people in the US would not be able to gamble online anymore. Some overseas online gambling sites even began to bar US residents. However, as www.usa-online-gambling.com explains, online gambling in the US is actually not illegal at all.

The website has been established to inform US players of their continued ability to enjoy playing poker, blackjack, slots, and other games of chance on the Internet. The website describes how the law works and why it is still possible to gamble online, listing poker rooms, sportsbooks and USA microgaming online casinos that are still accepting US players.

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