Super casino or Super debacle

Peers yesterday rejected a decision to build the UK’s first super-casino in Manchester by just three votes. This means the plans will not be implemented, even though MPs backed the proposal by a majority of 24.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said that, after the defeat, she wanted “to reflect on the outcome” and promised new proposals.

Peers rejected the Gambling Order backing Manchester by 123 votes to 120, while MPs supported it by 274 to 250.

It is thought likely the government will say the verdict of the Commons, (the elected house of Parliament) should rate above that of the Lords.

Manchester was picked earlier this year by an independent panel ahead of the front-runners Blackpool and the former Millennium Dome in London.

Some critics argued that Blackpool was a more suitable venue, with a greater need for a super-casino. Others said it could increase problem gambling in a deprived part of Manchester.

During the Commons debate, Blackpool North and Fleetwood Labour MP Joan Humble said her town had been unfairly “marked down” by the Casino Advisory Panel.

She added: “This was our future. This was the new 21st century Blackpool. If we’re trying to minimise problem gambling then we should celebrate the fact that here we are pleading for a super-casino in a resort. Where else should there be a super-casino but by the seaside in Blackpool?”

The Lords vote means the super-casino plans will have to be re-drafted and that those for eight more ‘large’ casinos and a further eight ‘small’ ones are also thrown out.

Large casinos had been due to be built in Great Yarmouth, Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull, and Southampton.

The venues for small casinos were Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay, and Wolverhampton.

Satisfy your online bingo needs by joining Bingo Gala today.

Payment Processor Fined

It is reported that U.S. prosecutors yesterday reached an agreement not to file charges against the payment processing company Electronic Clearing House Inc.

US authorities are said to have had an ongoing investigation into eProcessors, and ECH have given them full cooperation. Although not mentioned, it is widely assumed the payment processor is NETeller.

ECH was involved in the transfer of money on behalf of online payment services, commonly known as ‘e-wallets’, and did so for nearly 7 years, mostly for online gambling companies.

They have been cooperating with prosecutors since January and it is reported that they have agreed to disgorge $2.3 million, representing the net proceeds from the services it provided to e-wallets since 2001.

ECH shares were off 37 cents, or 3 percent, at $11.86 in midday trading on Nasdaq on Wednesday, after the news emerged.

The company have not issued a statement as yet, except to state on Tuesday that it was a witness in a federal investigation and expected a non-prosecution agreement with the government. It also said that a deal to be acquired by financial software maker Intuit Inc. had been called off. The companies entered into a merger agreement on 14th December 2006.

The US Attorneys office commented that a criminal prosecution of the company would not serve the public interest.

Bingo Gala is the best online bingo room with the greatest bingo

Former East Enders soap star scoops £100,000 poker win

Michael Greco, is a former actor in the BBC soap ‘East Enders’, who left the soap claiming he wanted to work in theatre. Very soon after, he became a professional gambler. Whilst acting in East Enders, he played the part of Beppe di Marco, and was once voted the ‘sexiest male soap star ever’.

It would seem that his career change to professional gambling is paying off. Greco is in the money today after winning the regional leg of a British national poker competition.

He walked away with £100,000 following the climax of the third round of the Grosvenor Poker Tour in Cardiff during the early hours of the morning. He triumphed in a field of more than 300 players during four days of competition.

Although he has previously had minor successes in celebrity poker events, this was his first win in a recognised professional poker event.

The competition’s tour manager, said: “After a long, hard-fought poker session, Michael was a worthy winner. He has shown that he has what it takes to go all the way in this game and we look forward to him defending his title in Manchester.”

Read 'The letter' purported to be authored by Jon Kyl

A letter purported to have been written by Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, and circulated throughout Congress last week is circulating on various Internet sites.

Interactive Gaming News, the online trade publication, first published the letter in its entirety last week. The letter celebrates wiping $7 billion off the London Stock Exchange and requests that President Bush, for whom it is addressed, take measures to better enforce the current i-gaming law in the name of ‘family values’.

IGN implied that Kyl had been ‘circulating the letter’ throughout Congress but stopped short of suggesting it was actually sent to President Bush. However, the letter was addressed to President George W. Bush.

IGN further reported that last Thursday Kyl began circulating among Senators a letter to President Bush praising him for his protection of family values, and urging him to act immediately in ensuring that the forthcoming regulations for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are as stringent as possible.

The banking sector, which was adversely affected by the new legislation, is rumoured to have taken a keen interest in this letter.

One has to question however, what kind of person would write a letter of such strong condemnation, and yet not put his signature to it. A considerably gutless act from someone who does not want to be held accountable for their actions, which in effect could be seen as just a selfish act to take away the rights of US citizens to spend their money on harmless leisure pursuits of their choice.

Copy of letter;
March 15, 2007

President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of the millions of families represented by our organizations, we thank you for
signing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 into law. The immediate impact of this legislation on offshore operators was overwhelming: online gambling businesses listed on the London stock exchange lost over $7 billion in market capitalization in one day after the bill was passed by Congress. However, the law delegated critical implementation details to the Executive branch, so we once again respectfully request your continued leadership on this very important issue affecting countless families across the nation.

Any progress made over the last several months may evaporate if immediate action is not
taken to ensure strong and effective implementing regulations. The House Financial Services Committee Report explained, “The legislation contemplates a mechanism whereby banks and other financial service providers will be provided with the identity of specific Internet gambling bank accounts to which payments are to be prohibited.” In other words, the Federal government needs to provide banks with lists of unlawful Internet gambling businesses.

As we noted in our letter dated October 30 of last year, the best blocking procedures vary by the type of payment system. For instance, credit cards code their merchant accounts by type of business, so they can block certain codes. Internet gambling businesses may be self-identified to the credit card companies, or identified by customers or law enforcement. Other payment systems such as debits from checking accounts do not code transaction types, so they would rely almost exclusively on a government-provided list of prohibited recipients. We renew our request that you ensure that law enforcement and regulatory personnel commit the resources needed to identify illegal Internet gambling businesses and give the new law the teeth that Congress intended it to have. This does not require a large commitment: Internet gambling companies are very public about their activities (including their funding mechanisms) because they seek a large customer base. A small commitment of government resources can shut down or interrupt the vast majority of illegal Internet gambling in this nation.

Your continued leadership on this important issue is greatly needed at this time, and time is of the essence. Proposed regulations may be released in the next few weeks, and weak regulations will embolden the Internet gambling industry to come roaring back onto U.S. shores. Only through strong regulations can the intent of the law be enforced. Thank you for your consideration of this issue and your continued defense of the rule of law.

Sincerely,

You can find the best online bingo games at Bingo Gala.

Cyprus looks to introducing online gambling laws

CYPRIOTS gambled more than £28 million over the internet in 2006, according to figures presented to the House Institutions Committee of Cyprus, by credit card company JCC. Other estimations believe the figure is closer to £1.5 billion.

Cyprus, which has been an EU member since May 2004, is currently preparing a bill that would offer some control over the problem gambling, especially amongst youths. A bill was submitted to Parliament last year, but it was strenuously rejected by most parties involved, especially by betting agency OPAP.

A spokeswoman for the Cyprus Legal Services, Nicoletta Charalambidou, said “According to a 2007 European Directive, any restriction on internet betting is prohibited as it affects the freedom of the market”.

She continued, “Other countries attempts to impose stricter laws on internet gambling were rejected by the EU as it was considered an infringement on the freedom to supply services. As things stand today, it is very difficult to restrict online gaming, due to the European law. The line is set very high by the EU on which restrictions can be imposed when it comes to the free market.”

The implementation of a similar system to that of Switzerland, whereby the government approves certain betting sites, which will clearly state the restrictions, protection, and tax that gamblers have to pay, has been suggested.

The aim is to prevent underage children from participating, but top of the list for the Cypriot Government – it will stop the state from suffering in lost taxes.

« Previous Page — Next Page »