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One of two payment processors which had funds seized by the US Department of Justice over online poker winnings has gone to the Federal District Court to get the money back, news agencies reported last week. Account Services Corporation filed documents in San Diego on June 11. The company said federal authorities had seized around $14 million from three California bank accounts in June, most of which belonged to around 13,800 online poker players. Account Services said $1 million held in two Union Bank accounts in San Diego were seized without a warrant on June 12. According to documents the DoJ seized the money based on "exigent circumstances" that it did not specify at the time of the seizure. Advocacy group Poker Players Alliance said the money was part of more than $30 million recently frozen by the DoJ from payment process. The Associated Press quoted the group as saying it planned to file a motion to join Account Services Corporation in court. "Any action contesting the government's seizure of players' funds will help protect the rights of US Internet poker players, and we will explore every legal avenue to ensure that our members' voices are heard and their rights are protected," said PPA Executive Director John Pappas. Howard Stern PPA Member Also this week, Howard Stern has become a member of the PPA. He immediately invited former Senator Alfonse D'Amato onto his show.
tombola has long been among the top online bingo sites around. It has a growing and loyal customer base; new visitors are discovering the bright, colourful site, offering a wide variety of bingo games, great 'sign up' offers and attractive, daily prizes. With instant, responsive customer support, the site is accessible for novices as well as experienced players. Previous tombola players continue to return in droves, perhaps to try out their ever-expanding range of games, have another go at one they enjoyed during their last visit or to use the various chat room facilities. tombola Goes Tropical tombola bingo has just gone tropical and to celebrate its new look and impending media campaign, it is promoting a free-ticket bingo extravaganza with a sweltering £100,000 prize. British Tradition Already a great British tradition, bingo has made a smooth transition to the web and is growing in popularity. The owners of tombola understand the UK bingo market well, having established themselves in traditional bingo halls across the country, they are continuing to move with the times with an imaginative and ever-developing online presence. tombola bingo offers choice, simplicity and big money prizes. Already a hit with bingo lovers across the UK, this new promotion will no doubt take them from strength to strength and increase those shouting 'house' from the comfort of their own homes.
The stereotypical image of your average punter is a 40+, male with a cigarette in one hand and a newspaper in the other. With the onset of internet gambling sites, male dominated, smoky bookies are being complemented by fresh, accessible online casino sites. The new image, online access and the growing variety of games are attracting a younger and increasingly diverse range of customers. To meet the needs of their new clientele, smart industry experts are responding by developing female-focused online gambling sites. Move to the Mainstream In many countries, such as the UK, gambling has gone from the back street to the high street. New media campaigns reflect the move to mainstream, with TV and magazine advertising increasingly being aimed at non traditional gamblers - many specifically targeting women. The new sites host a variety of games which are appealing to women and which cater for those new to the game as well as 'old hands'. Their color schemes, layout and terminology all aim to make the 'gambling girls' feel comfortable. Home Comforts The fact that online gambling is designed to take place in the home means that the game comes to the punter and not the other way round. Online gambling is a great way to relax after a hard day's work; it adds a bit of excitement to the monotony of the week and has the allure of big cash prizes. Gambling for girls is on a roll!
The third season of the PokerStars Asia Pacific Poker Tour begins August 2009, and qualifying is open now with PokerStars satellites. The tour will kick off in Macau on August 24, followed by stops in Seoul in South Korea, Auckland in New Zealand, Cebu in the Philippines, and concluding in Sydney, Australia on December 1-6. Satellites are now open, with successful competitors to win a prize package including Main Event buy-in, accommodation and expenses. Registration is open with a number of different buy-ins. The APPT is expected to once again attract the best poker players in the region, including 2005 WSOP Main Event winner Joe Hachem of Australia, and New Zealand's Lee Nelson. More than 1,200 players participated in the 2008 APPT, creating a total prize pool of over $3 million. Make more of your time by checking out online poker reviews of only the highest paying promotion offers.
To help the emerging Internet industry in France compete with cyber-casinos across the rest of the EU, French Parliament considers the legalization of online gambling. Eric Woerth, France's Minister for Budget, defends the idea of a sports betting right to "preserve the integrity of sports". But according to Maarten Haijer, EGBA Director for Regulatory Affairs, "The EGBA is opposed to what would be a precedent in Europe: there is no link between a sportsbetting right and the integrity of sport." Haijer states clearly that "It makes no sense to create a local Internet market in France. We welcome the Commission's action and are confident that France will reconsider its proposal to avoid litigation." The proposed commercial contract between the sport federations and the operators would allegedly allow the federations to control the bets. The sports federations would then be the promoter, the regulator and the judge of their own sport, which could create serious conflict of interest. Betting and sports are cross-border activities, and so is the issue of integrity. According to the European Court of Justice and the European Commission, sports federations cannot claim propriety of rights such as fixture lists and data, as this is information in the public domain that can be accessed freely by journalists and travel agencies alike. To create increased revenue for sport federations, more tax revenues should be allocated to fund all sports rather than introducing a right that could only benefit the commercially most attractive sports federations. However, if the integrity of sports is really the issue, effective measures should be endorsed, and corruption has to be addressed from all angles.
Lance Armstrong has left the building. This was the American cyclist's latest Tweet, a day after the tour de France ended: "Taking off now. Last words b4 we leave France. Thanks to all the people here who supported the tour, our sport and our team. Thanks/Merci!!" All sports betting attention can now turn to Formula One. First event is the Hungarian Grand Prix. It was shaping up as a tough race to call following the qualifying round Saturday, with German Sebastian Vettel second on the grid but a slight odds favorite, 2.50 at William Hill Sports and 2.25 at Ladbrokes. However, Vettel failed to complete the race on Sunday. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, the youngest ever Formula One World Champion, was the winner of this race, although entering it at 5.50 odds at Ladbrokes and 5.00 at William Hill Sports. Overall championship leader and favorite Jenson Button came in seventh. This might affect his position as Ladbrokes favorite to win the championship, where he was ahead of Vettel on the two sports betting sites, where such bets are offered. The qualifying race was overshadowed by a horrific car crash that left Brazilian driver Felipe Massa fighting for his life in hospital after suffering skull damage and concussion.
Costa Rica's finance ministry will submit a bill within the next two weeks proposing a two percent tax on gambling, the country's English-language Tico Times reported. According to the report, the ministry estimates the tax - which would be imposed on income earned in the gambling, gaming and betting industry, would generate up to $85 million for the government. Those figures were calculated by money earned by casinos and the online betting industry. There are 46 casinos in Costa Rica and 300 gambling-related businesses, including call centers, the report said. Although the tax would provide a boost for the state during these tough times, officials in the gaming industry have expressed concern about a reduction in revenues, following an already significant drop in 2009. Costa Rican Association of Casinos vice president Jorge Hidalgo was quoted by the Tico Times as saying the gaming industry was among the hardest hit by the global financial crisis. "Activity has fallen about 35 percent, and in addition to that we have fewer work hours and have had to let go about 500 employees," the newspaper quoted him as saying. The bill in expected to be put to the Legislative Assembly on August 3.
There is growing speculation of a casino revival in Macau with the election of a new leader, Fernando Chui. It is expected that Chui will smooth relations with mainland China thereby paving the way for new policies on the gambling zone and lifting visa restrictions on mainland visitors. The election result comes as no surprise given Chui was the only candidate. His endorsement was merely a formality by the 300 member selection committee loyal to Beijing. Chui is due to take office on 20 December 2009 for a five year term and replace Chief Executive Edmond Ho. Macau is the only place in China where casinos are legal and they previously enjoyed explosive growth. Prior to 2009, Macau's gambling revenue had been sharply rising with an impressive average of 27 per cent during each of the past four years. However, Macau's casinos began to suffer heavy losses last year as a result of travel restrictions placed on visitors from mainland China who are their main source of business. According to the government, the number of guests dropped 21.8 per cent in June 2009 compared to June 2008. Unsurprisingly, casino revenue slumped 12 per cent in the second quarter of 2009 from a year earlier. Loss of casino jobs drove Macau's unemployment to a two year high. Chui has promised to diversify Macau's economy so that it is not so dominated by and dependent upon the revenue of the gambling industry and casinos. It is also anticipated that Chui will improve regulations within the gambling industry.
The Spanish online gambling market is a big earner, with over $50 million bets annually. The Government is looking to set up a framework for licensing and regulating sites in order that they comply with EU standards. Two working groups made up of government and industry representatives are being set up to determine a workable strategy that will introduce and maintain a regulated online gambling industry. The Spanish licenses will likely be for a five year period and, pending regulations being met, an application for a further five-year renewal will be possible. The regulations will include safeguards to protect those underage or vulnerable from participating in gambling. Welcome the Spanish Market When the Italian online gambling industry was regulated, a flood of license applications was received from major UK and EU online casinos. It is likely these same industry giants will be keen to cast their net over the Spanish market too. It is rumoured that William Hill and Bet Bull have already started negotiating their way into the emerging Spanish market, hoping to be big players from the start. There is a great buzz about the potential of the Spanish market and to prepare EU operators, an event, 'iGB Espana', has been organized in Madrid in October 2009. The conference will clarify the technical and operational requirements of the market and help the industry operate successfully in Spain, as well as potentially identify business partnerships and opportunities. The legalization and regulation of the Spanish gambling sector should prove lucrative for the government, as has been the case in Italy and the UK. It will also serve to safeguard the Spanish public against unscrupulous gambling sites, including tough punitive measures against those operating without a license. The legalization of the Spanish online gambling scene seems to be a win-win policy for everyone. Online Casino Reports Spain The Spanish speaking world is invited to learn more on the Spanish world of online gambling.
A Senate companion bill to Barney Frank's legislation to regulate online gambling will be introduced soon, Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas said last week. Pappas was speaking at the end of National Poker Week, in which the PPA organized meetings, held seminars and ran charity tournaments in an effort to influence lawmakers in Washington, DC. Pappas took part in a live debate on TV channel CNBC as part of the week. The highlight of the week was a charity event, with proceeds going to the Washington Metro United Service Organization, which included poker professional, some Congressmen and 30 injured war veterans. A disabled Iraq War veteran won the tourney. The week also included a letter-writing campaign to members of Congress, and the PPA estimated that more than double the number of letters were sent in July 2009 than the amount sent in the whole of 2008. Pappas said the Senate companion bill would be introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D - NJ), but did not give a time-frame for the legislation. It was recently reported that hearings on legislation introduced by US Congressman Barney Frank (D - MA) to overturn laws against online gambling have been delayed until at least September. Frank introduced HR 2267 and HR 2266 as part of the push he is leading to overturn the the2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which effectively banned Internet gambling by outlawing the transfer of funds from financial institutions to gambling websites.
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