Online casino news

The European Commission (EC) is busy lately warning countries who are in violation of EU trade regulations, the United States, France and the Netherlands were all warned by the EC, and now Belgium can be added to that list. They have submitted a new online gambling law to the EC, which found the law violates trade regulations.

The EC reviewed the new online gambling laws send to them by the Belgian government, these laws appear to be in violation of EC trade rules. The Belgian proposal has some problems in a number of areas which violate the rules, the biggest problem is the clause that determined that all online casino providers are required to be established within the country. EC legislators also found other problems with the law, including a clause that imposes sanctions against Belgian gamblers who gamble on foreign internet casinos which have a license within the EU and a reduction in the number of licenses. The Belgian government also wanted to force filter software on their Internet service providers (ISP’s) to block access to licensed European gambling sites for the Belgians, something the EC feels strongly against. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), which crushed the Belgian law submitted the request for the review to the EC. The Director for Regulatory Affairs of the EGBA, Maarten Haijer said: “The requirement for operators to be established in Belgium is one of the clearest violations of EC Treaty provisions, It wrongly denies that many online gaming operators are effectively regulated, licensed and controlled elsewhere in the EU.” The decision of the EC ensures that Belgium has to introduce an acceptable plan before July 30th, and if they decide to implement the law, then the EC has the right to begin the process seeking infringement penalties.

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As we all know, Congressman Barney Frank of the House Financial Services Committee introduced a bill to overturn the anti-gambling law, the UIGEA, unfortunately the economic crisis has thrown a monkey in the works, because the voting for the law is delayed.

The Bill, HR2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation & Consumer Protection Enforcement Act (IGRCPEA), will license and regulate online casino gambling in the US. Since the bill was introduced in May, the legislation has gathered support from various politicians, Barney Frank now has 35 co-sponsors for his proposal to regulate online gambling. The online casino industry had high hopes for the bill, but now disappointment kicks in, as voting for the bill was postponed until September 2009. A spokesperson for Barney Frank said the hearing for the bill is delayed until the autumn because of excessive workload on legislation urgently needed to address the economic crisis and the administration’s measures to correct it. It seems unlikely the bill will be voted on before September. That does not mean however, that the fight to overturn the unfair anti-gambling UIGEA is over, another fighter against the law is the iMEGA, on July the 7th they have a court case against the UIGEA with the Court of Appeals. iMEGA’s point of view in the case, is mainly concerned around the unconstitutionality of the UIGEA and the vagueness of the rules of UIGEA for the people to understand. If this case will not hold up in court, the wait for the battle to continue will be until September.

Several top US officials have urged China to refrain from the proposal to mandate internet filtering software on every PC, they warn that the action violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Trade Representative Ron Kirk have sent joint letters to their Chinese colleagues, in which they tell China they may be violating WTO rules if they require that every computer sold has the Green Dam software installed. Locke said: “China is putting companies in an untenable position by requiring them, with virtually no public notice, to pre-install software that appears to have broad-based censorship implications and network security issues.” The Chinese authorities say that the Green Dam internet filter software filters pornographic and violent websites, to protect children of the largest internet community in the world. But trade and rights groups fear this is a new attempt by China to censor the internet. Kirk said: “Protecting children from inappropriate content is a legitimate objective, but this is an inappropriate means and is likely to have a broader scope. Mandating technically flawed Green Dam software and denying manufacturers and consumers freedom to select filtering software is an unnecessary and unjustified means to achieve that objective, and poses a serious barrier to trade”

Online casino operators were stunned by the statements of the US, because they seem to accuse China of all the action which the US internet gambling ban does as well. For example, according to the US China is violating WTO rules, deny personal freedom en force censorship, but the European Commission has sent an official complaint to the WTO because the US does not allow foreign casino sites and block access to sites (censorship and denying personal freedom). Several tests of the Green Dam software show that the software can also be used to block other sites, such as online casino gambling sites. The test also show serious security risks, such as the risk of the computer being hacked. From the 1st of July the Green Dam software is mandatory on every newly sold computer.

Tennis authorities have launched an investigation into the first match for men at Wimbledon yesterday, after bookmakers reported suspicious betting patterns and suspended betting on the match.

This is the second time in two weeks that the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), an organization that investigates allegations of corruption, was informed by bookmakers on the suspicious match. A game at the Ordina Open last week in the Netherlands has also been under investigation by the TIU, this is the 5th match of this year which is being probed for suspicious gambling patters, and a number of 12 tennis players is being officially monitored by the tennis authorities after they were involved in suspicious betting on matches. All of the 5 matches are ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) matches. The match in question which online casinos suspended betting on and reported to the TIU is that of Jürgen Melzer, the number 26 of the world versus Wayne Odesnik the number 109 of the world. Online gambling company Betfair reported that with the exeption £ 1000, all of the £ 225,000 wagered on Betfair was wagered on an outcome of 3-0 for Melzer. Gamblers clearly knew that Meltzer was going to win that match. When asked about the suspicious betting Odesnik said that he knew nothing of it and would never jeopardise his future like that, in order to win some quick bucks with gambling. Odesnik confirmed the rumours circulating on betting forums prior to the match that he had been carrying an injury into the match. Odesnik also insists he has never been approached by anyone seeking to make a corrupt profit from a match.

One of the larger online casino software developers is CryptoLogic. They have a contract with Marvel, for the exclusive development and distribution of internet casino games based on characters from the Marvel comics. CryptoLogic has announced extension of this contract.

Under the terms of the extension, CryptoLogic keeps its exclusive rights to develop and distribute online casino games based on famous characters like Spiderman, the Hulk, X-men, Blade, Daredevil and many other Marvel super heroes. The contract extension will be in effect until 2013, and is the third time the two companies extend their contract. The two companies have seen much success in bringing the heroes to the internet casinos. Brian Hadfield, CryptoLogic’s CEO said: “CryptoLogic’s exclusive partnership with Marvel has been daringly different for our industry, as together we have brought some of the world’s favourite characters to the world’s top Internet casinos. It’s exciting to extend a deal that has been mutually successful and profitable, and to strengthen CryptoLogic’s competitive advantage in the branded gaming space. We look forward to working with Marvel to deliver an even more compelling experience for every player.” Since the contract with Marvel began in 2005, Cryptologic has launched more than 17 online casino slotmachines based on the famous Marvel heroes, an impressive addition to their more than 280 games.

Russia plans to ban all gambling in Russia from the 1st of Juli, which may work out great for Bulgaria. They want to generate as much casino revenue as possible from the Russian gamblers who are fleeing the gambling ban, to come and gamble in Bulgaria.

Eastern European casinos expect a real explosion in sales and customers at the time that the Russian casino ban will be implemented on Juli 1st. Especially Bulgarian casinos around the Black Sea area expect to create extra new revenue as gamblers from Russia travel to nearby casinos to enjoy their entertainment. The new Russian legislation will cause the closure of all casinos in Russia within just ten days. Eventually, the casinos will reopen in four specially designated gambling zones, which will be located outside the cities like Moscow and more towards tourist places. Because of this action, protests are on the order of the day, casino gambling operators say that this action will cost hundreds of thousands of jobs. Experts in the field of gambling and casinos say that the Russian action to ban casinos is in response to the extreme growth in gambling, but Russian leaders will be even less happy when they see so much gambling revenue move abroad. The Russian gambling zones have yet to be designated, and if they are not quickly operational, Russian money quickly moves across the border, something the Russian authorities are not waiting for. The Bulgarian casino gambling operators hope to attract many Russian gamblers, but know other countries also like a peace of the pie. Cyprus is also considered to be a gambling destination for many Russians, because it’s easy to obtain a visa there. From the 1st of July more then 550 gambling companies, including 30 casinos will be closed under the new legislation.