Online Gaming Association OGA

PokerStars is backing the Frank bill HR 2267

OGA — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:48:43 +0000

PokerStars is backing the Frank bill which passed out of Committee yesterday, calling it “the most significant US legislative accomplishment in the history of the internet gaming industry”, and also maintaining its US activities have “at all times have been lawful.”
PokerStars’ general counsel Paul Telford said in a statement this morning: “PokerStars maintains its strong support for HR 2267 and encourages the full House and ultimately the Senate to move quickly to secure passage during the current Congressional term.
“PokerStars, a pioneer in operating online poker room under stringent regulatory frameworks, looks forward to working with incumbent and new operators in promoting a safe and healthy online poker industry in the US as it currently does under similar licensing models in Italy and France”.
The US-facing poker giant said it would also be supporting two provisions introduced to the bill during markup which would disqualify any site from being licensed which had intentionally violated US federal or state gambling laws.
The first of these, from Brad Sherman, would render unsuitable for licensing any applicant which fails to certify in writing that it has never committed an intentional felony violation of federal or state gambling laws. The second, from Ranking Member Spencer Bachus and Representative Michelle Bachmann, would render unsuitable for licensing any person who knowingly participated in illegal internet gambling activity after passage of UIGEA in late 2006.
PokerStars’ statement said: “The UIGEA by its clear terms shall not be construed as ‘altering, limiting or extending any Federal or State law or Tribal-State compact prohibiting, permitting, or regulating gambling within the United States. Therefore, in light of the more comprehensive view on this point set forth in Rep. Sherman’s amendment, the Bachus/Bachmann amendment, with its UIGEA timeline, appears redundant, as Ranking Member Bachus himself observed during the markup.
“Nevertheless, PokerStars supports the provisions in both amendments as neither would adversely affect the availability of a license for a respected operator such as PokerStars. As reflected in legal opinions provided to PokerStars, its activities in the US are and at all times have been lawful.”

PlayNow.com by British Columbia Government

OGA — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:29:43 +0000

PlayNow.com by British Columbia Government Lottery and http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/gaming/ is to allow online casinos games for real money for 19 years old with all help available from the government as first USA move to licensing online gaming.

Please contact Consumer Services at consumerservices@bclc.com or 1-866-815-0222.

Belgium to allow online gambling sites

OGA — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:13:53 +0000

Wednesday May 27 2009, 16h09
Brussels has not said its last word on the bill governing the french market opening of gambling on the Internet, introduced in early March by the Secretary of State for the Budget, Eric Woerth (read l ‘The opening article of sports betting market in 2010 will be effective from 05/03/2009). The services of the Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, Günter Verheugen, have until June 8 to decide on the french text.

According to Les Echos, Brussels could either not make any comment or raise issues concerning the text of compatibility with Community law. In case of inconsistency, the Commission could send a detailed opinion in Paris that would oblige the government to review the text. If despite this warning, France was entering into force the new law on 1 January 2010 as planned, the Commission could pursue before the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

Bwin Poker

OGA — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:07:27 +0000

Bwin poker is by far one of the most successful online poker gaming on the net; with poker tournaments starting all around the clock, at precise timing and organizing, bwin poker offers any gambler, the easiest way to register, buy stakes and wait for the designated poker table.

An online poker school is featured within the best online poker site engineered by the bwin corporation, allowing any novice or amateur to get to know about the necessary skills and know how about poker gaming online.

Bwin launched a new P5 feature called Essence that allows more liquidity on all poker tables within the ongame network.