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April 11, 2007
Poland will introduce laws legalising online gaming which will include new regulations to license and tax companies according to a recent report.
The country has decided to change the current laws to 'meet the needs of the growing industry', according to sources, and will be implemented by September.
Sources also noted that Poland's decision follows the EU ruling for online gambling in the Placanica case by the European Court of Justice in March, 2007.The court ruled that Italy cannot use criminal law to ban gambling companies licensed in another EU nation from taking bets in Italy.
April 04, 2007
The British High Court is to review rules surrounding new British casinos to answer operators’ complaints that existing venues would be hit hard by a planned wave of Las Vegas-style casinos. The three-day hearing is to take place by May 25 to allow time for any necessary legislative changes to be made before the new regulations take effect on September 1.
Over the past few days, operators have complained that existing casinos would be at a disadvantage as the new, larger, casinos will be allowed more highly profitable slot machines, than current ones. Under government plans now in limbo after The House of Lords threw them out last week, a new 5,000 sqm supercasino was set to have 1,250 slot machines, and licences awarded for eight large casinos with 150 machines and eight small casinos, with 80 gaming machines.
The British Casino Association (BCA) said it was asking the High Court to order the Secretary of State to look again at the new rules. "The additional entitlements given to the 17 new casinos will seriously threaten many long established businesses," said BCA chairman Penny Cobham.
"The Association strongly believes that the Secretary of State has erred in considering and determining the arrangements for existing casinos in such a way that gives rise to very serious concerns about their impact and lawfulness," the BCA added.
 March 27, 2007
NETeller will no longer allow Canadian or Turkish account holders to do business with Internet gambling companies the company announced in a press release today.
"The Group continually assesses the risk profile and status of the markets its (sic) serves," the release states. "Recent actions by regulators, payment processors, and online gambling operators have increased the uncertainty around certain activities related to online gambling in some jurisdictions."
It's not certain what regulatory uncertainty prompted NETeller's withdrawal from Canada, but it is the second major online gaming firm to leave the company in the last four weeks. VIP.com announced in late February that they would no longer accept new Canadian customers. No reason for VIP's move was disclosed either.
Canadian NETeller customers will be able to make Internet gambling transactions until April 9, although the InstaCASH deposit option has been suspended immediately. Canadians, unlike Americans, will still be able to use their accounts for non-gambling transactions and to make peer-to-peer transfers.
Turkish customers will also be able to use NETELLER accounts for non-gambling activities, but they are no longer able to conduct transactions related to Internet gambling effective immediately.
Reuters is reporting that 30% of NETeller's current (non-U.S.) revenue comes from Canada.
March 26, 2007
Renowned poker professional, esteemed author and creator of InternetTexasHoldem.com (ITH), Matthew Hilger, has teamed with friend and fellow ITH cohort and poker expert Ian Taylor to publish "The Poker Mindset: Essential Attitudes for Poker Success." The book – which delves into the game within the game (the mental approach to poker) – is set to hit shelves in late March 2007.
For Hilger, "The Poker Mindset" becomes the third poker piece authored or coauthored by the ITH creator since 2003. Hilger, a resident of Suwannee, Ga., previously wrote two poker strategy books: "Internet Texas Hold’em" in 2003, followed by the release of "Texas Hold’em Odds and Probabilities" in June of 2006.
A contributing columnist for Cardplayer Magazine, Hilger has become a mainstay at the World Series of Poker the past few years during the summer months in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as one of the most respected poker players and authors in the industry.
Ian Taylor, a native of the United Kingdom and long-time poker veteran, has been a close friend of Hilger since the inception of ITH in 2003. Taylor has earned the distinction as the top contributing columnist for InternetTexasHoldem.com. His monthly columns offer keen insight into multiple angles of poker – from game strategy, to analyzing opponents, to the differences between live and online play.
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