Poker Superstars
Phil Hellmuth
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EGBA Moves Against German Poker Ban |
As readers of moneypokerbonus.com of the last few months will no doubt are explicitly aware, there's been a big clash through the end of '07 into the new year in U.S. and foreign markets over the legality of online poker, as well as reparations pay to those markets offended by countries who allow bans to be set in place restricting their citizens' rights to peruse online gambling markets.
Last week, the European Gambling and Betting Association took another step in favor of keep gambling legal internationally.
On the first day of this year there was a bill passed in Germany to restrict gambling online in their country, restricting the use of both local and foreign markets. As of this week, the European Gambling and Betting Association (or EGBA) asked the European Commission to immediate act on their behalf in taking action against the bill. The EGBA consists of several major online gambling European Operators such as the huge Unibet.
According to the EGBA, the German bill violates European Union law, specifically the 49th article of the treaty of Rome. As of today the EC has already formally filed their complaint and will begin motion of procedures to lift the German ban.
EGBA chairman Norbert Teufelberger stated: “Prohibition is not and has never been a solution, be it in our sector or other sectors. It is not a responsible approach and cannot be a substitute to an efficient gaming policy. Focusing on online gaming does not make sense when most recent peer-reviewed studies show that although online and offline gaming has a different target audience, players’ behaviour is similar whether online or offline. Furthermore, in a regulated environment online gaming allows for higher transparency and traceability!”
This marks another good step in the right direction in an effort to keep the onling gaming community open and free as it should be. No clear response has been made from German officials. But the idea stands that there will be lack of pressure from foreign markets in these countries that try to pass restriction after restriction.
January, 20, 2008 |
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