South Carolina Allow Poker at Home

March 14th, 2009 admin Gambling Law 0

home poker South Carolina Allow Poker at HomeRecently five accused individual found out the hard way in South Carolina that the gambling laws are outdated. The accused were found guilty of gambling as they were playing a home poker game. It is noted that the state is out to ensure that no one else is convicted for playing poker at home. According to the 1802 law, not only poker that is outlawed, but also any other game with cards or dice is considered illegal. Actually, the law brings into play games for example Monopoly and Yahtzee, tradition family oriented various board games. But now time is changing. People demand to get right to play those games at home.

Considering the people demand the administration is going to legalized those. Senator Glenn McConnell is leading the way towards fixing the law by proposing a Bill.  The Bill would legalize house poker games and “casino nights”, too that are used for fundraisers. However, there are several stipulations in the proposing Bill for the home poker games. Important stipulations are:

  1. No income from the games can be made by the house.
  2. Cannot be any betting odds that would be in the house favor.
  3. The game must consist of every person playing equally against each other, not the house.

The state’s gambling law has been attacked by numerous people since the poker house ruling came down from Judge Larry Duffy. He acknowledged poker as a game one of skill, not chance but he was forced to rule that the accused broke the law. Latest news is that the case is being appealed, and regardless of the ending it has played a vital role in the decision to revisit the obsolete gambling laws. It seems like McConnell’s Bill has a lot of support from fellow lawmakers. As a result, it has a strong possibility to be approved. So, who want to play poker at home, just wait few days till the bill approved.

Twain Approved Gambling

January 17th, 2009 admin Gambling Law 0

gambling2 Twain Approved Gambling It is true that when a government or administration makes any change to a gambling law, there are generally waves of change that occur as a result of the decision. That was the case 14, January, 2009 when the Taiwan government approved a special Bill that repeals a law against casino gambling in the country.

AMZ, a UK-listed property development company, is anticipating bringing a casino resort to Penghu and with recent announcement their stock skyrocketed on the London Alternative Investment Market. Their stock price rose by 46%, to 91% pence. AMZ plans on being involved seriously in the bid to get a gaming license from Taiwan.

It has been a long time coming for the country to repeal the gambling law. Taiwan government legalized casino gambling, last week after 10 years of debate, has set aside two other state-owned plots for potential development. In a telephone interview Justin Chou, one of the members of the ruling Kuomintang, said “The first draft of this Bill was made in 1994, and it took so long because there’s so much debate and so many competing voices. Because Taiwan’s economy is now falling, the belief is that probably these resort projects can help spur the economy.” Taiwan authority has indicated that two or three gaming licenses will be issued once additional legislation is passed.

Taiwan’s recent economy is the main reason that the gambling laws have been changed. The tourism cash that used to flow freely has decreased in recent several years and the administration is hopeful that casinos will bring many of that tourism back. On the other hand, experts say that action was typically damaging to Macau. As already the casinos in Macau (Macao) have begun to struggle financially, and in this circumstance, Taiwan joins Singapore to make much competition for casinos of Macau.

Web-based Money Transaction Bans in Norway

January 4th, 2009 admin Gambling Law 1 Comment

norway flag Web based Money Transaction Bans in NorwayRecently, Norway’s parliament passed a new law that bans Norwegians from transaction money to online casinos and poker rooms. The enacted law amends three preexisting laws and particularly defines online-based transactions as subject to earlier defined “mediating service” clause. The Ministry of Church and Cultural affairs proposed the law in September 2008 as anti-gambling sentiment grew over spiraling slot-machine addiction. The opinion of Rolf Sims, legal advisor of the ministry, the bill was “on the drawing board” as early as Oct. 5. Sims said to the press at the time “The anti-gambling lobby has got the wind in its sails.” He added “It would be political suicide for any government minister to suggest legalizing gambling.”

However, the bill has got little purchase in several circles such as the European Union and the Norwegian Financial Services Association (FNH). Despite the fact that, Norway is not an EU member state but as a part of the European Economic Area, the Scandinavian nation has drawn fire from Brussels for encouraging Germany, France, and the Netherlands to keep their lusty gambling markets closed. In the meantime, The FNH has pointed out some difficulties American legislators have faced in implementing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Earlier The UIGEA bans web-based transfers to Internet gambling sites as well but had got experience a myriad of enforcement setbacks since first having law in 2006.

FHN spokesperson Tonje Westby said, “Although the law amendments have been adopted in the Norwegian Parliament… regulatory guidance might need to be revised.” he added “If politicians choose to introduce revised regulations, it will take some months before the law amendments come into force.”  He went on to say, “This (prohibition) will be very difficult to enforce, and those who really want to gamble on the Internet will find other ways to do so. Norwegians susceptible to problem-gambling behavior will most likely be persuaded to set up foreign bank accounts and use foreign payment systems outside Norwegian regulatory control.” Norwegian MPs do not announce a definitive enforcement timeline till now; some legal commentators said, “Delays could mean the ban will not take effect before mid-2009.” So, it is time to see when the new will be exercised.

Some Laws for the Online Gamblers and Gaming Software Developers

December 21st, 2008 admin Gambling Law 0

There are tough decisions about the online gambling being legal or illegal. However it doesn’t stop the online casino companies from their business and the popularity of online gambling. The peoples playing casino online are increasing day by day. Recently there are three rules that will look after the online gamblers, gambling software developers and those who run online casinos.

The first rule is “The Skill Game Protection Act (HR 2610)” which discriminates the games like poker, bridge, mahjong, chess and backgammon to be determined by the skill of the player instead of chance. And any one under 18 is not allowed to play any kind of online gambling.

Second rule is “Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 (HR 2046)” which says the gamblers should be accepted by the federal licensed online companies and online gambling is not allowed to be taken as professional sport.

The final bill is “Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2007 (HR 2607)” which compensations the Internal Review Code of 1986 to control online gambling.

Although there are specific rules for online casino or online gamblers but there is not any detailed law against the online casino advertising. These casinos advertise are attracting more people to online casinos and converting them into online gamblers. These advertise companies are very desperate and mainly lot companies that have been suffering from serious financial crisis are now coming forward.

However the laws may be made but the government should take some proper and serious step against the online gamblers, online casino authority and gambling software developers.

Is Online Gambling Legal?

December 19th, 2008 admin Gambling Law 0

This is a complex question to reply as it varies on region. There are differences as regards what the law actually says and until those are cleared up, the fact is always going to be a bit cloudy. But most countries do not have any specific laws banning people from playing online.

Today various kinds of gambling such as casino en ligne, poker en ligne all are so much popular around the world. The U.S. Justice Department claims online gambling is against the law. But that’s not stopping online bettors from rolling the dice. In U.S., unlawful Internet gambling enforcement act was passed in September 2006. It did make it illegal for different economic organization to process gambling transactions. But this made it difficult for many U.S. players to deposit or withdraw winnings. After passing of this unlawful internet gambling enforcement act, Lawrence Walters, an Internet gambling law attorney, appeared on PBS’ News Hour show and stated, “The bill has no impact on the individual player’s activity. The bill is centered on restricting certain financial transactions, requiring that banks identify and block transactions going through their servers and their systems, and requiring that the actual sites, the Internet gambling sites, stop and block these transactions.” according to About.com.

However, a number of casino en linea sites are still eager to accept players regardless of their location. They set-up alternative payment solution, that offers to players the opportunity to move money receive and send of online casino.

So, Internet gambling is currently illegal, even though that is using a pretty liberal interpretation of the law. Still, no arrests have been made in the U.S. for just placing bets online. Not only in the U.S. but also most of other country’s governments judge it as illegal. But we can expect, in a near future we will see that different governments are relaxing the law of online gambling.

Is It Illegal to Advertise for Online Gambling?

November 22nd, 2008 admin Gambling Law 0

internet gamblingOnline gambling is the fastest growing online business today. Some even claims that it is the most important aspect in e-commerce. But the big question rises that, is online gambling or advertising of online gambling illegal?

Some of the different versions:
It is been said by the U.S Justice Department (DOJ) that, Internet Gambling or Advertisement of Internet Gambling is illegal activity.

U.S authorities argue that World Trading Organization (WTO) that overseas gambling farm claims to have access into the U.S Internet Gambling.

Antigua, one of the small countries in Caribbean complains that, they could not have the U.S customers properly accessed because of the federal law. They also mentioned that U.S is breaking agreement with WTO and providing other countries more accessible to make more profit.

Enforcement Complex:
U.S claims that it is impossible for them to prohibit and prevent the Internet gambling because major gambling site are operated from outside the U.S where Internet Gambling are legal.

Media’s Passage of Income:
Because the gambling itself is popular and now it is the online gambling, so many sites which have suffered in past years for advertising are now coming forward. At present these online gambling firms are so aggressive that it is competing with the most popular industries, including retail, financial services and travel, for advertising space on such well-known portals as Yahoo and Excite.

Strong Regulation Could is the Prevention:
The online gambling is growing rapidly and is very popular, so it will be a complicated to prohibit. Strong regulation however could prevent this problem. Such as, taxes or licensing fees to offset the social costs that generally accompany any form of gambling.

Final Rule has been introduced in USA to stop Online Gambling

November 19th, 2008 admin Gambling Law 0

gambling1 Final Rule has been introduced in USA to stop Online Gambling12 November, Wednesday the US Treasury Department and Federal Reserve Board approved new regulations designed to crack down on illegal Internet gambling. In this so-called ‘final rule,’ the US administration summarized the regulations aimed at implementing a specific act passed by the US Congress in the year of 2006 which makes to ban illegal gambling on the net. It was aimed at especially putting teeth into a de facto prohibit on American residents placing online wagers in locations for example Britain Antigua, Canada, and Gibraltar. But the law has already been the target of severe criticism that it likely just an enforcement nightmare. On the other hand, the ban on online gambling has been challenged as an unfair trade restriction at the World Trade Organization. Besides, President George W. Bush’s administration has been accused of seeking to run this new law through before its term expires in 20, January 2009. Moreover, the European Commission has appointed an investigation team in whether the US gambling prohibit distinguished against EU firms.

According to the law, any US banks, credit cards or financial companies cannot handle web gambling bets. Moreover, it particularly prohibits gambling and betting businesses from intentionally accepting payments made through various electronic funds transfers, checks and credit cards. On the other hand, the Treasury Department reported the final rule need US financial firms that take part in designated payment systems. In its word, “Establish and implement policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent payments to gambling businesses in connection with unlawful Internet gambling.” Moreover in a statement it said financial firms have to be in compliance with the new rule, until 1, December, 2009.