Let your mouth speak archive

In a huge change of policy for the nation, the Dutch government has announced that it would like to start a licensing and regulatory program for online gambling in the Netherlands.

The new policy is the brainchild of the new coalition government that was formed last October. Previous governments had enacted an online gambling ban, one which they had attempted to defend in the highest courts of the European Union. Many online gambling companies had attacked the ban, albeit unsuccessfully, in courts including the European Union Court of Justice.

According to government officials, one major reason behind lifting the ban is the fact that hundreds of thousands of Dutch citizens ignore the ban each year. By regulating the online gambling market, the Dutch government will be able to provide oversight, without taking away any activities that Dutch citizens currently enjoy.

"It is a big shift,” said Jaap Oosterveer, who spoke on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Public Safety and Justice. “But this is a new government with a more liberal approach."

Of course, as with most governments who have been willing to regulate online gambling, the Dutch government does want to impose some measures on Internet gambling. For instance, the government plans to put safeguards in place that would help protect consumers against gambling addiction, fraud, and other potential hazards.

A regulated gambling market in the Netherlands would put their policies roughly in line with many other major European Nations. The United Kingdom, Sweden and Austria have regulated online gambling for some time, while France and Italy created regulatory schemes in 2010.

According to the Dutch government, regulations on online gambling may also prove to be quite lucrative for the Netherlands. According to their figures, Internet gambling and lottery licenses are likely to generate at least 10 million Euros a year starting in 2012.

Who knows whether or not Hatian-American singer Wyclef Jean would have made a great Haitian presidential candidate since he was ruled ineligable to due residency requirements. In Haiti, one has to reside in the country for five years before the Nov. 28 elections in order to run for president. And now, to rub salt into the wound, his was shot in the hand while in Port-au-Prince.

A rep for Jean said the bullet just grazed his hand and he's doing well, saying, "He’s fine now. It happened late yesterday night and he was released after a couple hours.”

There is still no information on why Wyclef was targeted, but it looks to be politically motivated, since the shooting occurred on the eve of the presidential elections.

Others have voiced their lack of enthusiasm for Jean, including actor Sean Penn who referred to Wyclef’s campaign on Larry King as being “about a vision of flying around the world, talking to people.” He also pointed to Wyclef’s Haitian Charity, Yéle Haiti Foundation, where over $400,000 which was donated went missing or was mishandled.

The Yéle Haiti Foundation came under "fiscal scrutiny" for some questionable payments made to Wyclef and his businesses.

Moreover, Arcade Fire's Win Butler stated in a radio interview:"Technically, [Wyclef Jean] shouldn't be eligible because he hasn't been a resident of Haiti. And I think him not speaking French and not being fluent in Creole would be a really major issue in trying to run a really complex government, like the government in Haiti. It would kind of be like Arnold Schwarzenegger only speaking Austrian German and being elected president of the United States after New York City and L.A. had burned to the ground… I think he is a great musician and he really passionately cares about Haiti. I really hope he throws his support behind someone who is really competent and really eligible."

Born in Haiti, the son of a Nazarene pastor, Wyclef moved with his family to Brooklyn, when he was nine. He was not in Haiti when the tragic earthquake struck in 2010 and said in the aftermath, "I am being drafted to serve my country."

Washington, DC (March 9, 2011) –Steven Kidder of Victoria, TX, today was named the Texas State Director for the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group headquartered in Washington, DC. In this role, Steven will be responsible for monitoring poker-related issues and events in Texas, alerting the national PPA office to emerging trends or issues and leading the PPA activities in the state.

“With more than one million dedicated members, the PPA is a powerful grassroots organization across the country, and we are very fortunate to have Steven as part of our team,” said former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the PPA. “As the Texas PPA State Director, Steven will use his passion and interest for the game of poker to strengthen the PPA’s efforts both nationally and at the state level.”

Steven is a family law attorney and an avid Texas Hold ‘Em fan and player, playing home games, local points tournaments, charity events and on several online poker sites. Steven has two children, a 20 year old daughter who attends college at UTSA and a 14 year old son, who is a freshman at a private high school in Corpus Christi, Texas. Steven has been practicing law for 23 years and was a Municipal Court judge for the City of Victoria for 6 years.

As the Texas State Director, Steven will serve as the PPA’s “eyes and ears” on the ground in Texas to alert its members regarding local news, stories or legislation, involving poker. He will also serve as the chief contact to quickly mobilize his fellow Texan PPA members to attend poker-related events or rallies. He will also be tasked with recruiting individuals to join the PPA, contacting their elected officials, and serving as a spokesperson for local media.



close to home since i only live 100 miles from victoria.maybe things will look on yhe upside for us texans,but dont see it happening anytime soon.

With a growing number of states taking up the issue of Internet gambling – or more specifically Internet poker – Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank, a Democrat, has been joined by a California Republican – Rep. John Campbell – in introducing an Internet Gambling bill.

Called the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, the bill, if approved, would permit Internet wagering with federally-licensed operators.

Joining the two as sponsors were Democrat Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado and Republican Rep. Peter King of New York.

Frank has been outspoken for several years in proposing that the federal government frame legislation that would govern Internet gambling since, in his opinion, thousands of Americans are involved in the activity illegally anyway.

Frank pointed out that his bill would not repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, currently being used by federal officials to prosecute illegal Internet gambling sites. Rather, the bill would create a federal regulatory and enforcement framework under which Internet gambling operators could obtain federal licenses from the Department of the Treasury authorizing them to accept wagers over the Internet from individuals in the U.S.

Licensees, whether foreign or domestic, would be required to subject themselves to U.S. jurisdiction and provide background information.

Prohibited would be the use of credit cards and gambling on sporting events other than horse racing.

It's no secret that sitcom Two and a Half Men was a huge hit. But Charlie Sheen seems to think that it was his comic timing rather than a scripted dialogue that made the show the juggernaut of television it became.

After his traveling comedy tour, My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat Is Not an Option broke Ticketmaster records when it sold out in just 18 minutes and all the other dates he added also sold out. Charlie has already scored a whopping $7 million and now, everyone wants a piece of the pie.

The FOX channel is reportedly courting Sheen and the network conducted a meeting with the on-the-edge actor which lasted for over an hour. There's talk of Sheen having his own late night show. And if you like the words "winning" and "duh" you will be throughly entertained.

Among the bigwigs at the meeting were David Hill, President of FOX Sports, and Peter Rice, Chariman of Entertainment for FOX Networks Group. Word has it, the meeting went well, many ideas were brainstormed and everyone got along famously.

However, after his web show "Sheen's Korner" was widely panned by everyone, wherein Sheen tried to turn his mildy funny ramblings into a 50-minute show, it remains to be seen whether Sheen has what it takes to be capable to handle a comedy tour and/or his own late night show.

Sheen took to Sheen's Korner recently to spew the following diatribe: "Oh how they once begged to attend to attend my perfect banquet in the nude, now they just beg for the keys to my gold. Here is my unwanted guest list. The names slightly altered to prevent their stench from polluting my magic daiquiri, or even worse, stealing my favorite pony. A pony named Steve, his orange mane painted blue, blue like the evening sky, as he gallops into the basement to acquire the ancient flatware and a rotting cheeseboard covered in the mold of their moral dysentery."

Someone get this guy a script already!

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Rent Spel, which translates as Fair Play, is a trade association of Swedish parties interested in the gaming industry. It was founded by former Unibet chief executive Petter Nylander. Professor Henrik Jordahl of Rent Spel has authored a report on online gambling in Sweden based on research carried out by the Stockholm based Research Institute of Industrial Economics. The salient finding of the report is that 26% of all gambling in Sweden takes place over the Internet. Online gambling is also one of the biggest employers in Sweden. Professor Jordahl therefore urges the Swedish government to get more proactive on online gambling.

The report shows the dominance of the online gambling industry in Sweden by comparing it with other industries. Swedish online gambling companies, excluding the state owned Svenska Spel, have a market valuation greater than SEK19 billion. Almost 2,000 skilled people are employed in these companies and another 2,500 people are employed by the government in gaming operations. The report states that the online gambling industry employs as many Swedes as national car manufacturer Saab, and is more successful. In the report Jordahl points out that the video gaming entertainment industry is often held up as a shining example of Swedish technological competence and success. Actually the online gambling sector is worth more, performs better with greater numbers of highly educated employees, and is more profitable.

Jordahl states that Sweden is missing out tremendously because the government is not proactive on liberalizing the online gaming sector. Because Sweden does not issue licenses to private online gambling companies, companies like Betsson and Net Entertainment operate in overseas jurisdictions like Malta. Therefore those jurisdictions are attracting increasing numbers of highly skilled Swedish specialists. Similarly advertising opportunities are being lost by Sweden's present restrictive position on advertising in the online gambling industry.

The Research Institute of Industrial Economics report also refers to investigations by the domestic newspaper Dagbladet. These investigations revealed that the Swedish government, operating through the National Pension Fund, has share holdings in major online gambling companies such as Unibet, Betsson, Net Entertainment and Ladbrokes. It was reported that these holdings could be worth as much as SEK972 million, and hence a significant percentage of pensions assets are invested in online gambling. Ironically, these companies are not being granted licenses to operate in Sweden.

The report concludes by recommending that the government overhaul the online gambling market in Sweden to bring it into line with current European regulatory trends and to maintain its leading position in the new European market environment that is evolving. The government can no longer remain passive in this matter.

Cyprus an ancient eastern Mediterranean island has been conquered by various empires and still remains divided into Turkish and Greek camps. Now the island is divided on its decision to prohibit online gambling altogether in the country. The online gambling ban which the government has been trying to implement is facing a set back that many politicians say may result in a monopoly overtaken by the Greek state gambling company OPAP.

Online gambling operators in Cyprus, of which there are many, say that the move is biased against them and pro OPAP. They also suggested that the proposed bill has been composed by insiders of the Greek OPAP.
Rikkos Erotokritou a politician with the Euroko Party said, OPAP, would, “benefit from the introduction and implementation of this bill’s provisions.”It was noted that OPAP runs Joker, Proto, Kino and Lotto and other subsidiaries and the move would create a monopolistic situation.
Nicholas Papadopoulos a representative of DIKO or the Democratic Party said, the bill would “legalize gambling for only one company, which would enjoy a monopoly.”
Attorney-general Petros Clerides, claims that OPAP is a legitimate operator, and that OPAP games do not “cultivate criminality” like online gambling. Clerides says the ban on online gambling will curb illegal gambling activities and money laundering.

A recent editorial in the Cyprus Mail said, “Online casino gambling sprung up because of loop-holes in the law and appears to be controlled by the underworld. If it was made to operate within a legal framework and tightly state regulated, perhaps the criminal element would be eliminated.” The editor went on to say, “Banning online gambling will not make it disappear, but rather [it will] go underground, under the total control of criminal organizations, without any protection offered to the gamblers. Deputies should take note of this when they finally vote on the bill,”

If legalized online gambling comes to Iowa, it won’t be on a wave of public support. According to a poll taken by the Des Moines Register, Iowans strongly oppose legislation that would legalize Internet gambling, with 73% saying they are against such a measure.

Conversely, 23% are in favor of such legislation, while 4% said they were unsure. The poll surveyed the opinions of 800 Iowa adults, and was taken from February 13-16. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.5%.

Surprisingly, the measure has drawn the ire of every demographic group, regardless of age, gender or party affiliation. The Des Moines Register reported that there was little different in opinion between Democrats and Republicans, or between rural and urban Iowans.

Men and younger voters were more likely to favor the measure, but both were still strongly opposed. While 81% of women were against such legislation, only 65% of men were opposed. Younger voters were also slightly less strongly against online gambling, with only 61% of respondents between the ages of 18-34 in opposition, compared to 76% of those aged 35-54, and 80% of those 65 or older.

The poll was taken just before an online poker bill was introduced into the Iowa Legislature. The bill would only legalize online poker for Iowa residents, in a regulated intrastate setting. Some legislators believe that the details of the bill may illicit more support from Iowans than the generic question in the poll would suggest.

"It's very narrow and good public policy," said State Senator Jeff Danielson. According to him, younger Iowans “see poker as a game of skill and a sport,” rather than a game of chance.

However, the opposition to the bill does appear to be significant. Many Iowans appear to have concerns about the potential for fraud, underage gambling, and gambling addiction. Others are simply concerned that the state would be giving the gambling industry exactly what it wants, simply because it has become powerful inside the state of Iowa. However, most casinos actually appear to be undecided on whether or not to support such a measure, as it might impact the fortunes of land-based casinos.

While it will be tough to say goodbye to Steve Carell on the seventh season of “The Office”, there is also some excitement building up as to how the show’s writers are going to end the popular show and who else they’re going to throw into the mix. It looks like fans can expect to see Ricky Gervais and Will Arnett make an appearance and didn’t they mention Will Ferrell too?

If you’ve been missing the seventh season, which is currently on now, you have some catching up to do. The news that Gervais and Arnett will be joining the show is great but don’t expect these guys to stay on. It was already quite surprising that Will Ferrell was going to join the show for a few episodes but together with the other two, will make for a hilarious season ender.

The show’s writers haven’t disclosed any information as to the story because according to Entertainment Weekly, the final script is still being written and even if they did know, they probably wouldn’t leak any juicy info anyway.

It’s all going to be a big surprise but you can always count on a big mix of awkward and silly behavior coming your way plus a few possible shocking moments Dunder Mifflin style. The final one-hour episode of “The Office” will air on May 19, don't miss out.

Philip Graf has been confirmed as the new Chairman of the UK Gambling Commission. The appointment includes the role of Chairman Designate of the future regulating body that is to see the merging of the Gambling Commission and the National Lottery Commission. Philip Graf will commence his new role next month and the appointment is expected last for five years.

The Cambridge Law Graduate is currently the Deputy Chairman of Ofcom. He is expected to keep this role until 31st December 2011. Previously Graf was the Chief Executive of the Trinity Mirror Group, a former Chairman of the Press Standards Board of Finance (the body which funds the Press Complaints Commission) and of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (the advisory group to the Government on the promotion of broadband services). At present he is also an associate of Praesta Partners LLP, and a Deputy Chairman of Crisis, the homeless charity

Philip Graf will receive a remuneration of £ 550 per day. The role is likely to be an average of two to three days on average per week.

I like Will Ferrell, if that is the guy who played on "Elf".

Office was one show I would change the channel when it comes on. I had a supervisor that looks just like the sup on this show, so that is the last face I want to see on a day I am relaxing.

"The Office" is the type of show you have to watch a few times to get used to it. After you know the characters and get used to them being aware of the camera, it's a great show. I hope it can be successful without Steve Carell, but I'm not sure. We'll see.

A few years ago at a barbecue I met woman who, when I asked the obligatory 'what do you do?' question, told me that she helped run one of Melbourne's biggest brothels.

Oh, I said, and asked polite questions about her line of work until, as any socially minded citizen would, I raised the thorny issue of drugs – weren't most of the women there to help pay for substance abuse of one form or another?

"You'd be surprised," she told me. "A lot of the girls don't even drink. But a lot of them gamble – plenty will take a couple of grand to the casino at the end of the night."

The women she described might be at a fairly extreme end of the gambling spectrum, but they are part of the "100,000 problem gamblers" Independent MP Andrew Wilkie aims to help with his plans to create a national gambling pre-commitment system, that would allow individuals to set limits on their addictive behaviour.

But Clubs Australia hit back yesterday at the National Press Club, with president Peter Newell announcing a $20 million marketing campaign against the Wilkie reforms.

Newell believes that the scheme will not work, pushing pokie players into buying black market 'smart cards' – the proposed means of tracking users' gambling spend Australia wide. Clubs Australia thinks pokie players will also migrate to other forms of gambling or set very high levels of 'pre-commitment' anyway. And, he says, it will kill off 11,500 jobs and strip $800 million from the NSW economy.

Wilkie was not impressed yesterday, holding a long press conference during which he said: "If Clubs Australia think they can intimidate me with the nonsense we heard today, then they misjudge me badly. If anything, I feel more committed to these reforms than I have ever have."

Senator Nick Xenophon joined Wilkie at the press conference to rather hyperbolically declare: "The poker machine lobby reminds me a bit like the slave owners of the 19th century in the United States, who say their whole way of life would be ruined if there were any changes bought about. That's how the industry is behaving."

This is a powerful political battle. On the one side, Wilkie gained support from the Gillard government to pursue the pre-commitment scheme in return for helping it form minority government. Further, he's armed with extensive research from the Productivity Commission, which estimates that seven lives of family or friends are seriously impacted by each problem gambler, with a national social cost of $4.7 billion a year.

On the other side, Clubs Australia knows that a rash of clubs closures will send strong anti-Labor ripples through the communities they service – clubs like the Rooty Hill RSL and Blacktown RSL, which both proved to be fruitful battlefields for Julia Gillard during the 2010 election campaign.

The debate looks utterly polarised: Wilkie was animated and resolute at yesterday's press conference. This is the single thing he wishes to get done. He already has the numbers to get the bill through the lower house, and though Nick Xenophon will no longer hold the balance of power in the Senate by the time the bill arrives, the Greens will – and they welcome the push.

So $20 million is about to be spent convincing the voting public that Labor is making a huge mistake. That might lead some to think Gillard will go back on her word and disappoint Wilkie.

However, the fire in Wilkie's eyes says this would be a big mistake. He has the power to scupper any part of the Gillard legislative agenda if he does not get his wish.

That's why the clash between Clubs Australia and the government looks like an unstoppable force meeting and immovable object. And that could produce a very loud bang indeed.

The online gambling industry runs on software created for the business that is secure, fast and interesting. There are a number of firms that dominate the business but none as successful as software provider Microgaming which powers over 120 of the world's busiest and most profitable online casinos.
Gibraltar-based Victor Chandler has now signed on to the Microgaming list of clients penning a deal that will see Microgaming’s QuickFire Platform deployed across Victor Chandler’s online casino offerings. Quickfire will provide the casino with a flash-based gaming platform, giving Victor Chandler punters access to 150 top titles from Microgaming. The move will also give consumers a chance at the large prize money available through the progressive jackpot network.

Andrew Dymock, Head of Casino and Games at Victor Chandler, commented, “Microgaming is the market leading supplier of online and mobile casino content and Victor Chandler is thrilled to be offering its games through QuickFire. We continually strive to offer players a truly best of breed, unique range of quality gaming content, and now with the addition of Microgaming titles, our product has grown significantly in stature. QuickFire’s integration process has been seamless and we’re sure this new offering will prove a hit with our players.”
The Flash based Quickfire platform , which has been approved by the Alderney, Malta, Gibraltar and Kahnawake licensing jurisdictions has become a platform of choice for many notable online casinos.
Another comment came from Ashley Sandyford-Sykes of QuickFire, who said, “We are delighted to be working with a prestigious brand like Victor Chandler and we are confident that our unique product will enhance their existing offering,” “Victor Chandler will now have access to premier titles and a steady stream of new content from Microgaming.” Sandyford-Sykes continued, "QuickFire's rapid integration, combined with the strength and reputation of Microgaming's content is an enormously attractive proposition for operators, both in terms of customer acquisition and player retention,"

Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor passed away today at the age of 79 in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering from heart failure. The actress known for her roles in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, was a screen legend who will live on in our memories.

Liz Taylor was hospitalized in February after suffering from congestive heart failure and while her condition seemed bleak, there were some reports that she had been showing some signs of improvement, but in reality she was just clinging on to life. Taylor’s health had been suffering for quite some time and according to the Associated Press, in 2009 she underwent heart surgery to replace a “leaky valve” and had previously been admitted to the hospital to have a brain tumor removed.

Despite the numerous reports of her failing health, in her later years, the actress kept herself busy with her charity work including, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which worked to raise funds and awareness of people living with HIV/AIDS. She was very passionate about her cause and worked tirelessly to help those living with the disease.

As an actress, Liz Taylor won Academy Awards for her roles in “Butterfield 8” and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?” and starred in countless films throughout her career.

Liz Taylor paved the way for many of today’s actresses and lived fearlessly in the eyes of the media, who seemed to be fascinated by her personal life, which included countless marriages, 8 to be exact, stints in rehab and her close personal relationship to the late Michael Jackson. She was no stranger to the tabloids but then again she did give them a lot to work with.

She passed away with close friends and family by her side and will be remembered as an icon who wasn’t afraid to live life and was even once remembered for telling an interviewer, “I’ve been through it all, baby. “I’m Mother Courage.”

The EU is launching a consultation process on internet gambling, a business that is expected to be worth €12 billion across the union by 2013.

The European Commission’s internal market commissioner Michel Barnier yesterday launched a consultation paper on online gambling, which is legal in Ireland and Britain but which is restricted, or functions in a grey legal area, in many other member states.

The commission said the aim is to obtain a “facts-based picture”.

If the Iowa Legislature made decisions based on public opinion, the Register's March 22 Iowa Poll would doom a bill authorizing online gambling. But lawmakers don't always follow public opinion, nor should they.

Nearly three-quarters of Iowans surveyed by the Register said they oppose legalization of Internet gambling for adults. But that is a bit like being against snowstorms, floods or other naturally occurring phenomena over which the Iowa Legislature has no control. Gambling on the Internet is a reality now, reportedly conducted through offshore sites, with no government oversight or safeguards. Still, online gambling across state lines is illegal under federal law.

A bill under consideration in the Iowa Senate would allow poker games among players within Iowa conducted through existing Iowa casinos under close state regulation. This would protect players from unscrupulous game operators, it would benefit existing Iowa casinos and it would add tax revenue now lost to the state of Iowa.

The online poker bill appeared to have some momentum in the Senate until it was sidetracked in committee Wednesday. Some legislators apparently got cold feet, and may want to ditch the idea. There may be problems with some parts of the bill, but it's hard to see why there should be objection to the state creating a regulated environment for legal gambling online in Iowa.

This state made a decision many years ago to allow legal gambling, beginning with a state lottery and pari-mutuel wagering on dogs and horses, followed by riverboat casinos and now land-based casinos with the full range of table games and slots. Some sincerely believe that is wrong, but the Legislature has taken the position that it is for people to choose for themselves, and many choose to gamble.

Now some of that business has moved online. It's conceivable online gambling could cut into land-based casinos' markets in the same way online shopping has affected retail stores, music sharing has affected record companies and the proliferation of entertainment and information online has affected traditional media. Traditional businesses recognized reality and moved to the Internet themselves, and the same thing may happen with gambling.

Unlike land-base tracks and casinos, however, gambling that occurs online is unregulated, unprotected, untaxed - and it's probably unstoppable. Internet traffic will go where it pleases. Thus, rather than prohibition, the government's goal should be regulation. The proposed legislation would create an environment for online poker games that are regulated by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, operated through state-licensed casinos employing state-licensed workers. Players would have to register, prove they are 21 and use a secure log-in.

This legislation could not guarantee participants would not be under age, or that gamblers could not get in over their heads; no law could do that. But, Iowans who want to play poker online would have a place to play with assurance that the game is honest and played by the rules. That is a reasonable goal.

The American Idol kids were all smiles last night as judges Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson hailed each of their performances. Yes, it was a Motown night on American Idol and for once in his life, Jackson didn't have to use the word "pitchy."

The standout performer was by Jacob Lusk, whose rendition of "You're All I Need to Get By," prompting Steven Tyler to walk up from the judges' table and hug him.

Another notable performance was given by Naima Adedapo, who sang "Dancing in the Streets," with some amazing African dancing thrown in the mix, a move that Randy had called "Very smart tonight."

However, some ominous shenanigans were going on behind the scenes. As you know, the Idols all live together in a tricked-out mansion in Beverly Hills, but some super eerie stuff began when lights started flickering inside the house. Then the house became infested with spiders. ACK!

The straw that broke the camel's back occurred when some contestants claims they saw a floating bed sheet make its way down an empty hallway. Producers were immediately called and the Idols were removed. They are currently residing at an undisclosed location.

A promise has been made by the new Dutch coalition government to make a reform on the country’s existing gambling legislation, following a year that has been burdened with controversy, affecting casino software services.

Casino software services are delighted, as this month, the Dutch government made history after they revealed that it will overturn its old internet gambling ban.

A recent statement that has been made on behalf of the new coalition government has confirmed that the administration would be making a reform on the country’s existing legislation in the midst of an effort to give new domestic licenses for casino software sites located offshore. The move shows a sharp contrast with the former government’s stance, which had been in strong opposition of online gaming for the benefit of the ‘public interest’.

The system that currently exists sees the Dutch government in operation of a state run lottery site, which exerts total control of the land based industry in Holland. When there was an introduction of a law that prevents Dutch banks from being able to interact with foreign online casino sites, even greater market restrictions have been imposed.

In recent months, however, frustration with the legislation produced a run of high profile controversies. A leading online betting site has been responsible for accusing the government of making violations on the terms of the EU’S open trade laws, and that is a case which reached the court of the European Union.

Jaap Oostervee, a spokesman for the Dutch ministry of public safety and justice, commented on the updated measures, saying that the new campaign showed a “big shift” regarding attitudes.

Holland can now look forward to follow the same footsteps of other nations in Europe, such as France and Italy, as it begins to offer all its players regulated online services and betting software. Fredrik Teeven, state secretary of security and justice, said that the new laws would be helping to fight illegal activity, as well as offer a safer and controlled gaming environment for everyone who is concerned.

The European Union yesterday published a Green Paper on online gambling.

The document serves as a draft law and a basis for discussing the options for future regulation across EU markets.

In recent times countries such as France, Sweden, Italy, Austria, have either begun to open their market to online gambling, including online poker, or regulated and licensed online gambling, albeit in a fragmentary way.

While the document was broadly welcomed by the online gambling sector a number of concerns remain, particularly on the national vs. cross-border issues involved.

Sigrid Ligné, secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association, said, “We welcome the Commission coming forward with a Green Paper and a factual discussion on all aspects of online gambling. We are deeply concerned though that the focus of the paper seems to be on a national rather than an EU approach despite the clear cross-border nature of this sector.

Malcom Harbour, UK MEP and chairman of the European Parliament’s internal market and consumer protection committee, commented, "Online gambling is a cross-border issue and it needs a clear EU framework in order to fulfil its potential.



“At the moment there is a patchwork of licensing regimes or state monopolies across the EU and a lack of clear legislation is leaving important decisions to be made by the courts.”

The Financial Times reported that fewer the 15 percent of the near-15,000 online gaming websites in Europe are regulated.