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	<title>Fairplayers.com - Magazine Gaming Casino Poker</title>
	<link>http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/</link>
	<description>Magazine Gaming Casino Poker</description>
	<dc:language>fr</dc:language>
	
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<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?105-ec-issues-opinion-against-french-payments-draft"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?2-betting-industry-urges-eu-action-vs-german-ban"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?3-german-interstate-treaty-egba-logdes-complaint-with-european-commission"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?4-norway-moves-to-ban-online-gambling"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?5-french-government-orders-unibet-boss-freedom"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?6-us-proposes-rules-to-impose-net-gambling-ban"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?7-commission-expected-to-show-doubling-of-problem-gambling"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?8-france-to-discuss-opening-online-market"/>
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  <item rdf:about="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?105-ec-issues-opinion-against-french-payments-draft">
	<title>EC issues opinion against French payments draft</title> 
	<link>http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?105-ec-issues-opinion-against-french-payments-draft</link> 
	<dc:date>2008-03-03T11:07:23+01:00</dc:date>
	<dc:creator>Fairplayers</dc:creator>
	<description><![CDATA[
		EGBAThe European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has welcomed the decision from the European Commission to issue a detailed opinion against the French draft decree on gaming payments.

Secretary general Sigrid Ligné said: “Today’s action consolidates the Commission’s position that unjustified payment blocking in our sector clearly contravenes EU law. We welcome the Commission’s action and hope that this will send a clear signal to other EU and EFTA Member States that such proposals will not be tolerated”.

France can not adopt the draft until 31 March. If it then decides to adopt it, the Commission can launch infringement proceedings against her immediately.   

The payments draft is the second of two decrees drafted as part of France’s 2007 Delinquency Act, which sought to create technical barriers to prevent French users accessing gambling and betting sites and protect France’s monopolies form EU-licensed operators. The first draft sought to oblige internet service providers to discourage users from accessing gaming website other than those of the Francaise des Jeux and PMU monopolies.

The Commission’s detailed opinion follows last week’s news that it had issued reasoned opinions against Greece and Holland in relation to the provision of gambling services there. Germany and Norway are also considering payments restrictions to EU-licensed gaming operators, Ligné said: “Such restrictions are difficult to implement, easy to circumvent, inefficient and foster the growth of an underground market.”
	]]></description> 
  </item>
  <item rdf:about="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?2-betting-industry-urges-eu-action-vs-german-ban">
	<title>Betting industry urges EU action vs. German ban</title> 
	<link>http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?2-betting-industry-urges-eu-action-vs-german-ban</link> 
	<dc:date>2008-01-16T13:58:50+01:00</dc:date>
	<dc:creator>Fairplayers</dc:creator>
	<description><![CDATA[
		16/01/08 Yogonet.com

(Germany).- European online gaming industry filed a complaint with the European Commission this week, saying Germany’s ban on online gambling breaks EU law on the free movement of services.

EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has sought to crack down on cross-border hurdles.

"The European Gaming and Betting Association calls on the European Commission to take swift action against the German Interstate Treaty on gaming," the lobby group said in a statement. The treaty, which came into force on January 1, bans online gaming and betting, except for horse races, in Germany. The EGBA said the ban "is in direct contravention of European Union law."

"The German Interstate Treaty is incompatible with EU law, and its adoption has left us with no other choice but to make a formal complaint to the European Commission," EGBA Secretary General Sigrid Ligne said. "We urge the Commission now to fast-track our complaint and launch infringement proceedings against Germany," he added. EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has sought to crack down on cross-border hurdles to competition in the gambling sector but has faced opposition from countries such as France. He already launched legal action against Germany over the treaty last year, before it came into force.

"The Commission does not believe this piece of legislation is in line with community law," spokesman Oliver Drewes said. "We now have to decide in the near future if we take this legal action to the next step." If Brussels were to push ahead against Germany, it would be in the form of a final warning before the country is taken to the European Court of Justice, which has powers to fine and force the country to change its laws. The EGBA is an association of the European gaming and betting operators, including Bet-at-home.com, Bwin, Digibet.com, Carmen Media Group, Expekt.com, Interwetten, PartyGaming and Unibet.

The lobby group said the Germany treaty makes the granting of licenses "completely discretionary," and it places an "unjustified and inconsistent prohibition of online gaming and betting," as well as "strict advertising and sponsoring prohibitions." 
	]]></description> 
  </item>
  <item rdf:about="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?3-german-interstate-treaty-egba-logdes-complaint-with-european-commission">
	<title>German Interstate Treaty: EGBA logdes complaint with European Commission</title> 
	<link>http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?3-german-interstate-treaty-egba-logdes-complaint-with-european-commission</link> 
	<dc:date>2008-01-15T14:41:34+01:00</dc:date>
	<dc:creator>Fairplayers</dc:creator>
	<description><![CDATA[
		EGBA

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) calls on the European Commission to take swift action against the German Interstate Treaty on gaming. The Treaty, which came into force on January 1st and introduces a ban for online gaming and betting (except for horse races) in Germany, is in direct contravention of European Union law.

The provisions of the Treaty severely restrict the rights of EGBA’s members to provide services under Article 49 of the Treaty of Rome. The German Interstate Treaty has come into force despite formal objections raised by the European Commission under its notification procedure (Directive 98/34/EC) that the Treaty transgressed EU law. Its adoption shall not only restrict the activities of EU operators but directly challenges the Commission’s clear position under the notification procedure itself.

Norbert Teufelberger, Chairman of the EGBA, commented: “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!”.

Sigrid Ligné, Secretary General of the EGBA added: “The German Interstate Treaty is incompatible with EU law, and its adoption has left us with no other choice but to make a formal complaint to the EC. We urge the Commission now to fast track our complaint and launch infringement proceedings against Germany”.
	]]></description> 
  </item>
  <item rdf:about="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?4-norway-moves-to-ban-online-gambling">
	<title>Norway Moves to Ban Online Gambling</title> 
	<link>http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?4-norway-moves-to-ban-online-gambling</link> 
	<dc:date>2007-11-20T14:42:29+01:00</dc:date>
	<dc:creator>Fairplayers</dc:creator>
	<description><![CDATA[
		Gambling911
Norway has become the latest European nation to try and block online gambling activity. Its neighbor, Sweden, has also been taking more of a regulatory stance on the activity. Like the US Government, Norway will hold its financial institutions responsible for policing any transactions related to online gambling sites, including those for online poker.

PokerPages.com reported the possibility of a payment ban for online gambling was mentioned by Culture Minister Trond Giske, when, in reaction to public outcry against the rise in online gambling amongst Norweigans, he said, "We have been monitoring the issue, and are aware of the drastic increase there has been in people turning to help lines and support organisations due to gaming addiction."

Last week, Sweden carried out a gambling raid on various Internet cafes and clubs throughout the country. Sweden is home to some of the most prominent online gambling venues including Boss Media, Globet and Svenska Spel.

Like most European countries, Sweden is imposing strict conditions on online gaming to prevent gambling addiction, even though Sweden's first home grown – state-run - poker web site was launched in March. Estimates are that around 200,000 Swedes play poker on the web.

---- Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher Originally published November 20, 2007 9:02 am ET 
	]]></description> 
  </item>
  <item rdf:about="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?5-french-government-orders-unibet-boss-freedom">
	<title>French government orders Unibet boss' freedom</title> 
	<link>http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?5-french-government-orders-unibet-boss-freedom</link> 
	<dc:date>2007-10-24T14:43:27+01:00</dc:date>
	<dc:creator>Fairplayers</dc:creator>
	<description><![CDATA[
		
The French government ordered the case against Petter Nylander, CEO of gaming firm Unibet, to be dropped amid a backlash of criticism from the European Commission and Swedish politicians.

A spokesperson from the budget ministry in Paris stated that it was not a matter between the state and Unibet, and said that the Française des Jeux and PMU would be told to drop their complaint.

A spokesperson for Charlie McCreevy, the internal market commissioner said: "They may have arrested an innocent man," while Christofer Fjellner, a Swedish member of the European parliament, said: "A worrying fact is that the European arrest warrant, an instrument put in place to combat terrorism and organised crime, is now used by the French government to punish those who fight French protectionism.

"What will be the next sector to be threatened with French arrests? The French are turning the European arrest warrant into a political tool," he commented. Nylander was detained earlier in the week as he travelled through Dutch customs on his way to the UK, on a European arrest warrant issued by a French judge on charges of money laundering and cyber-crime.
	]]></description> 
  </item>
  <item rdf:about="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?6-us-proposes-rules-to-impose-net-gambling-ban">
	<title>US Proposes Rules to Impose Net Gambling Ban</title> 
	<link>http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?6-us-proposes-rules-to-impose-net-gambling-ban</link> 
	<dc:date>2007-10-01T14:46:02+01:00</dc:date>
	<dc:creator>Fairplayers</dc:creator>
	<description><![CDATA[
		PC WORLD

Rule proposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System would implement the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed by Congress last year.

Linda Rosencrance, Computerworld
Monday, October 01, 2007 03:00 PM PDT

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System have released proposed rules that would require credit card companies and banks to have policies in place to prevent payments for illegal gambling transactions.

The proposed rule would implement the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed by Congress last year. The law prohibits payments made for illegal gambling through U.S.-based financial institutions, including payments made via credit cards, electronic funds transfers and checks.

The rule gives examples of the policies and procedures the financial institutions should put in place, However, the proposed rule doesn't spell out what illegal gambling activities or transactions are, because the act relies on underlying federal and state laws to determine those issues.For example, under the proposed rule, credit-card companies and money-transmitting businesses are expected to put procedures into place to monitor and analyze payment patterns of individuals to detect suspicious activity.

Public comment on the proposed rule is due by Dec. 12.Earlier this year, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced a bill that would make it legal for people living in the U.S. to gamble online. Frank's bill, The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007, would allow licensed companies to accept bets from U.S. residents to the extent permitted by individual states, Indian tribes and sports leagues.

The bill would exempt operators of gambling sites from restrictions on online gambling under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, including the provision that prevents U.S. banks and credit card companies from processing payments to online gambling sites.
	]]></description> 
  </item>
  <item rdf:about="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?7-commission-expected-to-show-doubling-of-problem-gambling">
	<title>Commission expected to show doubling of problem gambling</title> 
	<link>http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?7-commission-expected-to-show-doubling-of-problem-gambling</link> 
	<dc:date>2007-09-17T14:47:13+01:00</dc:date>
	<dc:creator>Fairplayers</dc:creator>
	<description><![CDATA[
		Gaming Industry News


The Gambling Commission's eagerly awaited prevalence study is expected to report that the number problem gamblers in Britain has doubled in the past eight years. The UK's Independent and Telegraph newspapers both said that around 600,000 people were now problem gamblers, while the more right wing Daily MailÂ  put the figure closer to 800,000.

The report, carried out by research specialist NatCen, will be Gordon Brown's benchmark for new gambling policy and legislation, and is based on a study of more than 9,000 people.Â 

The British Gambling Prevalence Study is also expected to say that the number of Britons who gamble has soared from 33million to 40 million. The findings match estimates from gambling experts and charities.
	]]></description> 
  </item>
  <item rdf:about="http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?8-france-to-discuss-opening-online-market">
	<title>France to discuss opening online market</title> 
	<link>http://www.fairplayers.com/en/mag/?8-france-to-discuss-opening-online-market</link> 
	<dc:date>2007-09-14T14:48:13+01:00</dc:date>
	<dc:creator>Fairplayers</dc:creator>
	<description><![CDATA[
		Gaming Industry News

French gaming officials are reportedly in Brussels to discuss the opening of its online betting market with the EU. A spokesperson for the French government said it wanted to show they were open to discussions, while gambling monopoly FranÃ§aise des Jeux said that talks would give them the opportunity to put an end to the 'unfair competition from internet gambling sites'.

It is thought though that any liberalisation in the French laws would be limited to pool betting, to protect state monopoly Pari Mutuel Urbain. Officials have said in the past that the country is opposed to opening its borders completely, and would require foreign operators to establish a branch in France. 
	]]></description> 
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