Issue N1, 2010

January 5, 2010

Belgium To Change Online Poker Laws

Reports from reputable Belgian media outlets state that the government is about to introduce sweeping changes to its online poker laws, essentially nationalizing the industry. The new legislation will mean that local internet service providers will not be allowed to host foreign poker rooms and that Belgian online poker players will be limited to sites that operate within the country’s borders only. In addition, online poker sites will need to be licensed by local authorities.

The changes are seen to be in direct defiance of the laws governing free trade in Europe. This is not the first time that Belgium has announced its intentions to change its laws, but each time has come up against objections by the European Commission who argue that standards of free trade among member states need to be upheld.

In the meantime, online poker players from Belgium who frequent poker forums such as Two Plus Two are up in arms over the government’s latest plans, which will reportedly come in effect this year already. As stated by one player on the forum:

“I’m fine with regulating but don’t cut off the world. Playing against people on the other side of the globe and having traffic around the clock is what makes online poker great.”

888 Co-Founder Dies

One of the founding brothers of the giant 888 Holdings gambling group, Aaron Shaked, has passed away in his native Israel. Shaked, a dentist by profession, created 888 Holdings with his brother Avi Shaked in 1997, and has been credited for thinking up the idea of an online gambling site when he attended a dentistry conference in Monte Carlo and witnessed firsthand the popularity of traditional brick and mortar casinos.

Realizing the huge potential there was to be had in the new tool known as the internet, the Shaked brothers started considering the idea of an online casino based on the business model of a traditional casino. One of their biggest hurdles was their complete lack of knowledge with anything to do with gambling, a problem solved by them visiting casinos in Eilat to understand the games and stakes. 888 Holdings was created in 1997 and by 2005, the brothers amassed a fortune of over $530 million when they floated the company on the London Stock Exchange and sold off some of their shares.

Aaron Shaked, who maintained a low-key throughout the years and contributed much of his wealth to helping the less fortune, died after battling a long illness, at the age of just 58.

UK Horseracing Industry Hopes to Attract Younger Punters

A series of changes in the UK horseracing industry will see Racing for Change launch 10 new measures in a bid to modernize the sport and attract a younger generation of players. Among the most significant changes will be an experiment to present starting odds in decimal form to make them easier to understand and thus widen the industry’s appeal. Other changes include a budget to pay fees to jockeys and trainers who agree to make media appearances outside the racing media, as well as a free club for young adults (18 – 24 year olds) who will receive discounts to racetracks and other perks.

Chris McFadden, the Chairman of Racing For Change, said: “British horse racing is the envy of the racing world with our abundance of outstanding horses. Yet the sport needs to work harder to connect with a wider public. This is, no doubt, a result of a significantly more competitive betting and leisure environment – so we have to raise our game.”

“Our recent consultations have delivered many more good ideas that we can start to implement,” added McFadden. “We just need the courage to trial them and measure the outcomes. Work to overhaul the Fixture List and develop racing's prize assets is under way and we expect to make further announcements over the next couple of months.”

New Promotions at Roxy Palace Casino

Roxy Palace, the popular online casino site, has announced the introduction of several exciting new promotions that should provide players with some great entertainment at the start of the new decade. One of these is the Roxy Poker Challenge which will run between January 5th to January 11th.

To qualify for the video poker tournament, players will need to deposit at least $100 into their online casino accounts during the time period and wager a minimum of $2500 on the stunning collection of video poker games at the site. Those players who obtain the highest wining percentages take home part of the prize pool in this competition. Roxy Palace is one of Microgaming’s leading online casino sites and is licensed and regulated by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta. The site also carries the eCOGRA Safe and Fair Seal.