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Welcome to Bet Sages Gambling News Section, featuring the latest breaking
gambling industry news courtesy of InfoPowa News. This is your one stop source for
all and any of the latest developments concerning leisure based wagering
activities on the internet.
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| 02 MARCH 2007 : HEADLINES |
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CGTV takes over a onetime notorious brand, and pulls out of U.S. market
Turnkey provider Gambling Federation, the subject of much criticism in a malware scandal two years ago has apparently been taken over by the Vancouver-based GCTV Games Limited.
CGTV issued a press release from its Irish office to announce the news, disclosing that it has acquired the international (non-U.S.) assets of GFED Games, which it somewhat generously claims is "...one of the world's leading providers of online casino games software and support services."
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The mystery of the disappearing affiliate notification
Affiliates with French connections were wondering what the future had in store for them this week following the brief appearance of a notice on the Party Partners.com affiliate program site, suggesting that French player days on Party Poker could be numbered.
The notice, dated Friday 23 February said that PartyPoker will no longer accept deposits from new French customers, although existing players from France may continue to play. No reasons were given for the decision.
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March 13 should see some frank exchanges
The proposed meeting between industry executives and the French gaming police scheduled for March 13 is likely to be attended by some of the top executives in the business.
Gibraltar-based 888.com is the latest to issue a statement on the meeting, confirming that non-executive director and former chief executive John Anderson had been asked to attend the interview with the French gaming authorities. The statement emphasised that French action represented an immaterial percentage of its business and that it would continue to consult its legal advisers.
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Paris interviews with 20 online gambling companies reported
UK newspaper The Guardian has speculated that the request by French authorities for interviews with a reported 20 online gambling company executives could presage a US-style crackdown on the industry in that country.
And staff writer Simon Bowers writes that Party Gaming quietly closed its website to French customers last Friday without telling investors. Just three days later one of the firm's largest shareholders sold 123 million shares worth some GBP 50 million (see previous InfoPowa bulletins).
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Betting group has taken its lumps....now it's focused on Europe and Asia
Sportingbet plc reported its latest results this week with both good and bad news. The bad is that pre-tax losses in the six months ended January 2007 were substantial at GBP 243 million, including a one-off charge of GBP 252 million from the shutdown of US operations in the wake of the UIGEA; the good is that the company has survived this massive knock and is now reporting strong revenues from operations refocused on Europe and Asia.
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Solid increases in revenues crafted by expansions into Europe and Asia
Online gambling turnkey provider and software developer Playtech turned in an impressive set of results this week, almost doubling pre-tax profit numbers.
The companys full year results saw an annual rise in total revenues of 89 percent to US$90 million (2005: US$47.6m). Pre-tax profit rose to $60.8 million for the year ended 31 December from $35.7m in 2005.
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Leading sportsbook deploys Betmaker for US-facing operations
The well established online sportsbook BetCris has told its US players this week that they are to be transferred over to its Betmaker.com site acquired in August 2005, which will henceforth handle all US-facing business.
The transfer is being accomplished with as little disturbance to players as possible, facilitated by the common platform and administration channels at both sites.
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Finn minister rejects curbs on online poker
Finland's Social Democrat Minister of Transport and Communications has rejected a proposal to extend a child pornography law to embrace online poker, according to Finnish newspaper reports.
Minister Susanna Huovinen was quoted by Jyvskyl-based daily Keskisuomalainen on Tuesday as saying that the law to prevent access to child pornography sites on the Internet should not be expanded to cover online poker.
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Net Entertainment sales and profits up
The Scandinavian-facing online gambling operator Betsson posted imposing fourth quarter and full year results this week that revealed quarterly group revenue had risen 100 percent to SEK137.6 million (US$19.3 million) and profits before tax up to SEK34.8 million.
Group revenues for the full year also showed a commendable increase, rising 93 percent to SEK391.5 million and generating profits before tax for the year at SEK57.6 million, compared with SEK182.2 million in 2005.
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But is protectionism acceptable in the EU?
Swedish public betting group Betsson AB has expanded on its warning regarding Turkish government protectionism earlier this week (see previous InfoPowa report) with a press release cautioning that Turkish anti-online gambling legislation could be imminent.
Turkey's entry to the European Union will soon be achieved, and the company says that this may conflict with pending legislation aimed at protecting a largely state-owned gaming industry in the country.
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The scuttlebutt is true - VC Poker is leaving Playtech's Tribeca for 24hpoker....
There will soon be a new look and more geographically accessible online poker especially for Israeli players following a major platform switch by Victor Chandler Poker just announced.
The Gibraltar-based gambling group, which has recently encountered hassles with Israeli officialdom over operations in that country, is to switch from the Playtech-owned Tribeca Tables software and network to 24hpoker's burgeoning platform which is currently attracting strong player response, particularly in Scandinavia.
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Profitability, player liquidity and mobile facilities cited as reasons for switch
Online gambling websites Heypoker.com, Finansbet.com and 360Bet.com are being switched from B2B Poker to another network by Swedish parent group 360 Holdings, according to a company announcement this week.
Citing player liquidity, profitability and a need for mobile facilities as reasons for the switch, 360 said that it will now join the Austrian public company bwin's Ongame network in a move that is designed to expand its product range by offering gaming via mobile phones, together with improved profit margins as its in-house payment solution is integrated to the new service.
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Indonesian owned online gambling group drops sportsbetting in favour of betting exchange operations
It looks as if the [denied] rumours back in January that Mansion group intended to drop sportsbetting (see InfoPowa News bulletins at the time) had some substance after all; this week the group closed its international sportsbetting operations in favour of betting exchange options.
Back then, the word was that Mansion intended to restructure with the emphasis on land and online casino operations after putting its sportsbook facilities off-limits to US players at the end of that month.
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The stress doesn't end with a heads up at the final table of a major tounament for this player
A young online poker player who thought he had it made with a $800 000 second place finish in a major online poker tournament has been caught up in the Neteller e-wallet showdown with the US Department of Justice, with his funds frozen and poor communications the apparent order of the day.
Readers may recall an earlier InfoPowa report on the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure tournament in the Bahamas which was won by a 22 year old math student from New Jersey called Ryan Daut back in January. In the final heads up confrontation Daut's opponent was a young amateur player called Isaac Haxton who lost the encounter despite a dominating chip count initially, but emerged from the tournament with a cool $861 789 as second place finisher.
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GBP50 million worth of shares hit the London market
The Times Online was speculating this week on who the owner of a tranche of Party Gaming shares worth some GBP 50 million may be after the stock was dumped on the London market and brought values down.
The newspaper commented: "Knowing when to hold and when to fold has been the key skill for PartyGaming shareholders, who have seen their investment buffeted over the past year by arrests, prohibition laws, stock sales and apparently spurious takeover theories.
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Here's another US land casino gearing up for Internet action
It appears from an article in the Delaware State News that the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in the States is another land gambling firm with an eye on the potential for Internet gambling when...and if....the legislative bans against online gambling financial transactions can be lifted.
For now, the firm is asserting that the online casino games on its website are legal because they're free.
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Kaspersky product protects mobile phones using Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems.
With the growing popularity of mobile phones and mobile-based gambling, the need for effective safety measures to shield handhelds from viruses and spam abuse has become critical, and this week a new product in this line debuts.
British internet and mobile security specialist firm Kaspersky Lab has released Kaspersky Anti-Virus Mobile, an up-to-the-second product that protects mobile phones using Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems (smartphones) against mobile malware.
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Beef up your defences - Storm worm drives volume of email viruses on the internet upward by a factor of 20
Eschew those attachments and rev up the firewall - virus threats are set to get worse says a company specialising in monitoring and shielding computers from the ungodly.
Hackers and spammers are raising their game in 2007 with serious virus onslaughts, according to monitoring and screening company Postini. The company offers as evidence two massive, global email-borne virus attacks which took place from December 29 to December 31, 2006 and again from January 19 to January 21, 2007.
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Forget the stats, we're for the player!
Trumpeting the slogan 'Real Games for Real People for Real Money' a company called Prime Gaming has launched the latest entrant to the online poker market, Prime Poker.com.
Making the unusual business claim that "Prime Poker is a site that is not about figures and statistics, it is about 'you' the player," the owners say that following extensive research they have developed a website that closely identifies with the needs and desires of poker players from across the globe with a range of services and games that reflect this.
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Top celebs and poker pros gearing up for a glittering occasion in LA
WPT Enterprises, Inc. will roll out the red carpet on March 3 for one of the most glamorous stops on the poker circuit - the 5th Annual World Poker Tour (WPT) Invitational. Each year, the exclusive, invitation-only event welcomes famous Hollywood faces and world-class poker professionals who go head-to-head in a freeroll Texas Hold Em poker tournament for charity, cash prizes, and bragging rights.
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Fun, lottery action...and games for WLA member
Boss Media AB has been awarded a contract by an unidentified World Lottery Association member in "North America" for an Internet gaming system. The contract term is for a period of five years with an option to extend for five more, and the contract consists of a fixed and a variable license fee.
The gaming system includes interactive Internet products and chat functionality in French and English, suggesting that the licensee may be Canadian. It also includes a game administration tool that will help the client to successfully operate the new games and make sure that the players enjoy the new experience with true multi player games.
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"Thinking man's poker" can see millions of pounds sterling changing hands monthly
Kevin Dale, the CEO of UK skill games provider GameAccount.com has announced that the site will host the 2007 Online Rummy World Championship.
The card game that acted as a practice ground for legendary WSOP Champion Stu Ungar and was made famous by screen legend James Bond in the movie Goldfinger is set for a revival, says Dale. The game, that has been dubbed 'Thinking Man's Poker', is reportedly complex to play but so easy to learn that it can be quickly mastered.
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Another WSOPC truimph for poker pro
The Harrah's Rincon World Series of Poker Circuit main event held in San Diego has been won by poker pro Peter Feldman, who took home the $280 859 winner's prize after a tense heads up final against Davidson Matthew ($147 364)
The big win was Feldman's second on the tough circuit - last May he claimed the WSOPC New Orleans title and now shares with Chris "Jesus" Ferguson the honour of being the only player to have won two WSOPC events.
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Racetrack political protectionism is alive and well in the Land of the Long White Cloud it seems
Attracting wide New Zealand media comment over the weekend was the news that the New Zealand Green political party wants a new online gambling site shut down because it "threatens the viability of the racing industry."
Green Party member of parliament Sue Bradford is at the heart of the row, claiming that an online gambling site, Race-O New Zealand, 'might' be illegal because the Gambling Act passed three years ago outlawed online gambling within New Zealand.
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Experienced executive close to PBL's James Packer
The appointment this week of one-time lawyer and highly experienced corporate gambling executive Anthony Klok as CEO for the Australian operations of Betfair underlines the close relationship that has developed between James Packer's PBL group and Betfair.
Replacing Betfair co-founder Edward Wray, who has returned to the UK to take the role of chairman of the Betfair group globally, Klok was formerly business development director for PBL and is reported to be a close confidante of chairman James Packer, whom he understudies on the PBL board as alternate director.
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Deal enables sportsbook and gaming platform provider to expand offering
Skill games developer Skill 4 Prizes has signed an agreement to provide content for sportsbook platform provider Finsoft this week, enabling the sportsbook and gaming platform provider to expand its games offering to clients like Bet365, BetFred, Stan James, Paddy Power, Boylesports, Sporting Index and others.
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Improved graphics and action in latest games suite
Ocean Breeze Poker.com, a franchisee of the Game Cities network powered by Futurebet has launched downloadable and instant play Multiplayer Poker Global, a new poker games suite that features Texas Hold'em Poker, Omaha Poker, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo with improved 3D graphics, avatars and playing functionality.
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Don't open emails claiming to inform on new gambling laws
Websense Security laboratories has issued a further global warning on the activities of phishing criminals seeking to fool poker players into disclosing account and card details.
The advisory warns that the new phishing scam targets users of online poker sites. Users receive a spoofed e-mail message claiming that a new online gambling law will soon be passed, and that they need to log into their poker account to view the impact the new law will have on them. The fraudulent e-mail, according to Websense, provides a link to a phishing site that attempts to collect personal and account information.
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Macau shows Its hand on remote gaming rules
The timing and location chosen by Macau regulatory officials to announce a dynamic new remote licensing jurisdiction this week was perfect - the high profile Pacific I-Gaming Congress in the territory, which was attended by everyone who is anyone in an online gambling industry looking for new markets to replace lost U.S. business.
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German monopolistic hypocrisy at its worst
One of the fiercest and most litigious state lottery operators in Germany, the Westdeutsche Lotterie (WestLotto) in North-Rhine Westphalia has had to face an embarrassing Court finding against it this week - it has reportedly been offering fixed-odds sports betting without being properly licensed to do so!
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Surprise announcement has Canadians in particular puzzled
This week's surprise announcement by the reputable VIP.com group has players and industry observers alike trying to figure out what the corporate marketing strategy could be.
A + rated VIP.com and its sister books are no longer accepting new clients from the United States and Canada, says the company.
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Strategic moves flowing from group reorganisation behind rationalisation
Strategic moves triggered by the advent last year of the US Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act are thought to be behind unconfirmed reports that the VIP group has laid off 84 employees at its Curacao operation in the Netherland Antilles.
Media reports are that CEO Alistair Assheton has confirmed the lay-offs to local newspapers. The company has recently made some surprising strategic decisions (see previous InfoPowa bulletins) to ban Canadian players from 1st April in order to concentrate on existing players.
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Inaugural event will take place at three London casinos in September 2007
Harrah's Entertainment Inc, owners and organisers of the World Series of Poker has added detail to an earlier announcement that the world's biggest poker event is to have a European equivalent (see previous InfoPowa reports)
The first European run of the prestigious championship will take place in London between September 6 and 16 at three London casinos - Fifty, Leicester Square and the Sportsman. WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack emphasised in the Harrah's press release that the European series will have all the "....unique identity, style and flair, but will remain true to the event's 38-year tradition and heritage.
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Attendances have cooled at some venues, but not the rewards
The Sunday action continued this week with some serious ramping up of rewards but lower turnouts at some venues.
PartyPoker upped the ante by adding a $300 000 guaranteed tournatment to its offering (see previous InfoPowa report) which will run every Sunday at 12:45 p.m. and has a $215 buy-in.
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Online gambling runs contrary to "building a harmonious society" says government
The long promised three month blitz against Chinese online gambling (see previous InfoPowa reports) was launched by the government this weekend amid claims that it was necessary to "purify the cyber environment."
Formally launching the campaign, the Ministries of Public Security; Culture; Information Industry and the State Press and Publication Administration said: "The prevalence of online gaming has ruined the online environment and harmed young people's growth, which runs against the policy of building a harmonious society."
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Biggest names in the game among 791 players who bought in at $10 000 each
The L.A. Poker Classic started over the weekend at the classy Commerce Casino near Los Angeles, attracting 791 players who each bought in for a $10 000 shot at the hotly contested $2.4 million first place prize. Players who survive to the final table are guaranteed to win at least $250 000.
By way of comparison, the 2005 event pulled in 538 players and was won by Michael Mizrachi and in 2006, when Alan Goehring was the victor the field had grown to 692 players.
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And Gavin Smith becomes the 'butt' of a friendly bet
Day 2 of the L.A. Poker Classic, currently being contested at the Commerce Casino near Los Angeles had a somewhat shorter run than day one, with play commencing at 3.30 Sunday afternoon and the action over by midnight on the same day. Nevertheless it was sufficient time to see more top players hitting the rail, and in one case a side bet involving a rear end tattoo being won.
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Tense atmosphere as 152 players try to make the money cut and the final table
Day 3 of the L.A. Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino near Los Angeles saw 152 survivors from a starting field of 791 taking their seats with ambitions to win the main prize of $2.4 million or at the very least make the money bubble cut by finishing in the top 54 spots.
With such an impressive roster of big name players, making the final table will be a major achievement in terms of reputation and the monetary rewards for doing that will be significant - every player on that final table will leave with at least a quarter million dollars, and the second place finisher will collect over a million.
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Tran the chip leader as the final table crunch comes closer
The final table awaits only six of the 18 survivors still remaining in the WPT LA Poker Classic currently nearing its climax at the Commerce Casino near Los Angeles.
As Day 4 drew to a close J.C. Tran was the man, with a significant three-to-one chip lead over his nearest rivals Jacob Fernandez and Jason Strasser - both with stacks worth over a million.
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Tournaments, television and clubs are all proof of poker's popularity
Deutsche Welle reports that the upcoming WPT European Poker Tour leg scheduled for Dortmund, Germany in March is just the latest manifestation of the fascination poker has for Germans.
In an article that claims the game has become "hip and popular" in the country, the publication reports that poker clubs are springing up like mushrooms, and poker tournaments take place in practically every urban area on a weekly basis.
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Potential audience of 17 million cell phone users
The UK's giant mobile provider T-Mobile will soon launch real-money multiplayer poker to its cellular customers after signing up with technology provider Cecure Gaming Limited to offer gambling services to its 17 million UK customers.
In terms of the agreement, Cecure Gaming is to supply free download options for a variety of poker sites, which clients can access by selecting the "Cash Games" option from the games portal in t-zones. Otherwise players can access some Hold'em on the go by texting POKER to 49014 for site links.
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Oxygen pushes out release date by a month
If you're one of the many poker fans champing at the bit to get your hands on "World Championship Poker 2," you will have to be patient for another two months - the popular games latest version will not be released until April 20 according to producer Oxygen Games.
Originally scheduled for release March 16 (see previous InfoPowa reports) Oxygen Games announced this week that the multi format "World Championship Poker 2," has been delayed by a month and will now be released April 20 across all formats.
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Is mahjong the new poker?
Dynasty Gaming Inc. has announced that its Mahjong Mania gaming software will soon power a new consumer-facing Mahjong site branded Mahjongclub.com that will specifically target players across Asia.
Mahjongclub.com will be owned and managed by Adriaan Brink, acknowledged as a pioneer in online gaming and formerly president of Mahjong Systems Limited.
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Strong potential for Baltic markets
Sportsbook operator Triobet.com has celebrated its first birthday by following sister NordicBet into the mobile gambling sector, inking a similar agreement with mobile technology provider Mobenga.
Mobenga chief executive Christian Rajter said: TrioBet is a very interesting company, with great potential and advantage on the Baltic market.
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Internet gambling has been singled out for banning on moral reasons in the USA, but look what's happening in land gambling....
Uptight US politicians pandering to the religious conservative vote frequently claim that Internet gambling is addictive and morally wrong. That's when they're not denouncing online gambling for everything else from money laundering to raising funds for terrorists, without producing a shred of evidence. Yet land gambling in the Land of the Free seems to have no limits, as a recent report from Associated Press illustrates.
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As one door closes for VIP affiliates, another opens...
Affiliates worried about the knock-on effects of the recent VIP.com group decision to curtail US and Canadian new memberships will be taking heart this week from new opportunities launched by rival Sportsbook.com.
This energetic and experienced group, which embraces quality outfits like PlayersOnly.com and Superbook.com is looking for switched on affiliates for a new program branded CommissionAccount.com.
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Strong growth and a successful listing for UK betting broker
Betbrokers, the first British wholesale and retail betting brokerage has published creditable maiden results after its listing on the London exchange last year, showcasing commission income of over GBP 1 million from some 30 000 transactions. The company raised GBP2.5 million when it floated on the Alternative Investment Market last year and has net cash on hand of GBP2.1million at year's end.
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UK authorities publish the first in a series of useful statistical studies on gambling as the Internet booms in Britain
According to statistics just released by the UK Gambling Commission as part of a new information service, almost one in 12 adults in Britain participated in at least one form of online gambling in the previous month. Including playing the national lottery, just under 8 percent took part in one form of online gaming or another last year, a percentage which drops to under 6 percent if stats of those who gamble only on the national lottery are extracted.
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But just a week ago the islanders were complaining about the US breaking silence on the verdict
Antigua and Barbuda government officials seemed to forget this week that very recently they were complaining about the United States prematurely commenting on the decision of the World Trade Organisation in their dispute over online gambling.
The islanders complained on grounds that the WTO findings on the row are only due for release at the end of March, and the US should therefore have remained silent until then. Despite this, the Antigua Sun carried an interview with government officials very clearly breaking silence themselves on the issue.
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It's a new game....
The dramatic changes in the online gambling industry over the past six months....and how to handle them is the thrust of this year's Global Interactive Gaming Summit and Expo scheduled for Montreal, Canada between June 5th and 7th.
The ninth presentation of this outstanding industry conference and exhibition will again take place in the spacious Palais de Congres in downtown Montreal in the week before the F1 Grand Prix, so make sure that your hotel and flight bookings are made early as things are likely to get hectic come early June.
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| PREVIOUS NEWS ARTICLES... |
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| 17th June 2006
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| 24th June 2006
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| 1st July 2006
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| 11th July 2006
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| 23rd July 2006
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| 27th July 2006
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| 6th August 2006
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| 12th August 2006
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| 18th August 2006
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| 25th August 2006
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| 1st September 2006
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| 8th September 2006
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| 2nd October 2006
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| 24th November 2006
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| 1st December 2006
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| 8th December 2006
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| 22nd December 2006
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| 29th December 2006
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| 8th January 2007
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| 12th January 2007
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| 19th January 2007
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| 26th January 2007
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| 2nd February 2007
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| 9th February 2007
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| 16th February 2007
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| 23rd February 2007
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