GAMBLING NEWS : The Latest Gambling News Provided By InfoPowa News
Welcome to Bet Sage�s 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.
 
16 MARCH 2007 : HEADLINES Add to My Yahoo! Add BetSage Gambling News Headlines to My MSN Add to Google BetSage Gambling News - RSS Feed BetSage Gambling News - News Now  
 

Top US politician says he intends to attack "one of the stupidest laws ever passed"
Generating massive interest on both sides of the Atlantic, and giving online gambling stocks a boost is the news in the Financial Times this week that US Congressman Barney Frank is about to launch an offensive against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which has been creating problems for US players and online gambling operators alike since last October.  more...
   

Shares up, but Congressman Frank has a long row to hoe
Online gambling stocks on the London market continued to benefit from the news this week (see previous InfoPowa report) that the chairman of the US House Financial Services Committee is considering legislation that would overturn the ban on online gambling passed last October.

Associated Press followed up the original Financial Times report with a piece which quoted a spokesman for Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. confirming that the congressman may introduce a bill to reverse the Internet gambling law, but he stressed there is nothing concrete yet.  more...
   

The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) have announced new rules for gambling advertisements that will come into force in September 2007 Britain's new gambling reforms come into force.
Advertisers are being told that their material should not condone or encourage gambling behaviour that is socially irresponsible, exploit the susceptibilities or credulity of young persons or other vulnerable persons or suggest gambling can be a solution to financial concerns. And as with alcohol, anyone promoting gambling must not link it to sexual success or enhanced self-image. More information is available at www.cap.org.uk.  more...
   
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No, not the physical kind - just some good old fashioned international political pressure
Back on the subject of the World Trade Organisation dispute between Antigua and the USA this week, the Antigua Sun reports on a recommendation from the Communications Division of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery organisation that "political massaging� will be necessary to motivate US compliance with the WTO findings, which fall in favour of the islanders.  more...
   

New arrangements will make player protection and quality standards more accessible to online casino and poker room operators
Dozens more online casino and poker room operators will soon qualify for affiliation with the player protection and standards body, eCommerce and Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA), following a change in eligibility for the "Play It Safe" seal, the organisation announced today.

The principal change means that software providers of interested operators will no longer be required to be members of eCOGRA. However, there will be no reduction in the inspection and monitoring levels required of operators in order to display the �Play It Safe� seal, awarded by the organisation.  more...
   

But Department of Justice spokesperson does not have the prosecution plan, it appears
March 16 is the latest date set for a US court appearance for Neteller co-founders Stephen Lawrence and John LeFebvre following previous extensions, presumably to allow the federal authorities to build a case.

However, that still doesn't mean a hearing will take place, said Rebekah Carmichael, a spokesperson for the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney's office approached by Casino City reporters this week.  more...
   
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Court clerk's office reveals that government team likely to apply for a third extension
According to a comment made by a court clerk to the gambling information portal 911, Friday's court appearance of the two Neteller founders Stephen Lawrence and John LeFebvre will be to obtain a third extension for the government.

Lawyers for the two Canadians, who are out on massive bail following their arrests in the USA in January are unlikely to be impressed if the government seeks yet another extension, and any exchanges will be in the public eye as a significant media presence is expected to gather at the courthouse.  more...
   

Organisers are planning on 10 000 contestants this year
The trials and tribulations of online gambling in the United States notwithstanding, Harrah's Entertainment as organisers of the World Series of Poker are planning on the basis of a record breaking entry field of 10 000 players this year. In previous years a significant number of WSOP hopefuls have qualified online at numerous Internet poker sites offering sponsored WSOP packages.  more...
   

Group marketing activities on French soil discussed
John Anderson, the former CEO of the Gibraltar-based 888.com online gambling group was probably both tired and relieved to be on his way home after an eight hour discussion in Paris with French police this week.

The Financial Times reports that the veteran non-executive director of 888.com travelled voluntarily to France at the request of the authorities, who wanted to talk with him about the company's marketing activities in their backyard, which included a now-withdrawn sponsorship for Toulouse FC.  more...
   
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"They win less than they pay, and will pay more when they lose"
Reporting the theft of a large sum of money to the police, yet being unable to explain the source of the money in the first place led to a major online gambling bust in China, reports the Shanghai Daily this week.

A Chinese court has sentenced six members of an online gambling operation in Shanghai to heavy punishments this week in what is reported to be the city's largest online gambling case, with wagers surpassing five billion yuan (US$646 million), and it all started with a report of theft to the police.  more...
   

McCreevy and the German states could be headed for a clash
The European Union's internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy has denied claims that the European Union was preparing to uphold Germany's proposed monopoly on sports betting in the country.

Martin Stadelmaier, the head of the state government office in Rhineland-Palatinate, told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung that the state monopoly would be approved by next week, albeit with conditions.  more...
   

Jewelry store owner takes $488 828 first prize in Atlantic City World Series of Poker Circuit
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but poker works just fine for New York jewelry store owner Danny Yousefzadeh, who has just taken the Atlantic City World Series of Poker Circuit title and the top prize of $488 828.

In an exciting heads up with newbie tournament player John McMahon that took almost 3 hours to finalise, the 40 year old New Yorker prevailed after a tough contest at Caesars Casino. McMahon's bold and unpredictable playing style was difficult to gauge, and at times the newbie player looked as if he may pull it off and cause one of the biggest surprise wins in WSOP circuit history.  more...
   
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CEO says he wants to give Svenska Spel direct competition
Per Widerstrom, the CEO of the Expekt.com Limited sportsbook, casino, bingo and poker group is a man with a mission - he intends to directly challenge the Scandinavian dominance of the Swedish government's Svenska Spel poker operation.

Widerstrom says the market will witness the start of this in the near future, when his company launches extensive promotional plans. �We intend to challenge Svenska Spel in a big way, by carrying out mass media campaigns and highlighting the stronger quality of our offers when directly compared to theirs,� Widerstrom vows.  more...
   

Profits quadrupled in latest quarterly report
Taiwanese company GigaMedia, which took over the Grand Virtual turnkey provider in Canada some time ago, has continued its consistently winning run of results with the release this week of its quarterly report. Revenue soared 155 percent higher to $30.1 million and profits more than quadrupled to $0.17 a share.  more...
   

Party Poker's geographic grapple goes to western players
The Cold War was replaced by hot action in a Vienna casino this week. With five players each from Eastern and Western Europe, both cultural pride and a Euro 100 000 prizepool were at stake at Party Poker's East vs West Cup final table poker confrontation.

Half the prizepool was earmarked to pay the top winners, with the remaining Euro 50 000 going to the winning team and divvied up among its players, all of whom had qualified in online poker satellites. To reach the final table, two 50 man teams, all qualified online, had earlier battled it out, deciding who would be among the five players from each side to sit down at the final table.  more...
   
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$125 000 dream package offered by Absolute Poker has been won
Absolute Poker.com has announced the winner of its Absolute Dream Package worth $125 000, which gives the winner generous buy-ins to 10 major tournaments, coaching from a top poker ace and the opportunity to compete for prize pools worth $100 million in total.

This pro player's dream was won by an amateur - Illinois machinist Scott Carroll, who secured himself a package that includes buy-ins to the World Series of Poker main event, five World Poker Tour events, and the Ultimate Poker Challenge�s televised high-stakes cash game. The package also features coaching from Card Player�s 2007 Player of the Year, Michael �The Grinder� Mizrachi.  more...
   

Samvo Casino makes the sort of mistake that could prejudice players and give spammers a windfall
Spam merchants on the e-mailing list for Playtech-powered Samvo Casino this week will have received a major windfall in the form of hundreds of player email addresses, thanks to an apparent blunder in the mailing department that included the names of all recipients on each email.

Ironically announcing "great service upgrades and changes" the email address header ran to almost ten screens and seemed to include the email address of every member on the casino database.  more...
   

Email screw-up will be investigated, promises Asian gambling group
The hundreds of Samvo Casino players whose email addresses were mistakenly shotgunned around the Internet in a botched marketing email received an official apology from the Asian backed company within hours of the first complaint submitted.

The apology notes that:

"It has come to our attention that your email address may have been visible to all recipients during the last correspondence. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you.  more...
   
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More European action for wireless technology firm
The latest wireless platform deal for Phantom Fiber was signed this week with UK-based online casino provider, Dynamic Idea.

Chairman and CEO of Phantom Fiber Corporation, Jeff Halloran said that United Kingdom and European markets were key to Phantom's global expansion plans and Dynamite Idea would be a major contributor in executing on those plans throughout the multi-year agreement.  more...
   

Violations of federal antitrust laws cited
Seven of the world's leading professional poker players filed a motion for summary judgment against WPT Enterprises, Inc. in federal district court in Los Angeles this week.

In their motion for summary judgment, plaintiffs Chris Ferguson, Andrew Bloch, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon, Joseph Hachem, Howard Lederer, and Greg Raymer presented undisputed facts which claim that WPTE, which owns the World Poker Tour, has committed multiple violations of federal antitrust laws.  more...
   

Annual results show strong financial position and no debt
The founders and organisers of the global World Poker Tour action poker television series were in buoyant mood this week and with good cause. World Poker Tour Enterprises Inc's (WPTE) results for the full year ended December 31 2006 showcased healthy finances and a clean slate on debt.

The company statement revealed no debt with total cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities of approximately $39.6 million.  more...
   
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New management and big plans at online poker site
Cedric Clemenceau, the spokesman for the revitalised Poker4Ever.com online poker operation says that the new management are about to build up a fresh network over the next two or three months and already have a few members for it lined up.

Under new management, with a Malta license and a smart new set of in-house developed poker software, the site will be aggressively marketed by a team with some experience - they were the people who got Action Poker Network off to a fast start last year.  more...
   

Exchange rate costly for Seminoles in Hard Rock purchase
Currency exchange rates have added a whopping GBP 12 million to the selling price of Rank group's Hard Rock division (see previous InfoPowa report) to the Seminole tribe in Florida.

The initial agreement of around GBP 490 million has risen to GBP500 million (circa $965 million) in the timespan between the agreement and the final approval of the deal by Rank shareholders.  more...
   

But Betdirect has a tough year and profits are lower
The widely respected British betting group 32Red.com released its full year results this week, showcasing financial highlights that included net gaming win of GBP14.4 million (2005: GBP9.77 million) and gross profit of GBP4.36 million, down on last year's GBP3.49 million.

The company recorded losses of GBP3.74 million for the period, compared with profits before tax of GBP1.3 million in 2005, and attributes the annual losses to an �abnormally high' number of winning favourites in UK horseracing markets and unfavourable Champions League football results.  more...
   
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Banking facility successfully renegotiated with RBS
32Red.com has successfully renegotiated its banking facility with Royal Bank of Scotland as part of a financial restructuring initiative. The online gambling group has entered into a revised loan facility with RBS for GBP 3.5 million, continuing a "constructive relationship" with the bank and using its revised gearing to form a sound financial platform for the next phase in the company's development.  more...
   

2007 Global Circuit tour starts with Paris Open
Undeterred by French legal ambiguities, the National Poker League�s 2007 Global Circuit Tour kicks off with The Paris Open in France on May 13 at the Cercle Gaillon casino near the Arc de Triomphe, according to an announcement this week.

The inaugural poker tournament for 2007 will be televised around the world reaching over 500 million households, and poker fans in the United States will be able to see the action via syndication and on the WGN Superstation in addition to the INHD High Definition Network. Closer to home, French viewers will be tuning in to TF1, Jet Sports, Eurosport and TV Monte Carlo, all of which have agreed to broadcast the six, one-hour episodes.  more...
   

MIG high speed system to be installed by Million 2-1
Gamblers on the Million 2-1 mobile services available to ITV, T-Mobile, O2, G-Cap and EMAP could see some acceleration in payment options soon following a deal signed by the mobile provider this week.

In terms of the agreement, UK firm Mobile Interactive Group (MIG), which specialises in multimedia mobile interactive services, will supply high speed SMS and WAP billing across Million's range of consumer products and services.  more...
   
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Trained advisors will respond to troubled gamblers
British gambling support charity The Gordon Moody Association (GMA) will launch the first-ever multilingual service to problem gamblers on 12 March at www.gamblingtherapy.org.

Launched ahead of the UK government�s new gambling licensing laws due in September this year, the service will be manned by a highly trained, multi-lingual team of counsellors and advisors, who will be able to translate and offer help and advice to emails in 13 different languages, with support for more languages imminent.  more...
   

Growing row in the US over FBI over-reaching itself....and Senator Kyl wants even more secrecy
Online gamblers are increasingly sensitive to the activities of the US Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation enforcers following recent incidents involving online gambling company executives and companies, and the controversial passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the United States.  more...
   

Britain's SkyTV group using hi-tech to good effect in latest offering
Sky's TV and Internet poker offering is reportedly pulling in the players, at least in the region, with a heady mix of hi-tech presentation, solid content and tournament action.

Sky Poker is available on television on channel 846 through satellite and cable services available from the broadcaster, with a highlight each evening of a spectacular "big" 3D graphics presentation with an almost holographic appearance of live online poker action and commentary.  more...
   
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British Columbia's Solicitor General doesn't seem to know his Internet from his elbow...
Buying lottery tickets through a website isn�t Internet gambling. That's the opinion of the Solicitor General for the British Columbia province of Canada, reports Canada Press.

Solicitor General John Les made the distinction between ticket sales and playing games like poker online, after political opponent Guy Gentner accused the B.C. Liberal government of becoming �gaming crackheads� for plans to expand casinos and lottery revenues.  more...
   

Fast growing online poker operator is trialing a $100 000 tourney venture this weekend
A poker site which has been catching the eye due to its energetic publicity efforts, Everest Poker.com, may be considering entry into the regular weekend online poker tourney sector alongside sites like Poker Stars, Party Poker, Bodog, Ultimate and Full Tilt. This weekend Everest is putting a guaranteed $100 000 prizepool tournament together in what obervers say could be a trial run to test player response.  more...
   

Alberta Solicitor General's comments on Kahnawake advice to Alexander First Nation band dismissed
Something of a war of words broke out in Canada this week after the Solicitor General for Alberta, Fred Lindsay told reporters that his officials had become aware that the Mohawks of Kahnawake were advising the Alexander First Nation, which is currently offering to host Internet gambling web sites for a fee.  more...
   
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Online gambling giant is now into publishing
Existing account holders in the online casino, poker and other gambling operations of top industry group 888.com will be the first recipients of the groups latest venture - a new lifestyle magazine, branded �Eight�.

Pre-publicity on the inaugural issue of the publication promises interviews with actor Ray Winstone, Sir Alan Sugar and snooker ace Ronnie O�Sullivan among others, together with an eclectic mix of informative and interest stories such as what to do in Vegas, new gadgets and film reviews.  more...
   

Playtech poker network liquidity more than doubles
The acquisition late last year of the merged Tain and Tribeca Tables online poker networks by Playtech for $75 million has brought with it significant improvements in player liquidity on Playtech's iPoker network, according to a statement from the company this week.

With the takeover completed a full month ahead of schedule, player liquidity - the number of players concurrently playing on the iPoker network - has grown from 8 400 to over 20 000 over the five months since the deal was signed.  more...
   

New roulette training tool unveiled by online gambling portal.
Online-casinos.com has added another player assist to its range of free player help and education facilities available on the site with the launch of Roulette Trainer Pro.

Knowing the rules and odds for a casino game before betting any money has always been a sound approach before risking money on a game and roulette is no different, and in order to fill in this gap the online casino portal Online-Casinos.com is now offering the Roulette Trainer Pro.  more...
   
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Spokesman for regulator seems doubtful
Channel islands online gambling regulator Alderney seems to be feeling the chill of the US Unlawfiul Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and the predations on Internet gambling of US Department of Justrice officials, judging by doubtful comments attributed to the regulator's spokesman this week.

Clearly pleased with the interest shown in Alderney as a licensing jurisdiction during the International Casino Exhibition in London in January, the Head of E-Commerce Development, Robin Le Prevost is quoted by portal Gambling 911 as expressing some doubts about the level of participation at the GIGSE scheduled for Montreal in June.  more...
   

New player picks up $420 000 windfall in online poker game
Betfair Poker is continuing to make the headlines with some extraordinary wins, indicating seriously big action on the site.

This week player Giorgio34 scored bigtime in a $250/$500 Pot-Limit Omaha that enabled him to walk away with a $420 000 winner's pot and a growing reputation for cool, skill and audacity over the duration of the two and a half hour game.  more...
   

National Bureau of Investigation's case against online gambling company dismissed
The filing of an illegal gambling charge against alleged online gambling operator British Grand Vision International in Clark, Philipines has been dismissed by the city prosecutor�s office.

In dismissing the National Bureau of Investigation�s case against several Taiwanese officials and some 33 Filipino online dealers of the British Grand Vision International Co. Inc. and the TransGlobal Pacific Airways Inc., the city prosecutor's office said Internet gambling was not covered by Presidential Decree 1602 (prescribing stiffer penalties on illegal gambling).  more...
   
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San Antonio representative could be top of the pops with poker players
The state that gave poker's most popular game its name could be a leader in recognising its legality as a real money pastime if Jose Menendez, the representative for San Antonio has his way

The state politician has introduced a bill to legalise real-money poker in Texas bars, removing outdated law for a more enlightened and progressive approach that recognises the widespread popularity of the game.  more...
   

Rep. Menendez is not the only one who thinks it's time to embrace a more liberal gaming culture
InfoPowa recently reported on a proposed legalisation of poker Bill (HB3186) presented to the Texas state legislation by Rep. Jose Menendez, but still more liberalisation efforts are taking place in the Lone Star State, it appears.

Defying all (US political and enforcement) attempts to outlaw this great American game, its popularity continues to soar both domestically and around the world, but surprisingly few states have sensibly translated this popularity into legal poker and the concomitant taxation rewards. The coffers of states like Oklahoma, California and Connecticut have all benefited, for example.  more...
   

Online gambling regulations may be examined by anti-monopoly officials
The Czech Business Weekly reports that a probe could soon be launched by anti-monopoly officials into the manner in which online gambling regulation is conducted in the country.

Amid complaints that local and international betting companies are denied equal access to providing online betting services in the Czech Republic, the Office for the Protection of Economic Competition (�OHS) is considering an investigation of the way in which the Ministry of Finance regulates sports-betting services.  more...
   
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Big bucks for sports bodies...and politicians
The New York Sun carried an insightful op-ed piece this week which examines why American sports bodies like Major League Baseball have implacably opposed online gambling in the USA.....as long as there's a carve-out in the legislation for fantasy sports.

Along with horse-racing and state lotteries, the carve-out for fantasy sports is continued in the latest American legislation that seeks to hamstring online gambling in the United States by making financial transactions with online gambling companies illegal.  more...
   

Giving itself a present, the weekend poker fave added $500 000 to the tournament pot
Last weekend Poker Stars celebrated one year of its regular weekend tournament with a generous $500 000 addition to the standard weekend Sunday Million guaranteed prizepool, creating a record response of 10 508 registered entrants who went after the $2 101 600 total pot with enthusiasm.

The giant pot ensured not only an attractive quarter million plus main prize, but a cash bubble that embraced 1 314 players and a final table bonanza guaranteeing each player a minimum five-digit reward.  more...
   

More evidence that Swedish officialdom does not like competition
Sweden's Gaming Board (Lotteriinspektionen) came on heavy this week with a warning to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that it would be in contempt of court if it went ahead and published an advertisement for Maltese gambling company Expekt, following a ruling that authorised penalties for foreign gambling advertisements from the S�dermanland district court.  more...
   
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Debt consolidator chief accused of concealing his assets in multi million dollar case
Andris Pukke, a US entrepreneur with finance company, online gambling and property development interests could be making a rod for his own back if a federal judge finds that he is continuing to "obscure his holdings" in a case currently unfolding in the courts.

U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte ordered Pukke to turn over roughly $40 million worth of disputed holdings that include proceeds from an Internet gambling venture, a Belize housing development and a California mansion.  more...
   

Disclaimer published following approach by Neteller lawyers
The legal move by Isle of Man e-wallet Neteller to warn newcomer YouTeller against infringing on its brand (see previous InfoPowa report) seemed to bear fruit this week when a disclaimer appeared on the YouTeller website.

Authored by YouTeller's London-based parent group, the disclaimer advised: "Seed Capital Ltd. is not affiliated with, related to or endorsed by NETeller Plc."  more...
   

Three quarters of a million in winner's prize money
Californian Zachary Hyman took the inaugural Wynn Poker Classic this week, picking up an enormous $749 033 check in his first major win after beating out a field of 198 entrants, many of them big names in professional poker.

The $10 000 +$200 Main Event reached final table status after three tough days of play, and what a table it was with some of the most experienced and high profile pros in the game. There was Johnny Chan, Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, Chris "The Canada Goose" Roos, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Chau Giang and Ted Lawson, all among the nine survivors going after the lion's share of the tournament's $1 920 600 prize pool.  more...
   
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Victory on the second hand in tense heads up
The first German Open poker championship on the European Poker Tour held in Dortmund this week was won by Norwegian player Andreas Hoivold when he defeated Italy's Cristiano Bianco in a tense, two hand heads-up with the main prize of Euro 672 000 at stake.

Held at the Casino Hohenysburg in Dortmund, this is the second time a Norwegian has won a title in season 3 of the European Poker Tour; Bjorn-Erik Glenne won Euro 691 000 in the Barcelona event.  more...
   

Now Ongame powers up its effort by $400 000
The weekly online poker tournament action went up a gear this week with the announcement by Ongame Network that it is to add an additional $400 000 to its weekly guaranteed prize money.

The move comes as additional operators and their players join the giant network, resulting in a revamp of its poker tournament offerings.  more...
   

New poker software features vivid 3D graphics, life-like avatars and hi-fi sound.
BackgammonMasters.com has added online poker to its game inventory, augmenting its existing offering of backgammon and perudo games.

Recognising the popularity of poker among seasoned backgammon and perudo players, the newly upgraded software allows the player to access all 3 games from the same game lobby. Beyond the convenience factor and the ability to play all 3 games simultaneously from the same account, the player is instantly connected to a massive network of other players from around the world.  more...
   
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Dublin again....
The International Gaming Conference & Expo (IGCE) has scheduled its first gathering for 2007, May 6-8, in Dublin, Ireland once again. The chosen venue destination is The Burlington Hotel, a four-star locale with proximity to the city, airport, shopping, tourist attractions and all that Dublin has to offer.  more...
   
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