Republican Party Website besieged by Online Poker Protesters

In the run up to the US Presidential election political unrest is mounting with 100’s of online poker players protesting against the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act)
Online poker players in the US have posted their comments, unanimously urging the US Republican Party to protect their rights to play online poker.
Over 100 online poker players were asked to post comments on a US Republican Party website where they urged the US political party to protect individual's rights to play poker online.
The PPA (Poker Players Alliance), who claims to have over one million members, urged more of its members on Thursday to post on the GOP website as well. The PPA was created as an organization that would protect poker players' rights in the U.S., and has played an integral role in defending the game since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that was passed in October 2006.
"My point is simple," posted PPA member and 2004 WSOP champion Greg Raymer. "Is the US Republican Party no longer the party of personal freedom and individual responsibility? Why has this party, that used to protect my rights, now become the party that wants to create a Nanny-state?
To be fair, a number of US Republicans have supported efforts to legalize online poker, most notably one time Presidential candidate and Texas Congressman, Ron Paul. Together with Democratic Massachusetts Congressman, Barney Frank, Paul helped draft legislation that would essentially repeal an online gambling prohibition act, the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
Some of the comments left on the site are:
“I want you to support my right to play online poker. This is a billion dollar industry in the US and there is no reason why it cannot be regulated.” - William, New Britain, CT
“I find it deplorable that we have legalized lotteries, horse & dog race betting, bingo lotto, casinos everywhere but we can't have legalized online poker in the US. All we've done is drive the online poker sites offshore. Foreign countries are reaping the tax & business revenues [as a result] of this flawed policy.” - Dennis, Framingham, MA
As of yet, no one has commented on the message board in support of banning online poker.
For more information about the UIGEA and other related Online Poker News check out one of the UK’s fastest growing online poker communities at www.LTDPoker.com.

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Legal Online Poker to be Launched in U.S. – PokerTwin

Gaming and Entertainment will venture into online poker in the US. In a press release the company announced the launch of PokerTwin, a new online poker room will go live during the third quarter of 2008, which it described as “a skill game and legal in most US jurisdictions including California and New York State. PokerTwin is a Texas Hold’em-based poker game that removes the luck of the draw and lets a poker player rely on their skills to win.”
Having the exact same cards will force players to “prove their skill not by how lucky they are, but in how well they play each hand in comparison with the other player who has the same cards.” players at two different tables will be dealt the same poker hands. PokerTwin is hot on the heels of “legal” online poker room Duplicate Poker. Similar to PokerTwin, Duplicate Poker also operates on the edge of the internet gambling law in the United States.
On its website, Duplicate Poker claims, “Duplicate poker is a game of skill - the luck of the draw is one excuse your opponents won’t have. With the luck factor taken out, playing poker is no longer gambling: The Best Player Wins.”
In case you’re not familiar with the company, Carlyle Gaming and Entertainment “unites companies that have been on the cutting edge of the Internet gaming revolution with traditional casino service providers. The alliance of old school knowledge and new school know-how means that CGE companies are innovators in every area of the gambling industry.”
Legal ring games recently introduced by Duplicate Poker have buy-in ranging from $0.05 to $10, “At the outset of each hand players will have 1000 chips to play. Each player’s results will be compared with other players sitting in the same seat at participating tables. After each hand players will be rewarded a set payout for incremental increases in their chip stacks.” Again, the primary driver behind a player’s success is his or hers skill.
The announcement by Carlyle Gaming is just the latest in what will likely be a string of attempts to get around the UIGEA and Wire Act in the United States. With 300 million people within its borders, the U.S. represents a gold mine for internet gambling operators.
Club WPT, a subscription-based poker room, is another example of attempts at getting round the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Club WPT. Introduced by the World Poker Tour, it utilises U.S. sweepstakes law in order to be deemed legal. The World Poker Tour also operates a for-profit online gambling room that does not accept U.S. players. The company just announced that Club WPT promotional tournaments will air on Fox Sports Net.
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UIGEA clarification act Supported by RGA

The RGA (Remote Gambling Association) is hopeful that the new bill will allow currently exiled online poker rooms like PartyPoker, Titan Poker and Pacific Poker back into the U.S. market. The Remote Gambling Association announced on Friday it would be supporting the bill on the basis that it will target online sports books and online sports betting only but not online poker. The bill titled H.R. 6663 officially known as the Unlawful Internet Enforcement Clarification and Implementation Act (UIGEACIA) was introduced to congress by Pete Sessions last week and will attempt to define what falls under the scope “unlawful internet gambling”.
"We took our case directly to U.S. legislators who have heard our message, understood the inequity of the Department of Justices' stance and appreciated both the unfairness in their enforcement policy and the risk to U.S. priority interests and its reputation if the policy was pursued further," said Chief executive of the RGA Clive Hawkswood. "This could be a major step in demonstrating that the rule of the law and integrity of the WTO are still important in Washington.
In March 2008 the RGA requested the European Union Commission investigate U.S. online gambling practices on the grounds they are discriminatory against European operators. However before one becomes too hopeful it is unlikely the bill will be passed anytime soon as congress has disbanded for a summer break and whilst it will return in September it's doubtful much will get passed in the run up to the presidential election.
The Poker Player's Alliance has decided not to endorse the bill. According to a story with the Las Vegas Review Journal the PPA has an issue with the "confusing language”. The bill says the original UIGEA has made internet poker is an unlawful activity that, in the future, will need special protection. Although that sounds good to many people the PPA takes issue with poker ever being labeled as illegal. If the Alliance were to support the bill it would be like admitting that poker is illegal.

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Ladbrokes set to accept US poker bets

Ladbrokes had made the decision to enter the US market prior to the passage of a bill making the operation of an online poker room illegal in the States.
“This follows with the guidance we gave earlier this year,” John O’Reilly, Managing Director of egaming said. “We intend to take advantage of our position in the market and invest heavily in player acquisition and sign ups are up 30% on last year, and we have set a 20% growth target for NGR between now and 2010 and we are bang in line with that.”
Commenting on Ladbrokes’ decision to join the Microgaming poker network and accept US bets, in particular for its high stakes players, O’Reilly said: “Most of the poker rake is generated by the high stakes players and we have taken the decision to offer them US liquidity from the states where there is less of a legal risk. We have evaluated the legal situation and are happy with our position.
Nearly all the publicly traded Internet poker companies retreated from the US market following passage of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in October 2006.”
Ladbrokes is a member of the FTSE 250 Index and was once part of the Hilton Group, owning the hotel brand outside of the United States.
Group pre-tax profits for the six month period to the end of June fell to £170m from £192.7m over the same period last year, the company said this morning. Excluding high rollers, gross win increased 13% to £583.3 million, pre-tax operating profits fell 2% to £130m and UK retail gross win increased 6.5% to £394.3m. Chief executive Christopher Bell commented: "The group's performance has continued to show resilience against a challenging economic backdrop. In UK retail, following a strong first four months of the year, June suffered a string of poor results affecting all channels, most notably Royal Ascot and the early stages of Euro 2008. Notwithstanding a poor fourth week during July, Group gross win for the period from 1 July to 5 of August was up 11% overall and up 6% in UK retail."
Ladbrokes owns over 2,200 retail betting shops divided between the UK, Ireland and Belgium. It also operates several online gambling websites offering sportsbook, poker, casino, games, bingo and backgammon. Ladbrokes uses the OpenBet system from Orbis Technology.
Online sports betting had performed well, O’Reilly said, with in-running revenues up 50%. “In-running will continue to be one of the drivers for us on that side of the business. Our online sportsbook is a long tail business, where we offer thousands of markets and all the small bets create a critical mass once they are added up. We have also signed a deal with the Perform Group for more live streaming events, which will add to our in-running activities,” he said

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