Good news from the States.  It seems efforts to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) that saw US online gamers, including online bingo players, shut out of the market late last year are gathering momentum.
The noteworthy efforts of one US Congressman Barney Frank are finally having an effect on bringing US government policy to its senses with his intention to seek UIGEA’s repeal within the next two weeks.  This has caught the attention of the US media and sets the stage for a possible return of US customers into what was a highly promising industry.

The fact that the passing of UIGEA in the US has been responsible for a fair bit of carnage on the London Stock Exchange with previous lawful enterprises having been targeted for investigation by the US Department of Justice has left a sour taste in mouths of many online gaming customers. Online Bingo halls have largely remained untouched by these actions, yet the impact on customer confidence cannot be underestimated.

Recent World Trade Organization rulings against the US have also contributed to a general feeling that the US is simply not playing by the rules with hints that the European Union may also be challenging US anti-gaming policies in the courts. In the end, it really has been the US consumer who has been most hurt by this ill-conceived legislation and all we can hope for is that Congressman Frank is successful in his own efforts to redress this regrettable situation.

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While events in Europe are pointing to a relaxing of the laws regarding operating online bingo, it’s unfortunate to note that Euro wannabe nation Turkey is heading in the opposite direction.

The recent introduction of laws prohibiting some forms of online gambling in Turkey could see that country come into conflict with the European Commission’s desire to see non-discriminatory trading in goods and services between member states.  Turkey is keen to join the EU and one would think this would ensure a more open approach in such matters.

The fallout has already begun with e-wallet company Neteller pulling out of the country along with Austrian online gambling giant Bwin.  However, given a recent MECN report on the advances Italy are making in this area, online bingo halls can look elsewhere for their future operations.  In the end, it may simply be in Turkey’s interests to follow suit and move towards a more free online gaming culture.

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It has just come to my attention that budget airline Ryanair have plans to launch an online bingo service for its passengers by mid-2007.  This will be subject to Ryanair gaining approval for its own in-flight mobile service.

However, given that many European countries are still operating archaic anti-internet gambling laws that only allow state-run monopolies to operate online gaming, will this not bring the Irish airline into a legal grey area?

At this time only the UK and Austria endorse open competition within their internet gaming industries.  Many European Union members are currently being singled out by the European Commission for illegal monopolistic laws that curtail foreign internet gaming competition.  Does not Ryanair’s proposed new online bingo service bring them into conflict with these countries when they land?

Having asked this, I do think, however, Ryanair are to be commended for offering such a service.  It will be interesting to see how this development takes off and if it is a sign of things to come in in-flight entertainment.

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The news that internet gambling giant Party Gaming have made a significant recovery in its share price is good news for the industry as a whole. The struggle to deal with the US government’s draconian UIGEA laws has seen many in the industry go under as US players and customers were forced from the market.

Though Party Gaming’s bounce back from times when its saw its share price fall by 76% can be attributed to its policy of diversification into the European and Asian markets, there also needs to be factored in talk that the US government may be about to soften its attitudes towards the online gaming industry.

For operators of online bingo halls and makers of online bingo games this could not be coming at a better time. For US players of online bingo this must offer hope that they will no longer be criminalized for indulging in their favoured form of entertainment.

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Well, I feel somewhat vindicated over previous posts regards the US government’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) which has tried to deprive online gamblers, including online bingo players in the US of their right to select a legal leisure pastime.

I feel vindicated because no less a mainstream US news source as the Los Angeles times has waded in on the debate with an opinion that recent US action against online gambling is nothing short hypocrisy. This is something I wholeheartedly agree with.

In an April 8 editorial the Los Angeles Times points to a WTO ruling in favour of the tiny Caribbean island of Antigua that labels the current US UIGEA laws as â€?arbitrary and unjustifiable discrimination” against foreign firms. This is particularly poignant in that the US hypocritically allows online betting on its horse racing industry, but cracks down on any foreign company being able to partake in the same or similar activities. This is, it has been successfully argued by Antigua, contrary to the US‘ commitments under its WTO obligations to open its economy to foreign competition regards online gambling.

That the US mainstream media is picking up on this story is a ray of hope that we may still possible welcome back our free online bingo community from the US in the near future. One can only hope.

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Malta has become one of Europes centres for online gaming licenses and its government takes a keen interest in promoting a responsible attitude to what many see as a potential threat to society’s well-being. It comes as a welcome surprise then to see that a recent Maltese study into the main causes of addiction, both substance and psychological, has concluded that online gambling is quite low on the list of potential addictive agents.

The Maltese health organisation Agenzija Sedqa has carried out a number of surveys regarding addictive behavior and claims, according to a report on a well known gambling internet site, that there needs to be more work done in ensuring access to gambling online is well monitored.

This is something that the UK online gambling industry has made great strides in addressing and, I for one, put that down to the UK’s mature policy of open internet gaming. It is in the best interest of the industry to maintain an open and well regulated environment that protects minors and compulsive gamblers from making mistakes. While it is very difficult to eradicate the entire problem of gambling addiction, it should be noted that many online bingo sites, for instance, publish sound advice regards sensible gaming.

On another subject, I will be taking an Easter break and should be back by April 10. I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a happy holiday and good online bingo gaming.

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It’s a question once again brought into sharp focus by the implementation of Wales’ smoking ban – will we see land-based Bingo halls lose ground to online bingo halls?

England will be following Wales with its own ban on July 1 and people are already complaining about the economic consequences to traditional bingo. With the UK Bingo Association is at the forefront.

There is no doubt that the now year-old ban on smoking in Scotland has contributed to a thinning out of patrons, but it is too early to tell if this is also reflects a general move away from traditional bingo to its online competitor. It will be interesting to see once the English ban takes full effect.

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Just what sort of chances and odds does the average UK online bingo player enjoy when it comes to winning the jackpot?

I refer you to an article on one Dr. Oliver Johnston in which he claimed that people participating in the 2002 UK National Bingo Christmas game had about eight times more chance of winning the £1million jackpot than if they bet the same £10 on Lotto. Dr. Johnston’s assertion was based on pure mathematics and showed bingo was a far better bet for scooping the big prize than even sports betting.

Since his 2002 assertions, bingo as a game has been revolutionised in the form of online bingo. People not only get to go for huge jackpots, but they also get to play more often. So the odds for winning in free online bingo games simply gets better due to the more times you can play.

One caveat by the good doctor in making his mathematical observations back in 2002 is that his calculations do not take into account the element of gaming skill. This brings to mind the famous quote by golfer Gary Player who once remarked: “The more I practice, the luckier I get.� Maybe it’s a matter of practice through regular playing that determines who does well at winning at online bingo?

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It must be scary times these days for any member of the online gambling industry who wants to travel. Reports by Reuters that one Gary Stephen Kaplan, the founder of BETonSPORTS, was arrested in the Dominican Republic on behalf of the US Attorney’s office must send a chill down the spines of online gaming operators everywhere.

The US government has been on the warpath lately following its decision to crack down on internet gambling and the proceeds therewith. Kaplan is to be charged with racketeering, conspiracy and fraud for his role in setting up a Costa-Rica-based gambling operation which included BetonSports.com.

In the more family-friendly environment of free online bingo halls the threat of such government action will still rattle the nerves, despite the fact that UK-based online bingo enjoys stringent government regulation and oversight. One can only hope that our own government doesn’t turn the tables on what is a growing and responsible industry and seek to criminalize honest businesses for wanting to provided a much wanted service.

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