casino online

British Columbia Lottery Corporation announced on 20th August 2009 it would launch online gaming sites in order to generate an income of not less than $ 100 million per year.

The  games offered by the Canadian company, such as blackjack, roulette and poker would be available on its website PlayNow from March 2010. If the project is fulfilled, there would be a first on the North-American continent, where online casinos have been banished so far.

“This is not really an innovative project, but if it was officially legalized by a north-american government, it would be indeed a great innovation”, said Bill Thompson, Professor of public law at the University of Nevada.

The Lottery hopes to get its part of the $ 87 million amount spent by residents of British Columbia on offshore sites. Michael Graydon, the Lottery Corporation CEO, stated: “Rather than let all that money slip away in some tax-paradises like Antigua, we seek to benefit from the opportunity that is giving to us to bring this money back in the country”.

Unfortunately for the company, this comes after a controversial statement made on 17th August, by which it was announced that the weekly limit on PlayNow deposits could be established between $ 120 and $10 000.

Some politicians ans especially those from Social Democratic Party, didn’t hesitate to strongly criticize the decision, which “was made without taking into consideration people with addiction problems”. But the Lottery responded to these attacks, stating that a security system would be put in place to prevent customers from depositing money in their accounts before 24 hours from another deposit.

If the proposal is approved, this could be a gateway for the introduction of online casinos in the United States.

In an attempt to overturn The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, widely known as UIGEA, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez has introduced a bill meant to set up the framework for online poker and other games of skill. “Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Protection and Enforcement Act” focuses mostly on the games where the outcome is determined by the player’s skills and not on the whole field of internet gambling. Besides poker, the other games cited in the bill are bridge, mahjong, backgammon and chess. The specific element that distinguishes these games from other gaming experiences is the little influence the chance has in the final results.

Menendez explains his particular consideration for poker by the significance of this game among Americans spare-time activities throughout their history: “Poker is part of the cultural and recreational fabric of the United States and has been since the founding days of the United States. United States poker aficionados have included presidents, judges, and statesmen.”

According to the proposed bill, the Treasury Department will the institution in charge to make the financial examination of all the applicants. This will reject any person or company that has been accused for any kind of gambling or financial violation. The bill also establishes the security control features that gambling websites will have to include: payment fraud protection and money laundering prevention, age limit policy, residence verification. The compulsive gambling behaviour is another topic of the law. The online casinos and other gaming rooms are obliged to monitor these habits if they want to keep their license. An opt out right for any state or Indian tribe wishing to ban online gambling in their jurisdiction, is equally specified in the text of the bill.