Gambling TV Channel in trouble?

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GERMAN TV GAMBLING CHANNEL FOLDS

Premiere Win's brief life, ended by political uncertainties in Germany

On August 1 last year, hopes were high for a new TV gambling channel in Germany launched by Paybox Premiere in cooperation with Magna Entertainment and Betandwin, but this week the venture folded due to the potential impact of the UIGEA on U.S. partner Magnabet and the uncertain legal climate in Germany.

The entertainment publication Variety reported that Paybox Premiere is pulling the plug on the much ballyhooed gambling channel "....due to the legal uncertainty of gambling offerings in Germany." German provincial heads are currently mulling over what course they should take on the legal acceptance or otherwise of online gambling, fuelling uncertainties in the industry already caused by the October enactment in the United States of legislation that seeks to disrupt financial transactions with online gambling companies.

International online gambling companies have suffered an autumn of discontent after the U.S. Congress passed legislation prohibiting the use of credit cards, checks and electronic fund transfers for online gaming in October.

In Germany, three federal states have imposed bans on commercial betting, making the overall gaming market a risky venture.

Premiere is said to be looking for another partner in order to continue the channel, but local industry observers have opined that with German lawmakers unlikely to loosen gaming laws, a new channel may be severely restricted.

The end of Premiere Win is the latest blow to Premiere, which is facing growing competition from upstart pay TV and video-on-demand operators and was forced to stomach the loss of top league Bundesliga soccer.