KNOW YOUR ENEMY

4 April 2008

Prime Table Games active in run-up to Congressional hearings on Internet gambling


Timed to precede Wednesday's Congressional hearings on Internet gambling and the implications of the problematical Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), a land casino supplier has come out strongly against the online industry in an expensive, full page statement in the global edition of the respected Wall Street Journal.

Derek Webb, founder of Las Vegas-based Prime Table Games which placed the advert has featured in previous in anti-online gambling attacks.

Headlined "Who Will Face the Issues," the WSJ statement outlines the perceived regulatory problems associated with international Internet gaming, citing gaming fraud, consumer protection and protection of intellectual property rights as major concerns.

"It is well known that there are off-shore based Internet gaming operators who are engaged in deceptive practices with American consumers and international players, and there is no adequate system in place to ensure full and appropriate regulation. Congress needs to take action soon, or these practices will only get worse," the statement asserts.

Prime Table Games urges Congress to adopt specific regulatory strategies for online gambling consumer protection, including:

Limitations on solicitations and incentives to gamble, such as bonuses and cash back
Prohibition of affiliate relationships
Standard player verification procedures
Giving players the ability to self-exclude and have it automatically apply to all online gambling sites
Site operators assume responsibility for identity verification
Internet gambling sites be required to verify that players can afford to gamble at their chosen level.
Internet gambling debts shouldn't be legally recoverable, and players who don't pay gambling debts should automatically be placed on an exclusion list.

"Internet gaming, by its very nature, has great potential for abuse," Webb said in a supporting press release. "Site operators also should pay fees towards problem gambling treatment and research."

On Wednesday, the House Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology will meet to discuss the proposed and much criticised UIGEA regulations.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa