 |
|
 |
|
 Main Menu |
|
| News
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| Current |
|
|
|
| GGG | |
 |
|
 |
| | Home | | Index | | Info | | This Week | | Poker | | News |
 |
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
 |
|||||
| Nick Mathiason
Sunday April 15, 2007 Tessa Jowell faces fresh embarrassment from her controversial Gambling Act as the UK's poker clubs join forces to challenge the new legislation.
Poker clubs are furious that the Gambling Act, which comes into force this September, limits the daily membership fee they are allowed to charge to £3. This, they argue, restricts the prizes they can offer to players in tournaments and prevents them offering wider services to members. The act also places poker clubs in the same category as casinos, forcing them to obtain a casino licence. Geoff Owen, chairman of the UKPCA, said: 'The imposition of casino licences on poker clubs is neither appropriate nor fair and could result in the closure of many clubs. 'In its current form, the Gambling Act could also result in a rise in online poker activity and unregulated "underground" poker, as players seek venues away from a casino environment.' A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that the clubs should engage in a consultation process, rather than make legal threats. Sonny Osman, representing the poker club Loose Cannon (tel: 020 8209 2070), 13-16 All Hallows Lane, London, EC4R 3UL, reports that they have attained a legal position and will be continuing business as usual. |
|||||
|
|||||
 |
|||||
Welcome to the News desk. 
Play Online Poker