UK Gaming Act Reviewed

The regulation of the UK gambling market has be incredibly beneficial and prosperous. Making the adjustment across an entire industry has come with a high price tag. For the first quarter of 2007 the cost to begin the transition was already totaling more than 14 million UKP.

The Gambling Commission which employs more than 218 individuals brought the final tally for the first quarter of 2007 to 14.4 million UKP. The commission regulates all of the casinos, bingo halls, lotteries and gaming machines.

The last time the Gambling Commission had significant policy changes to implement, it was 1968, so this past year they had a lot to work on in order to update their systems, policies and employees. As the implication date drew near, the UK Gaming Commission had to recruit new employees and move their primary offices out of London to Birmingham. It is obvious this process is costing the citizens some real pocket money.

Online gaming operators of casinos and poker rooms are having mixed emotions pertaining to the extensiveness of the Gambling Commission's authority in the online gaming industry. Although many countries and companies based outside Europe and the UK have been white listed to entertain and cater to the UK population, there have been obstacles to the process. Some of the companies are being forced to become licensed separately with in the UK. Some gaming companies and online poker rooms have even moved to tax haven islands to avoid the 15% tax being applied to the off shore companies. Additionally the new laws require all small stakes poker leagues across the UK to become licensed as casino's. This hurdle will cause the corner pub to stop offering the card game in league or tournament format, thus their draw will decrease significantly with the end of the live poker events.

To back up the new policies, the Gambling Act has an outline of specific codes, practices, and guidelines that will force online operators and others to comply with the position. The date for complete compliance was Jan. 1st 2008. The natural alternative is court rendered prosecution as well as imposition of limitless fines. Keep in mind this act came with both beneficial applications as well as obstacles. It will be a year in September 2008. At that time there will be clear indications as to the full impact the new laws will have on the online gaming market.

Poker is not just for men anymore

In a field dominated by incredible poker players, men hold a place in the competitive history that is only now being challenged by women on a large scale. The World Series of Poker 2007 proved that women are going full steam ahead into the tough ranks of competitive poker.

There have been many women over the years to make a lasting impression, but none as much as the first lady of poker Annie Duke. She has held many positions as a professional poker player. She is a World Series of Poker Bracelet holder. She is an incredible spokes woman for the Poker Players Alliance, as well as an educator of Poker Technique for the World Series of Poker Circuit lessons. Her incredible talent has been evident as she consistently cashes in nearly every event she enters, and still finds time to spend with her family. The fact that she is able to do this shows that she is a real spirited player, one who you don't want to play against across the poker table, unless you have some money to lose.

Katja Thater, another incredible poker woman, made headlines when she won the Open RAZZ event in the World Series of Poker 2007. She already had a number of cashes in the World Series of Poker, even finishing 3rd in a separate event last year. When she made the final table at the RAZZ open event, she maintained a steady pace, and a focus that no one else was able to maintain for that length of time. Because of her incredible skill and impressive poker talent, Katja Thater became only the second woman to win a bracelet from an Open Event during the World Series of Poker.

Then the most notable woman of poker for 2007 made waves that started in London and swept the globe faster than wild fires burning during a drought. Annette Oberstrad, aka Annette_15 brought home to Norway the first World Series of Poker Europe bracelet. Taking with her the respect of the poker world, and proving that women are here to stay. She is holding her solid place in history as the youngest bracelet holder in the history of the World Series of Poker, as well as the third women to ever win an Open Event of the same. This is only part of her impressive stand, adding to her place in history, something that will not be broken in the United States live poker events, she is the youngest World Series of Poker Bracelet winner.

These three notable women are not the only ones to be making headlines in the Poker world, just the three to be shouting from the roof tops as part of 2007. Look out boys, we're here to stay!