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Earlier this year, Italy made an attempt to stem online gambling by trying to ban all IP addresses from Online Gaming sites. After that, Italy made an attempt at an “exclusive” online poker room. Needless to say, the road toward a final attitude and policy on online gaming has been rocky. However, now the country is to take another step; a step that the U.K. and a small collection of other countries have already taken. That step is toward the regulation of the industry. On January 1st, 2007, it will officially be legal for any Italian citizen to gamble online. Public sports betting and bingo halls will also benefit from the decision. The piece of legislation means that all “ability based and fixed betting activities” online are legal. Poker most definitely falls into this category. Businesses that deal with online gaming will be regulated in a comparable fashion to that method used in the U.K. The Italian Government stands to make 3% on any online gaming based revenues. Many countries around the world are making similar decisions, leading everyone interested in the subject to one question; what will the U.S. do? Models already exist that support stable, safe and sustainable gaming related revenue, meaning resistance to the movement seems more and more like a mistake with every passing moment. Industry analysts are speculating that Italy is likely to be the target of a great deal of advertising as companies all over the world attempt to obtain part of the market. Looking to play online poker? Play celebrity online poker at Hollywood Poker.
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