Ukraine Parliament Upholds Gambling Ban- Poker Likely To Benefit

20.06.2009, Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has overridden President Viktor Yushchenko's veto of a bill that will ban gambling for several months until a new law will set up a government-controlled area for gambling on the shores of the Black Sea. As poker is classified as a sport in the Ukraine last year, and not gambling, it could have a positive effect on poker, similar to what is happening in Russia.

With 300 votes required to overturn the veto, 390 deputies supported the anti-gambling law, which was first passed on May 15 a week after a fire in a casino in Dnepropetrovsk, to the southeast of Kiev, killed nine people and injured 11.

Law makers noted that they do not want Ukraine to remain void of legal gambling forever. The idea is to put a temporary ban in place while parliament works out tougher restrictions that may relegate gambling to certain geographic areas, such as the Crimean peninsula.

The provisional ban comes into effect the end of June according to most recent media reports.

President Yushchenko says he supports the idea of a gambling ban, but refused to sign the draft law. He called the far-reaching bill poorly conceived and populist. He asked the Supreme Rada to improve it, noting that it was not acceptable for 200,000 people to immediately lose their jobs, especially during the economic crisis..

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko had previously vowed to ask parliament to override the presidential veto, saying: "Ukraine should not destroy its life, spirituality and morals while being guided by such corrupt vetoes by the president."

SIMILARITY TO RUSSIAN BAN BENEFITING POKER

In 2007, Russia passed a Gambling bill mandating that all gambling establishments be located in four special zones relegated to the outskirts of the vast country, beginning July 1, 2009. This pushed some Russian operators to expand in the Ukraine.

Ms Tymoshenko said Ukraine could copy Russia's plans for limiting gambling venues in non- residential zones. But plans have yet to be revealed and gambling operators are wondering how they will close at such short notice if the law takes effect. "We do need better regulation but this is not the way to do it. In one moment, more than 200,000 people could lose their jobs," said Grigory Trypulsky, vice- president of the Ukrainian Association of Gambling Operators.

As in Russia, poker tournaments may increase in popularity in the Ukraine, because poker tournaments in both countries are classified as an official sports competition instead of gambling, so are exempt from general gambling laws (click here for related article on Russian Poker on the rise).

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