See^rs Ltd (propertySofutions

I <5=" Senators and Congressmen to V paint their attack on the internap tional (as opposed to home-grown) online gaming industry as a moral S' crusade — Senator Jon Kyi who failed to push the bill through the Senate, described online gam ing as "addictive as crack cocaine and a threat to American morals" — the reality is that it is a return to a form of protectionism. America has a huge and powerful gaming industry and does not want to be undermined or undercutby foreign interests.

The move was the second seri ous blow dealtby US authorities to international online gaming firms in recent months. Two directors and major shareholders of non-US on-line betting companies were arrested by American authorities while on visits to America and though the former chairman of SportingBet was later released when the New York State Governor refused to signan orderextraditing him to Louisiana to face charges of illegal computer gambling, the industry continues to fear similar moves against other officers of non-US firms.

The bill, which most gaming industry leaders in Gibraltar be lieved "would never happen", incorporates aspects of legislation putbefore the US Senate— and re jectedbyit —earlierthisyear. Once passed, itmeans thatfinancial orga nizations in the United States will have to block electronic transfer of funds to and from the gaming com panies, Both before it was rejected by the Senate and after Saturday's successful Congressional ploy US bardcing institutions condemned the measure as "an impractical and

It was squeezed through Con gress at the last minute by rightwing Republican leader in the House, Bill Frist who tagged the gaming provisionstotheendofato tally unlinked measuredealingwith portsecurity.AndthoughPresident Dush could refuse to sign it into law, he is unlikely to take this step.

In an interview following the adoption ofthe measure, Frist said: "Gambling is a serious addiction that undermines the family, dashes dreams and frays the fabric of soci ety.. , Although we can't monitor every online gambler or regulate offshore gambling, we can police the financial institutions that disre gard our laws."

PartyGaming said that, after tak ing legal advice, it had concluded that the new legislation, if signed into law, will make it "practically impossible to provide US residente with access to its real money poker and other real money gaming sites".

"As a result of this development, the board of PartyGaming has de termined that ifthe President signs the Act into law, the company will suspend all real money gaming business with US residents, and such suspension will continue indefinitely, subject to clarification of the interpretation and enforce ment of US law and the impact on financial institutions of this and other related legislation," PartyG aming said.

However, access to PartyGaming's online gaming sites for the group's US free play customerswiU be unaffected, while access for all of PartyGaming's non-US customers will also be unaffected.

Biometric Passports

Gibraltar has introduced biometric passports in order to comply with EU requirements and with the standards set by the International Civil Avia tion Organisation. The new passport is identical in format, design and security features, to the biometric passport now being issued by the UK. How ever, it continues to retain the current markings which iden tify Gibraltar as the issuing authority. All British passports now issued in Gibraltar will be in the biometric format.

This also means that Gi braltar will comply with the current United Visa Waiver Programme. This Programme requires all countries, includ ing the UK, which currently benefit from the Programme to issue biometric passports by 26th October 2006 in order to continue as members of the Programme and benefit from visa free travel to the USA after that date.

There is no need to exchange existing passports for the new biometric passport. Current passports will continue to be recognised as valid travel documents until they expire. Furthermore, British Citizens who currently hold Gibral tar issued machine readable passports with a digital photo image will also continue to benefit from the US Visa Waiver Programme.

Customer Care Course

A one-day Customer Care course will be delivered by Ms Julia Sibley on the 22nd January 2007 at Bleak House Institute of Training.

This course aims to provide all staff with the skills and knowl edge to be able to:

• State the four key points for effective customer care and explain why each point is so important

•Explain what skills and quali ties are needed to provide good customer care

• Feel confident in his/her dealings with all customers and demonstrate this in a role-play situation

• Explain how each key point can be implemented in his/her department

The course fee (includes lunch)is £95 per participant. A company certificate will be is sued at ^e end of the course.

For enrolment or further infor mation, please contact Annette Zammit on 57896000 or 72664 (evenings), fax 48255 or e-mail lrainingpackages@yahoo.co.uk