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2006/12/07
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BEIRUT: Lebanon has always been a place in the Middle East for people to enjoy their vices, be it drinking, smoking or gambling. With gambling illegal in much of the Middle East and with online gambling restricted in the U.S., some die-hard gamers have found a home in Lebanon.
“I’m here to study Arabic and exercise my freedom to play online poker,” says Samer Khoury, a professional online poker player from Memphis, Tennessee, who, after a series of online gambling restrictions were introduced in the U.S., says he was forced to make the tough decision to move abroad.
“Originally I tried not to panic,” Khoury says, referring to April 15 of this year, known as Black Friday in the online poker community, when a U.S. government indictment against the three biggest online gambling companies was unsealed, and they were unable to continue processing online credit card payments to their customers. This was on top of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payment through the Internet, essentially making online gambling illegal.
As a result, many looked abroad for their gambling fix. In October, real estate and casino mogul Donald Trump told the Associated Press that the U.S. should legalize Internet gambling, arguing that the current law is causing a lot of money to leave the United States.
“Some people went to Canada or Mexico,” Khoury recalls of his decision to move to Lebanon. “My lease was running out, and I always wished I knew Arabic better.”
He remembers one time when, playing poker at the Casino du Liban, he was sure his opponents were collaborating against him by “dumping chips” (intentionally losing their chips to each other) but could not understand what they were saying to one another.
But what he worries about in Lebanon more than the cheating is the frequent Internet and power outages, which he says can cost an online player a lot of money. To prevent any cuts, he uses a wireless Mobi connection on his computer at all times.
Khoury first got into online poker through his father in the summer of 2004, around the time people were starting to cotton on in their droves to the attractions of the game.
He lost several hundred dollars in his first few games, but by the end of the summer he had won a tournament, and ever since has earned a steady living through poker games and doing online training videos. “Out of college, I was making more money than any job would ever pay. You can make good money based on how good you are.”
But not everyone who begins online poker makes it out of college, lured in early by the buzz of the game.
Nour, who wished not to use his real name to protect his privacy, says he started playing online poker four years ago. At first it was just friendly matches for fun. But two years later he dropped out of college and quit his job in PR, convinced he could make more money playing poker full time.
Since then, he says, his life has completely changed. With no schedule to speak of, he will typically sleep most of the day, playing poker online at night, sometimes going out to the casino for the weekly tournament.
He says he can win or lose up to $20,000 in one month and admits he values money much less than before.
The former economics student, who used to go to the gym and take fastidious care of his health, says that because of his current routine, or lack thereof, he has gained a lot of weight over the past four years.
His poker habit has also affected his social life, to the point where he is no longer in touch with most of his friends from college. He stopped answering their phone calls because, he says, “I wanted my space, and I wanted to focus on poker.” The longest amount of time he’s played consecutively was 38 hours.
“I know I have issues,” Nour acknowledges. But he says he’ll quit one day – “when I win the big one.”
He says he came close last month when he finished 30th in a worldwide online poker tournament on Pokerstars.
But going back to a normal life might be easier said than done – especially with an unfinished college education and work experience that would yield a much more modest salary than what he can currently earn playing poker.
While Lebanon might not have the same grandeur as Las Vegas for gambling, it definitely has its allure. And over the past few years, as poker has grown in popularity, informal venues have popped up. With Lebanon’s relaxed laws on casino and online gambling, some people have become full-time gamblers, sometimes making much more than they would at a regular job, but often incurring big losses.
This has resulted in an unregulated system where gambling is often done in excess – often at great financial losses for players. This plus an absence of hotlines or counseling for gambling addicts means the situation will continue unless something changes, say observers.
“It’s sad because a lot of kids don’t finish their education. They have a good run and then a rut period,” says an industry expert based in Lebanon, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The expert, who has been in the gaming business for over 30 years suggests Lebanon adopt regulations and services to help addicts.
“Some have gotten divorced, lost their houses or even committed suicide,” he says. “Some make money, but most don’t.”
“I’m here to study Arabic and exercise my freedom to play online poker,” says Samer Khoury, a professional online poker player from Memphis, Tennessee, who, after a series of online gambling restrictions were introduced in the U.S., says he was forced to make the tough decision to move abroad.
“Originally I tried not to panic,” Khoury says, referring to April 15 of this year, known as Black Friday in the online poker community, when a U.S. government indictment against the three biggest online gambling companies was unsealed, and they were unable to continue processing online credit card payments to their customers. This was on top of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payment through the Internet, essentially making online gambling illegal.
As a result, many looked abroad for their gambling fix. In October, real estate and casino mogul Donald Trump told the Associated Press that the U.S. should legalize Internet gambling, arguing that the current law is causing a lot of money to leave the United States.
“Some people went to Canada or Mexico,” Khoury recalls of his decision to move to Lebanon. “My lease was running out, and I always wished I knew Arabic better.”
He remembers one time when, playing poker at the Casino du Liban, he was sure his opponents were collaborating against him by “dumping chips” (intentionally losing their chips to each other) but could not understand what they were saying to one another.
But what he worries about in Lebanon more than the cheating is the frequent Internet and power outages, which he says can cost an online player a lot of money. To prevent any cuts, he uses a wireless Mobi connection on his computer at all times.
Khoury first got into online poker through his father in the summer of 2004, around the time people were starting to cotton on in their droves to the attractions of the game.
He lost several hundred dollars in his first few games, but by the end of the summer he had won a tournament, and ever since has earned a steady living through poker games and doing online training videos. “Out of college, I was making more money than any job would ever pay. You can make good money based on how good you are.”
But not everyone who begins online poker makes it out of college, lured in early by the buzz of the game.
Nour, who wished not to use his real name to protect his privacy, says he started playing online poker four years ago. At first it was just friendly matches for fun. But two years later he dropped out of college and quit his job in PR, convinced he could make more money playing poker full time.
Since then, he says, his life has completely changed. With no schedule to speak of, he will typically sleep most of the day, playing poker online at night, sometimes going out to the casino for the weekly tournament.
He says he can win or lose up to $20,000 in one month and admits he values money much less than before.
The former economics student, who used to go to the gym and take fastidious care of his health, says that because of his current routine, or lack thereof, he has gained a lot of weight over the past four years.
His poker habit has also affected his social life, to the point where he is no longer in touch with most of his friends from college. He stopped answering their phone calls because, he says, “I wanted my space, and I wanted to focus on poker.” The longest amount of time he’s played consecutively was 38 hours.
“I know I have issues,” Nour acknowledges. But he says he’ll quit one day – “when I win the big one.”
He says he came close last month when he finished 30th in a worldwide online poker tournament on Pokerstars.
But going back to a normal life might be easier said than done – especially with an unfinished college education and work experience that would yield a much more modest salary than what he can currently earn playing poker.
While Lebanon might not have the same grandeur as Las Vegas for gambling, it definitely has its allure. And over the past few years, as poker has grown in popularity, informal venues have popped up. With Lebanon’s relaxed laws on casino and online gambling, some people have become full-time gamblers, sometimes making much more than they would at a regular job, but often incurring big losses.
This has resulted in an unregulated system where gambling is often done in excess – often at great financial losses for players. This plus an absence of hotlines or counseling for gambling addicts means the situation will continue unless something changes, say observers.
“It’s sad because a lot of kids don’t finish their education. They have a good run and then a rut period,” says an industry expert based in Lebanon, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The expert, who has been in the gaming business for over 30 years suggests Lebanon adopt regulations and services to help addicts.
“Some have gotten divorced, lost their houses or even committed suicide,” he says. “Some make money, but most don’t.”
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2006/12/07
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The world of online gambling has grown exponentially in the past few years, with gamblers able to access a number of online gambling sites from the comfort of their own home without having to make an effort to travel to a casino (their second home, in many cases).
Problems associated with internet gambling include criminal activities undertaken by a number of sites, violating internet gambling regulations and leading to fraudulent scams, identity theft and various other cybercrimes.
The Gambling Act 2005 came into effect in September 2007 and applies to England, Wales and Scotland. It regulates how gambling should be operated legally, with section 4(2)(a) of the Act governing gambling on the internet. The statute aims to ensure the safety of gamblers on the internet.
The Gambling Act also established the Gambling Commission and its aim is to prevent crime related to gambling. The Commission investigates illegal gambling, as well as granting and revoking gambling licences. The Gambling Commission is planning to merge with the National Lottery Commission and the benefit of the merge will enable the regulation of internet gambling to operate with greater efficiency and will offer better protection to online gamblers. The National Lottery Commission's status as a protective organisation operating for the benefit of lottery players will strengthen the legal protection relating to online gambling.
Problems associated with internet gambling include criminal activities undertaken by a number of sites, violating internet gambling regulations and leading to fraudulent scams, identity theft and various other cybercrimes.
The Gambling Act 2005 came into effect in September 2007 and applies to England, Wales and Scotland. It regulates how gambling should be operated legally, with section 4(2)(a) of the Act governing gambling on the internet. The statute aims to ensure the safety of gamblers on the internet.
The Gambling Act also established the Gambling Commission and its aim is to prevent crime related to gambling. The Commission investigates illegal gambling, as well as granting and revoking gambling licences. The Gambling Commission is planning to merge with the National Lottery Commission and the benefit of the merge will enable the regulation of internet gambling to operate with greater efficiency and will offer better protection to online gamblers. The National Lottery Commission's status as a protective organisation operating for the benefit of lottery players will strengthen the legal protection relating to online gambling.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
What’s past is present when it comes to expanding gambling in Illinois.
For much of the 21 years since legislators first approved casino gaming, new debates have taken place about whether to increase the number of riverboat casinos beyond the 10 now allowed in order to build schools and roads, reduce property taxes, catch up on unpaid bills or simply bolster the state’s checkbook.
Illinois came the closest it has since the original Riverboat Gambling Act to a major expansion this past May, when lawmakers authorized new casinos in Chicago, Danville, Rockford, Park City and the south suburbs of Cook County and OK’d slots at the state’s horseracing tracks. That was on top of video poker, which legislators approved as a part of a capital construction program in 2009.
Does that mean the state is coming to a final answer – or at least one that will stick for a while – on what the size and scope of gambling should be in Illinois? Or will Illinois debate gambling expansion for decades, as the city of Springfield has discussed building a second lake?
Both opponents and supporters of the current expansion bill believe the state will decide one way or another soon.
In the last 21 years, the size and scope of gambling expansion packages have varied widely – some included a casino for Chicago, others did not; many offered slots at racetracks; some included video poker in bars and restaurants, which is now the law of the state, although the Illinois Gaming Board hasn’t yet approved any video licenses.
‘Perfect storm’
The latest package is on ice after Gov. Pat Quinn expressed reservations about allowing racetracks to have slot machines. The Illinois House last week voted down a modified version of the spring legislation. That proposal had attempted to mollify Quinn’s concerns by toughening regulatory and ethics provisions. However, it would have kept the slot machines opposed by the governor, which supporters say are necessary to bolster agriculture programs and attract support from downstate lawmakers.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, fell two votes short of passage but could come up again this winter.
Gary Mack, a communications consultant and former press secretary to Gov. Jim Edgar who now works for the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, said Illinois is in a “perfect storm” for gambling expansion.
“The sentiment of the legislature does seem to be that we can do more, we can expand gaming,” Mack said. “We’re down to how we’re going to do it.”
Mack speculated that had video poker – itself a major expansion of gaming – not been already authorized, Quinn would have signed a gambling expansion bill similar to what’s proposed now.
“We passed video poker in a very stealth fashion. I think if video poker had not passed the way it did, this whole issue would have been settled,” Mack said. “If they can reach agreement on this, I do not think you’re going to see much more happening with gambling in the foreseeable future. There may be tweaks –conversion of slots to table games, there’s always going to be talk about taxes and where the split of local money goes.”
Not too close
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, whose members staunchly oppose slots at racetracks, says his group is not opposed to adding casinos in new markets – ones where his members are not already located, particularly on the borders of Indiana and Wisconsin.
“Personally, I think that it can come to a conclusion,” Swoik said. “We’re basically opposed to slots at tracks because they’re close to existing casinos. We’re not against expansion.”
But Swoik hopes that any new law will stabilize the tax environment for casinos. Illinois state has adjusted the way it has taxed casinos over the years, including a 70 percent tax on the highest-earning boats that eventually was phased out.
The opening of the new Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, which was followed by a 20 percent drop in business at the boat in Elgin, shows that putting too many casinos in northeastern Illinois will simply lead to the casinos cannibalizing each other, Swoik said.
“You never know what’s going to happen next,” Swoik said. “I think the biggest obstacle now is that there are certain racetracks that want a casino. Other things can be done to subsidize the racetracks other than give them a casino that will operate 5 miles from a casino that already exists.”
Mack rejects the idea that oversaturation is a problem, pointing to statistics that show Illinois has a lower per-capita number of gaming positions than surrounding states.
That disagreement is important, because the political force each segment of the gambling industry brings is considerable and has contributed to stopping expansion in the past.
“The jury’s out on that,” Mack said of whether Rivers Casino is sucking revenue away from Elgin. “It’s just like a new baseball stadium when it opens -- the losingest team will draw 2 million people for the first three years it’s open. As far as Elgin, I think they’re going to see a return to some of the levels they were at.”
Lang declined to predict whether the end is near for this debate. However, in his own case, he said, if the current legislation or a version of it is ultimately enacted into law, he’ll be done with his longtime push to expand gambling.
“We don’t have an industry that’s giving us the bang for the buck that we could be getting” in terms of jobs and tax revenues, Lang said. “A lot who voted ‘no’ hoped the bill would pass because they believe this is good for jobs.”
Such predictions have been made before, and been wrong. Back in 1997, Tom Grey, then the executive director of the National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, predicted that lawmakers felt pressure to act then, and if they didn’t, “I’m willing to say that’s it for gambling expansion in Illinois.”
It wasn’t.
Chicago casino hopes
Lang, Mack and Swoik have seen
For much of the 21 years since legislators first approved casino gaming, new debates have taken place about whether to increase the number of riverboat casinos beyond the 10 now allowed in order to build schools and roads, reduce property taxes, catch up on unpaid bills or simply bolster the state’s checkbook.
Illinois came the closest it has since the original Riverboat Gambling Act to a major expansion this past May, when lawmakers authorized new casinos in Chicago, Danville, Rockford, Park City and the south suburbs of Cook County and OK’d slots at the state’s horseracing tracks. That was on top of video poker, which legislators approved as a part of a capital construction program in 2009.
Does that mean the state is coming to a final answer – or at least one that will stick for a while – on what the size and scope of gambling should be in Illinois? Or will Illinois debate gambling expansion for decades, as the city of Springfield has discussed building a second lake?
Both opponents and supporters of the current expansion bill believe the state will decide one way or another soon.
In the last 21 years, the size and scope of gambling expansion packages have varied widely – some included a casino for Chicago, others did not; many offered slots at racetracks; some included video poker in bars and restaurants, which is now the law of the state, although the Illinois Gaming Board hasn’t yet approved any video licenses.
‘Perfect storm’
The latest package is on ice after Gov. Pat Quinn expressed reservations about allowing racetracks to have slot machines. The Illinois House last week voted down a modified version of the spring legislation. That proposal had attempted to mollify Quinn’s concerns by toughening regulatory and ethics provisions. However, it would have kept the slot machines opposed by the governor, which supporters say are necessary to bolster agriculture programs and attract support from downstate lawmakers.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, fell two votes short of passage but could come up again this winter.
Gary Mack, a communications consultant and former press secretary to Gov. Jim Edgar who now works for the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, said Illinois is in a “perfect storm” for gambling expansion.
“The sentiment of the legislature does seem to be that we can do more, we can expand gaming,” Mack said. “We’re down to how we’re going to do it.”
Mack speculated that had video poker – itself a major expansion of gaming – not been already authorized, Quinn would have signed a gambling expansion bill similar to what’s proposed now.
“We passed video poker in a very stealth fashion. I think if video poker had not passed the way it did, this whole issue would have been settled,” Mack said. “If they can reach agreement on this, I do not think you’re going to see much more happening with gambling in the foreseeable future. There may be tweaks –conversion of slots to table games, there’s always going to be talk about taxes and where the split of local money goes.”
Not too close
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, whose members staunchly oppose slots at racetracks, says his group is not opposed to adding casinos in new markets – ones where his members are not already located, particularly on the borders of Indiana and Wisconsin.
“Personally, I think that it can come to a conclusion,” Swoik said. “We’re basically opposed to slots at tracks because they’re close to existing casinos. We’re not against expansion.”
But Swoik hopes that any new law will stabilize the tax environment for casinos. Illinois state has adjusted the way it has taxed casinos over the years, including a 70 percent tax on the highest-earning boats that eventually was phased out.
The opening of the new Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, which was followed by a 20 percent drop in business at the boat in Elgin, shows that putting too many casinos in northeastern Illinois will simply lead to the casinos cannibalizing each other, Swoik said.
“You never know what’s going to happen next,” Swoik said. “I think the biggest obstacle now is that there are certain racetracks that want a casino. Other things can be done to subsidize the racetracks other than give them a casino that will operate 5 miles from a casino that already exists.”
Mack rejects the idea that oversaturation is a problem, pointing to statistics that show Illinois has a lower per-capita number of gaming positions than surrounding states.
That disagreement is important, because the political force each segment of the gambling industry brings is considerable and has contributed to stopping expansion in the past.
“The jury’s out on that,” Mack said of whether Rivers Casino is sucking revenue away from Elgin. “It’s just like a new baseball stadium when it opens -- the losingest team will draw 2 million people for the first three years it’s open. As far as Elgin, I think they’re going to see a return to some of the levels they were at.”
Lang declined to predict whether the end is near for this debate. However, in his own case, he said, if the current legislation or a version of it is ultimately enacted into law, he’ll be done with his longtime push to expand gambling.
“We don’t have an industry that’s giving us the bang for the buck that we could be getting” in terms of jobs and tax revenues, Lang said. “A lot who voted ‘no’ hoped the bill would pass because they believe this is good for jobs.”
Such predictions have been made before, and been wrong. Back in 1997, Tom Grey, then the executive director of the National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, predicted that lawmakers felt pressure to act then, and if they didn’t, “I’m willing to say that’s it for gambling expansion in Illinois.”
It wasn’t.
Chicago casino hopes
Lang, Mack and Swoik have seen
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2006/12/07
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29893
Bradley Cooper most memorably known for his stellar performance in “The Hangover” has just earned some serious recognition as the “Sexiest Man Alive” by People Magazine. He will now join the leagues of Hollywood’s leading sexiest actors with Ryan Reynolds being last year’s top pick.
So what exactly is behind that pretty face that made him People’s Magazine’s favorite? The 36-year-old actor from Pennsylvania got his start on the HBO series Sex and the City which for you fans of the show, you’ll have to search for Season 2 episode from 1999 to find him.
Personally, his role in Wedding Crashers is where I remember his baby blues and that’s exactly where his career seemed to take off. According to People Magazine, what qualified Cooper to receive the honor is a combination of his box office appeal, his looks and the lengths he’ll go for romance meaning that he will travel to meet his leading lady.
Romantically, the actor has been linked to Renee Zellwegger and most recently Jennifer Lopez but for the most part, the guy is still single but with this new honor, probably not for much longer. His next project, “The Words” is a thriller due out next year starring Olivia Wilde who it was rumored that he may have been dating after getting cozy at a movie premiere but it looks like they’re just friends.
Congrats to Bradley and his winning sex appeal….
So what exactly is behind that pretty face that made him People’s Magazine’s favorite? The 36-year-old actor from Pennsylvania got his start on the HBO series Sex and the City which for you fans of the show, you’ll have to search for Season 2 episode from 1999 to find him.
Personally, his role in Wedding Crashers is where I remember his baby blues and that’s exactly where his career seemed to take off. According to People Magazine, what qualified Cooper to receive the honor is a combination of his box office appeal, his looks and the lengths he’ll go for romance meaning that he will travel to meet his leading lady.
Romantically, the actor has been linked to Renee Zellwegger and most recently Jennifer Lopez but for the most part, the guy is still single but with this new honor, probably not for much longer. His next project, “The Words” is a thriller due out next year starring Olivia Wilde who it was rumored that he may have been dating after getting cozy at a movie premiere but it looks like they’re just friends.
Congrats to Bradley and his winning sex appeal….
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2006/12/07
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29893
The social networking site has changed its advertising policy to allow adverts that promote online gaming and other games of chance, according to a report from Casino Times. The changes mean that gaming companies will find it easier to reach their target audience and it is likely to lead to increased revenue for Facebook.
To comply with stringent online gambling regulations, the site will have to ensure that online gaming ads are prevented from appearing in localities where it is illegal. This means that potential customers in the US will not see any adverts promoting online gaming.
Due to the high cost of advertising on the site, it is thought that only the bigger players in the industry will take advantage of the opportunity. :dance:
To comply with stringent online gambling regulations, the site will have to ensure that online gaming ads are prevented from appearing in localities where it is illegal. This means that potential customers in the US will not see any adverts promoting online gaming.
Due to the high cost of advertising on the site, it is thought that only the bigger players in the industry will take advantage of the opportunity. :dance:
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2006/12/07
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29893
The European online gambling industry, through its representative trade associations, applauded the adoption by the EU Parliament of the Creutzmann report. The Remote Gaming Association (RGA), which represents many of the UK's leading online gambling companies, and the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) have released their statements.
The RGA statement said that the resolution demonstrated a clear shift in the EU policy for the European licensed online gambling sector. The most important outcome was the instructions to the European Commission (EC) to pursue infringement proceedings against Member States that are violating EU rules in framing their online gambling regulation and licensing frameworks.
RGA chief executive, Clive Hawkswood, said that the licensed private online gambling industry is ready with European-wide standards on customer protection, as required by the EU Parliament's resolution. This work was carried out through the Responsible Remote Gambling Measures formulated in consultation with the EU recognized European Committee for Standardization. Hawkswood also lauded the clause that required national licensing procedures to be transparent and non-discriminatory, and to avoid unnecessary duplication of requirements and controls carried out in Member States. Hawkswood said, "There is no evidence that introducing a well-regulated licensing regime with multiple operators presents any more concerns than a monopoly. It is clear that Member States are increasingly coming to that conclusion."
The RGA statement cautioned the online gambling industry not to be too optimistic about the future. It pointed out that the EU Parliament vote is a non-legislative process. The next steps in this regard are unclear and the online casino operators will have to wait till the EC Green Paper is finalized.
EGBA also welcomed the EU Parliament vote and particularly commended the efforts of Creutzmann in preparing and presenting his report. The statement released by EGBA was on the lines of the RGA statement. Sigrid Ligne, the general secretary of EGBA, pointed out that time is of the essence because Member States are pushing ahead with the regulation of their national online gambling markets without regard for EU rules. The deeper they entrench themselves the more difficult will it become to force a change. Ligne said, "As the guardian of the Treaties, the Commission must act to curb further fragmentation of the Internal Market by consistently declaring protectionist national regimes to be incompatible with EU law." Ligne also referred to the Green Paper that the EC is finalizing. It has to be based on the directions given by the EU Parliament through the adoption of the resolution. The results of the intensive consultations are also available as are the conclusions of the expert workshops. Now Commissioner Michel Barnier has no excuse for delaying action on defaulting Member States.
The RGA statement said that the resolution demonstrated a clear shift in the EU policy for the European licensed online gambling sector. The most important outcome was the instructions to the European Commission (EC) to pursue infringement proceedings against Member States that are violating EU rules in framing their online gambling regulation and licensing frameworks.
RGA chief executive, Clive Hawkswood, said that the licensed private online gambling industry is ready with European-wide standards on customer protection, as required by the EU Parliament's resolution. This work was carried out through the Responsible Remote Gambling Measures formulated in consultation with the EU recognized European Committee for Standardization. Hawkswood also lauded the clause that required national licensing procedures to be transparent and non-discriminatory, and to avoid unnecessary duplication of requirements and controls carried out in Member States. Hawkswood said, "There is no evidence that introducing a well-regulated licensing regime with multiple operators presents any more concerns than a monopoly. It is clear that Member States are increasingly coming to that conclusion."
The RGA statement cautioned the online gambling industry not to be too optimistic about the future. It pointed out that the EU Parliament vote is a non-legislative process. The next steps in this regard are unclear and the online casino operators will have to wait till the EC Green Paper is finalized.
EGBA also welcomed the EU Parliament vote and particularly commended the efforts of Creutzmann in preparing and presenting his report. The statement released by EGBA was on the lines of the RGA statement. Sigrid Ligne, the general secretary of EGBA, pointed out that time is of the essence because Member States are pushing ahead with the regulation of their national online gambling markets without regard for EU rules. The deeper they entrench themselves the more difficult will it become to force a change. Ligne said, "As the guardian of the Treaties, the Commission must act to curb further fragmentation of the Internal Market by consistently declaring protectionist national regimes to be incompatible with EU law." Ligne also referred to the Green Paper that the EC is finalizing. It has to be based on the directions given by the EU Parliament through the adoption of the resolution. The results of the intensive consultations are also available as are the conclusions of the expert workshops. Now Commissioner Michel Barnier has no excuse for delaying action on defaulting Member States.
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2006/12/07
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After the introduction of the online casino industry a few years ago, it is still growing quite strong. In fact, a number of CEOs are working even harder to get even more results. In a recent article published by SBWire, numerous businessmen are turning online for all their business requirements. Because the online gambling industry is still considered to be new to the market, many people still retain dreams of becoming an online gambling tycoon. Really, this is not a very unrealistic dream as the online gambling industry is now worth billions of dollars with people all over the world gambling.
Another thing that has worked for the online casino industry is that it is still very controversial, allowing it to generate news all the time. While online gambling is allowed in a number of countries, in others, like the United States of America, there is still a blanket ban on online casinos. Numerous European countries are starting to open up their “cyberspace borders” to online gambling, creating new regulations. The countries include Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. While the rest of Europe is falling in line with online gambling, proponents of online gambling in the United States hopes their country will soon follow suit.
There is still much room for growth when it comes to the online gambling industry. This means that this market is not yet saturated as new websites are making room for themselves online. The online casino industry has also reached a phase in its growth where it is not a niche market but a mainstream market. Today, online casinos are involved with a number of IPOs as well as merger agreements with bigger companies.
Another thing that has worked for the online casino industry is that it is still very controversial, allowing it to generate news all the time. While online gambling is allowed in a number of countries, in others, like the United States of America, there is still a blanket ban on online casinos. Numerous European countries are starting to open up their “cyberspace borders” to online gambling, creating new regulations. The countries include Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. While the rest of Europe is falling in line with online gambling, proponents of online gambling in the United States hopes their country will soon follow suit.
There is still much room for growth when it comes to the online gambling industry. This means that this market is not yet saturated as new websites are making room for themselves online. The online casino industry has also reached a phase in its growth where it is not a niche market but a mainstream market. Today, online casinos are involved with a number of IPOs as well as merger agreements with bigger companies.
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2006/12/07
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BOSTON — In its final formal session before the end of the year, the Legislature yesterday gave final approval to expanded gambling, a transgender rights bill and the re-mapping of the state’s congressional districts.
In addition, the House and Senate approved a bill to prohibit use of credit scores in setting auto insurance premiums.
In a rare procedure after the bill to license three casinos and a slot parlor was passed Tuesday, lawmakers went back into it on Wednesday and cut in half — from 5 percent to 2.5 percent — the share of casino tax revenues that will be directed to a fund to pay for horse racing development.
In addition to that share of casino taxes, the bill imposes a special 9 percent tax on slot machine revenues that will go to the horse racing fund to pay for private racing purses, benefits for horse industry workers and to pay for private horse breeding programs.
That last-minute change was undertaken after Gov. Deval L. Patrick, who said Tuesday he agrees with the basic elements of the bill, raised questions about the appropriateness of the horse racing fund, which he described as “worrisome.”
Now that the bill has been sent to his desk, the governor has 10 days to sign or veto all or portions of the bill.
The governor rejected a bill last year for three casinos and two racetracks, but agreed this year to allow a single competitively bid slot parlor in addition to three regional casinos.
The bill allows for three casinos in three parts of the state with card and table games and leaves it up to a new gaming commission to decide how many slot machines will be allowed in the casinos.
The bill includes requirements for hotels and other amenities and a minimum $500 million investment for each casino. That is half the minimum investment the state had called for in similar legislation defeated by the House in 2008.
The slots parlor would be allowed up to 1,250 slot machines. The state would take 25 percent of casino gaming revenues and 40 percent of slot gaming revenues in addition to the 9 percent racing fund tax on slots.
House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, who put casino and slot gaming legislation back on track after succeeding former speaker and gambling opponent, Salvatore F. DiMasi in 2009, said new gambling complexes will bring jobs and revenue to the state.
Mr. DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray both continued playing the bill up as a job creator after its passage, without acknowledging critics’ claims that the bill will hurt existing businesses, increase gambling addictions and cause more divorces, foreclosures and bankruptcies, while reducing state lottery sales.
“This expanded gaming legislation will bring immediate jobs, local aid and economic growth to our Commonwealth at a time we need it most,” Mr. DeLeo said, citing predictions of up to 15,000 new jobs. Ms. Murray said while the bill will not solve the state’s economic problems, it will put some unemployed residents back to work with good pay and benefits. “We still have more than 250,000 people who are unemployed,” she said.
The bill to outlaw discrimination against transgender men and women by adding that group to the state’s anti-discrimination laws was passed by the House on a 95-58 vote Tuesday and approved by the Senate yesterday on a voice vote with little debate.
The House rejected an amendment by Rep. Paul K. Frost, R-Auburn, to strip most of the provisions and merely add transgender to the list of classes protected from hate crimes. Advocates said the bill will prohibit discrimination in housing and employment and also prohibit harassment of transgender people, while critics said it will open up small businesses to discrimination lawsuits.
After a final partisan skirmish in the Senate over division of several towns among different congressional districts in the new map that reduced the state’s congressional delegation from 10 to nine, the new redistricting map was approved in the Senate, 31-6. The House had approved the map 122-29 Tuesday.
A GOP amendment to put more southern Worcester County towns in the district based in Worcester was rejected on 119-32 House vote despite argument by Mr. Frost that the change would provide a district more focused on Central Massachusetts.
A three strikes crime bill failed to clear the Legislature after the House and Senate disagreed on sentencing reforms, expanded wiretap authority and other provisions included in a version approved by the Senate. The House approved a stripped-down version that only included the enhanced sentencing and parole bans for anyone convicted of a third violent crime. Ms. Murray said a joint conference committee would be named to work on a compromise bill.
Other legislation that gained partial approval was a bill sponsored by Rep. John J. Binienda, D-Worcester, to allow children and spouses to testify in court through secure video connections instead of being in court in person, in cases against a family member subject to a violence-prevention restraining order.
The bill is a copy of a measure adopted in Connecticut after the murder of Jennifer Magnano, who returned to that state to testify against her husband, only to be killed by him at their home. The woman’s son, David Magnano, a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, had asked Mr. Binienda to propose the change here.
The Senate approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, to allow local health boards to adopt regulations requiring children camps to have life jackets available for each minor child present. The bill would not apply to swimming pools or wading pools. Mr. Brewer filed the bill in 2008 at the request of the Frechette family of Sturbridge after their 4-year-old son, Christian, died after wandering off and falling into a lake at a town camp he was attending at Cedar Lake. Drowning, he said, is the second leading cause of death for children younger than 5.
In addition, the House and Senate approved a bill to prohibit use of credit scores in setting auto insurance premiums.
In a rare procedure after the bill to license three casinos and a slot parlor was passed Tuesday, lawmakers went back into it on Wednesday and cut in half — from 5 percent to 2.5 percent — the share of casino tax revenues that will be directed to a fund to pay for horse racing development.
In addition to that share of casino taxes, the bill imposes a special 9 percent tax on slot machine revenues that will go to the horse racing fund to pay for private racing purses, benefits for horse industry workers and to pay for private horse breeding programs.
That last-minute change was undertaken after Gov. Deval L. Patrick, who said Tuesday he agrees with the basic elements of the bill, raised questions about the appropriateness of the horse racing fund, which he described as “worrisome.”
Now that the bill has been sent to his desk, the governor has 10 days to sign or veto all or portions of the bill.
The governor rejected a bill last year for three casinos and two racetracks, but agreed this year to allow a single competitively bid slot parlor in addition to three regional casinos.
The bill allows for three casinos in three parts of the state with card and table games and leaves it up to a new gaming commission to decide how many slot machines will be allowed in the casinos.
The bill includes requirements for hotels and other amenities and a minimum $500 million investment for each casino. That is half the minimum investment the state had called for in similar legislation defeated by the House in 2008.
The slots parlor would be allowed up to 1,250 slot machines. The state would take 25 percent of casino gaming revenues and 40 percent of slot gaming revenues in addition to the 9 percent racing fund tax on slots.
House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, who put casino and slot gaming legislation back on track after succeeding former speaker and gambling opponent, Salvatore F. DiMasi in 2009, said new gambling complexes will bring jobs and revenue to the state.
Mr. DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray both continued playing the bill up as a job creator after its passage, without acknowledging critics’ claims that the bill will hurt existing businesses, increase gambling addictions and cause more divorces, foreclosures and bankruptcies, while reducing state lottery sales.
“This expanded gaming legislation will bring immediate jobs, local aid and economic growth to our Commonwealth at a time we need it most,” Mr. DeLeo said, citing predictions of up to 15,000 new jobs. Ms. Murray said while the bill will not solve the state’s economic problems, it will put some unemployed residents back to work with good pay and benefits. “We still have more than 250,000 people who are unemployed,” she said.
The bill to outlaw discrimination against transgender men and women by adding that group to the state’s anti-discrimination laws was passed by the House on a 95-58 vote Tuesday and approved by the Senate yesterday on a voice vote with little debate.
The House rejected an amendment by Rep. Paul K. Frost, R-Auburn, to strip most of the provisions and merely add transgender to the list of classes protected from hate crimes. Advocates said the bill will prohibit discrimination in housing and employment and also prohibit harassment of transgender people, while critics said it will open up small businesses to discrimination lawsuits.
After a final partisan skirmish in the Senate over division of several towns among different congressional districts in the new map that reduced the state’s congressional delegation from 10 to nine, the new redistricting map was approved in the Senate, 31-6. The House had approved the map 122-29 Tuesday.
A GOP amendment to put more southern Worcester County towns in the district based in Worcester was rejected on 119-32 House vote despite argument by Mr. Frost that the change would provide a district more focused on Central Massachusetts.
A three strikes crime bill failed to clear the Legislature after the House and Senate disagreed on sentencing reforms, expanded wiretap authority and other provisions included in a version approved by the Senate. The House approved a stripped-down version that only included the enhanced sentencing and parole bans for anyone convicted of a third violent crime. Ms. Murray said a joint conference committee would be named to work on a compromise bill.
Other legislation that gained partial approval was a bill sponsored by Rep. John J. Binienda, D-Worcester, to allow children and spouses to testify in court through secure video connections instead of being in court in person, in cases against a family member subject to a violence-prevention restraining order.
The bill is a copy of a measure adopted in Connecticut after the murder of Jennifer Magnano, who returned to that state to testify against her husband, only to be killed by him at their home. The woman’s son, David Magnano, a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, had asked Mr. Binienda to propose the change here.
The Senate approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, to allow local health boards to adopt regulations requiring children camps to have life jackets available for each minor child present. The bill would not apply to swimming pools or wading pools. Mr. Brewer filed the bill in 2008 at the request of the Frechette family of Sturbridge after their 4-year-old son, Christian, died after wandering off and falling into a lake at a town camp he was attending at Cedar Lake. Drowning, he said, is the second leading cause of death for children younger than 5.
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2006/12/07
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Dan Farah of Farah Films has teamed with Hammerstein Prods. and producer Roy Gabay to develop New Line Cinema's 1992 comedy "Honeymoon in Vegas" as a Broadway musical.
Project was quietly workshopped in Gotham throughout October, culminating in several private presentations for investors. Producers are weighing several offers from various financiers in the Broadway and Hollywood communities with an eye toward premiering next spring.
Former "Grey's Anatomy" star T.R. Knight, Broadway favorite Mary Faber ("American Idiot") and Tony Danza take over the roles played in the film by Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker and James Caan.
"Vegas" writer-director Andrew Bergman adapted his original screenplay, while the music and lyrics were written by Jason Robert Brown ("Parade"). The show will be directed by Gary Griffin ("The Color Purple.")
Story follows an engaged couple who get mixed up with a seasoned gambler (Danza). After the man (Knight) loses a big bet to the gambler, his fiancee (Faber) is forced to spend the weekend with the poker pro. When the man tries to get her back, he discovers that the gambler has fled Vegas with his fiancee in tow.
The rest of the cast includes nominee Nancy Opel ("Urine-town"), Deborah Lew ("South Pacific"), Alvin Ing ("Pacific Overtures"), John Conlee ("The Full Monty") and Faber's "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" co-star Rob Bartlett.
"Vegas" marks Farah's expansion into the world of staged entertainment, which has proved a successful move for several movie producers including Marc Platt ("Wicked") and Prospect Pictures ("Rock of Ages"), as well as Trey Parker and Matt Stone ("Book of Mormon").
Project was quietly workshopped in Gotham throughout October, culminating in several private presentations for investors. Producers are weighing several offers from various financiers in the Broadway and Hollywood communities with an eye toward premiering next spring.
Former "Grey's Anatomy" star T.R. Knight, Broadway favorite Mary Faber ("American Idiot") and Tony Danza take over the roles played in the film by Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker and James Caan.
"Vegas" writer-director Andrew Bergman adapted his original screenplay, while the music and lyrics were written by Jason Robert Brown ("Parade"). The show will be directed by Gary Griffin ("The Color Purple.")
Story follows an engaged couple who get mixed up with a seasoned gambler (Danza). After the man (Knight) loses a big bet to the gambler, his fiancee (Faber) is forced to spend the weekend with the poker pro. When the man tries to get her back, he discovers that the gambler has fled Vegas with his fiancee in tow.
The rest of the cast includes nominee Nancy Opel ("Urine-town"), Deborah Lew ("South Pacific"), Alvin Ing ("Pacific Overtures"), John Conlee ("The Full Monty") and Faber's "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" co-star Rob Bartlett.
"Vegas" marks Farah's expansion into the world of staged entertainment, which has proved a successful move for several movie producers including Marc Platt ("Wicked") and Prospect Pictures ("Rock of Ages"), as well as Trey Parker and Matt Stone ("Book of Mormon").
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2006/12/07
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Hollywood marriages definitely have an expiration date including what seemed to be the perfect marriage between Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore but after all hell broke loose about his affair in San Diego, these two are hanging on by a string. Lucky for them, they have Demi’s ex-husband in their corner, Bruce Willis who is willing to lend them his vacation home so they can have some privacy and attempt to work things out.
Reports of the two spending a lot of time apart would have one think that the two are headed toward splitsville but after all was said, done and rumored, the couple are attempting to piece their ailing marriage back together again and it looks like it’s going to be with the help of Bruce Willis.
These three have an incredibly civilized relationship and thanks to Bruce, Demi and Ashton will be headed to his Turks and Caicos vacation home to unplug for a while to find out if they’ve reached the point of no return or if there is actually something there to salvage.
Adding insult to injury, Sara Leal, the woman who reportedly spent a wild night with Kutcher in September in San Diego gave a play by play to the media about their one night together which obviously blew up all over the internet.
According to a source of US Magazine, their relationship is incredibly strained but maybe there is a flicker of hope for these two yet.
Reports of the two spending a lot of time apart would have one think that the two are headed toward splitsville but after all was said, done and rumored, the couple are attempting to piece their ailing marriage back together again and it looks like it’s going to be with the help of Bruce Willis.
These three have an incredibly civilized relationship and thanks to Bruce, Demi and Ashton will be headed to his Turks and Caicos vacation home to unplug for a while to find out if they’ve reached the point of no return or if there is actually something there to salvage.
Adding insult to injury, Sara Leal, the woman who reportedly spent a wild night with Kutcher in September in San Diego gave a play by play to the media about their one night together which obviously blew up all over the internet.
According to a source of US Magazine, their relationship is incredibly strained but maybe there is a flicker of hope for these two yet.
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2006/12/07
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29893
Our CTXM casino has been up and running a few months now with both downloadable and browser based options on GR88.com and Bulldog777.com. We have been very happy with the way players have responded to the casino and the constant addition of great new games.
Some affiliates don’t seem to be very familiar with CTXM as a casino software, but you should do yourself a favor and check it out. Players really love the games, especially the slots. The parent company of CTXM also creates console games for xbox, so the graphics are very good.
To help affiliates promote the casino, we are offering a no deposit bonus promotion where you can offer players up to $88 free! Just contact [email][email protected][/email] for the details. :dirol
Some affiliates don’t seem to be very familiar with CTXM as a casino software, but you should do yourself a favor and check it out. Players really love the games, especially the slots. The parent company of CTXM also creates console games for xbox, so the graphics are very good.
To help affiliates promote the casino, we are offering a no deposit bonus promotion where you can offer players up to $88 free! Just contact [email][email protected][/email] for the details. :dirol
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2006/12/07
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When we last met, I had placed my second straight wager on Houston and suggested you “ride the Texans’’ for the remainder of the season. So when Houston rewarded me by crushing Tampa on the road, 37-9, I envisioned the Texans helping me dig out of the hole (canyon?) I created for myself.
And then I received a text message from a friend on Monday night. “Ride the Texans?’’ it read.
This was his way of informing me that Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was out for the year.
I thank the Texans for their two weeks of service, but now it’s time to ride another team. Here are this week’s candidates (home team in caps):
NEW ENGLAND (minus-15) over Kansas City: The Patriots have such a weak remaining schedule that their spreads are bound to get out of hand. This week, despite laying more than two scores, they’re worthy of your hard-earned cash. Perhaps new Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko will provide a spark, but after losses to Miami and Denver, does it matter who plays for Kansas City? The Patriots - kings of the regular season - will pounce and never let up. Risking $110 to win $100.
ATLANTA (minus-6) over Tennessee: The Titans are terrific at clobbering the Carolinas and Indianapolises of the world, but against quality opponents, they’ve been inept. Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Houston have outscored Tennessee, 103-41. Prior to losing in devastating fashion to New Orleans, the Falcons had covered three straight while winning by an average of 15 points. Risking $110 to win $100.
Oakland (minus-1) over MINNESOTA: The Vikings will try to use Adrian Peterson to exploit Oakland’s weak run defense, but Minnesota’s secondary is even weaker. The Raiders will take advantage and force the Vikings into playing from behind - rendering Peterson ineffective. Risking $110 to win $100.
Arizona (plus-9 1/2) over SAN FRANCISCO: The numbers are in the 49ers’ favor, but their spreads are getting unruly. San Francisco is 8-0-1 against the spread and, dating back to last year, 6-0-1 against the spread at home. I’ve found the team to buck that trend: the Cardinals. Arizona has put together a nice stretch of tough football, with two straight wins and nearly a third at Baltimore. These are division rivals, and the Cardinals have enough playmakers to hang around. Risking $110 to win $100.
And then I received a text message from a friend on Monday night. “Ride the Texans?’’ it read.
This was his way of informing me that Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was out for the year.
I thank the Texans for their two weeks of service, but now it’s time to ride another team. Here are this week’s candidates (home team in caps):
NEW ENGLAND (minus-15) over Kansas City: The Patriots have such a weak remaining schedule that their spreads are bound to get out of hand. This week, despite laying more than two scores, they’re worthy of your hard-earned cash. Perhaps new Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko will provide a spark, but after losses to Miami and Denver, does it matter who plays for Kansas City? The Patriots - kings of the regular season - will pounce and never let up. Risking $110 to win $100.
ATLANTA (minus-6) over Tennessee: The Titans are terrific at clobbering the Carolinas and Indianapolises of the world, but against quality opponents, they’ve been inept. Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Houston have outscored Tennessee, 103-41. Prior to losing in devastating fashion to New Orleans, the Falcons had covered three straight while winning by an average of 15 points. Risking $110 to win $100.
Oakland (minus-1) over MINNESOTA: The Vikings will try to use Adrian Peterson to exploit Oakland’s weak run defense, but Minnesota’s secondary is even weaker. The Raiders will take advantage and force the Vikings into playing from behind - rendering Peterson ineffective. Risking $110 to win $100.
Arizona (plus-9 1/2) over SAN FRANCISCO: The numbers are in the 49ers’ favor, but their spreads are getting unruly. San Francisco is 8-0-1 against the spread and, dating back to last year, 6-0-1 against the spread at home. I’ve found the team to buck that trend: the Cardinals. Arizona has put together a nice stretch of tough football, with two straight wins and nearly a third at Baltimore. These are division rivals, and the Cardinals have enough playmakers to hang around. Risking $110 to win $100.
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2006/12/07
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29893
Gov. John Lynch has done the citizens of New Hampshire a great service by announcing his intention to veto any bill allowing casinos or racinos in the state.
By making this announcement early, Lynch has saved lawmakers and citizens a great deal of time and trouble. While tough economic times might have allowed gambling lobbyists to overcome historic opposition to expanded gaming in the Granite State, there is no way gambling house operators will be able to garner the two-thirds majority needed in both the House and Senate to override Lynch's veto.
During his unprecedented four terms as governor, Lynch has been open-minded about gambling and studied the issue with an objective eye. While we often argue the moral hazards of expanded gaming, the governor tended to coldly focus on what it would mean in terms of the economy, governance and overall quality of life.
"Over the years, I have listened carefully to all sides in the gambling debate, and even convened a bipartisan group of distinguished citizens to examine the issues around expanded gambling," the governor wrote in a letter to Senate President Peter Bragdon and House Speaker William O'Brien. "After a great deal of thought and consideration, I have determined that the risks to New Hampshire from expanded gambling are simply too high."
Lynch begins his critique of expanded gambling by noting the state does not have a "regulatory structure sufficient to police expanded gambling operations." He cites specific examples of corruption in Pennsylvania, which has gone "all in" for gambling without a proper structure in place.
Lynch then notes expansion of gambling would "bring with it social problems, harming New Hampshire's quality of life and adding costs to local and state government and social service agencies."
He argues jobs gained in gambling would be jobs lost at existing businesses as money is diverted from traditional occupations to gambling houses. He also concludes that legalizing one casino inevitably leads to a proliferation of gambling.
"I do not believe expanded gambling would stay limited to one or two locations over the long term," the governor wrote. "When revenue failed to meet expectations, there would be a strong push to expand gambling to other parts of the state." He cites West Virginia, which began allowing slots at race tracks in 1994 but by 2009, "gambling had expanded to such an extent that a single West Virginia county, with a population of just 37,000 people, had 37 mini casinos."
The governor also shares our greatest concern: The gambling industry's potential influence on our frugal and responsible state. "I do not believe it is in our state's long-term interest to grant that much influence to one industry," Lynch wrote.
Finally, and this is almost laughable, the governor reminds the House and Senate that we don't need to do things simply because Massachusetts does them. "There are a lot of things that Massachusetts does (such as have income and sales taxes) that we don't do in New Hampshire," he wrote.
"Over the years, New Hampshire has developed a brand that has led to our economic success. We offer a well educated workforce, low crime rates, and a beautiful natural environment," he wrote. "New Hampshire is consistently ranked among the best states to raise a child, the most livable state and the safest state. ... I believe we must be extraordinarily cautious about doing things that may hurt our successful strategy."
We agree with Lynch that we should not gamble with our future.
By making this announcement early, Lynch has saved lawmakers and citizens a great deal of time and trouble. While tough economic times might have allowed gambling lobbyists to overcome historic opposition to expanded gaming in the Granite State, there is no way gambling house operators will be able to garner the two-thirds majority needed in both the House and Senate to override Lynch's veto.
During his unprecedented four terms as governor, Lynch has been open-minded about gambling and studied the issue with an objective eye. While we often argue the moral hazards of expanded gaming, the governor tended to coldly focus on what it would mean in terms of the economy, governance and overall quality of life.
"Over the years, I have listened carefully to all sides in the gambling debate, and even convened a bipartisan group of distinguished citizens to examine the issues around expanded gambling," the governor wrote in a letter to Senate President Peter Bragdon and House Speaker William O'Brien. "After a great deal of thought and consideration, I have determined that the risks to New Hampshire from expanded gambling are simply too high."
Lynch begins his critique of expanded gambling by noting the state does not have a "regulatory structure sufficient to police expanded gambling operations." He cites specific examples of corruption in Pennsylvania, which has gone "all in" for gambling without a proper structure in place.
Lynch then notes expansion of gambling would "bring with it social problems, harming New Hampshire's quality of life and adding costs to local and state government and social service agencies."
He argues jobs gained in gambling would be jobs lost at existing businesses as money is diverted from traditional occupations to gambling houses. He also concludes that legalizing one casino inevitably leads to a proliferation of gambling.
"I do not believe expanded gambling would stay limited to one or two locations over the long term," the governor wrote. "When revenue failed to meet expectations, there would be a strong push to expand gambling to other parts of the state." He cites West Virginia, which began allowing slots at race tracks in 1994 but by 2009, "gambling had expanded to such an extent that a single West Virginia county, with a population of just 37,000 people, had 37 mini casinos."
The governor also shares our greatest concern: The gambling industry's potential influence on our frugal and responsible state. "I do not believe it is in our state's long-term interest to grant that much influence to one industry," Lynch wrote.
Finally, and this is almost laughable, the governor reminds the House and Senate that we don't need to do things simply because Massachusetts does them. "There are a lot of things that Massachusetts does (such as have income and sales taxes) that we don't do in New Hampshire," he wrote.
"Over the years, New Hampshire has developed a brand that has led to our economic success. We offer a well educated workforce, low crime rates, and a beautiful natural environment," he wrote. "New Hampshire is consistently ranked among the best states to raise a child, the most livable state and the safest state. ... I believe we must be extraordinarily cautious about doing things that may hurt our successful strategy."
We agree with Lynch that we should not gamble with our future.
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2006/12/07
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Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., held court Friday at her subcommittee, hearing from lawmakers who disagree on whether Congress should lift a 2006 federal ban on Internet gambling.
Bono Mack's Energy and Commerce Trade subcommittee could play a crucial role in determining whether online gambling legislation moves ahead, but she gave few hints on where she stands during her second hearing on this topic.
“This is an important issue which I have been following very closely in hopes of making certain that everyone is dealt a fair hand,” she said in her opening statement before ticking off the pros and cons on each side.
Her subcommittee became a promising path for a gambling bill on a detour after another route--through Financial Services--closed off.
Financial Service Ranking Member Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif., visited Bono Mack's subcommittee to pitch their bill as a small government policy that makes good economic sense.
“Passing legislation like ours would foster the development and growth of a new American industry, which would bring along with it thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity, the revenues of which could be taxed to assist our ailing federal budget,” Campbell said.
Frank, ranking member of the Financial Services Committee, said the effort had stalled in his own committee because Chairman Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., isn’t convinced the ban should go.
But a bill introduced by Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, lifting the ban on online poker—but not all gambling—could give Frank and Campbell a foothold to move some of their goals through Bono Mack’s subcommittee instead.
“If all we could get would be poker, I’d be for it,” Frank said.
Campbell also supports rerouting through Energy and Commerce.
“There’s a clear path in the Energy and Commerce Committee, so we're supporting the [Barton] bill and hope it passes,” said Christopher Bognanno, communications director for Campbell.
How the House will approach online gambling isn't perfectly clear because GOP members are split. Some oppose legalization as hurting traditional values; others support it in a libertarian argument against government excess.
But the outcome rests on Bono Mack, who can schedule a markup for Barton’s bill if she’s won over. Barton is hoping for a markup this year, his spokesman said.
But Bono Mack isn’t convinced just yet one way or the other.
“No markup is imminent,” said Ken Johnson, an aide to Bono Mack.
The next step is a hearing with federal law enforcement officials sometime next year, he said.
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Bono Mack's Energy and Commerce Trade subcommittee could play a crucial role in determining whether online gambling legislation moves ahead, but she gave few hints on where she stands during her second hearing on this topic.
“This is an important issue which I have been following very closely in hopes of making certain that everyone is dealt a fair hand,” she said in her opening statement before ticking off the pros and cons on each side.
Her subcommittee became a promising path for a gambling bill on a detour after another route--through Financial Services--closed off.
Financial Service Ranking Member Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif., visited Bono Mack's subcommittee to pitch their bill as a small government policy that makes good economic sense.
“Passing legislation like ours would foster the development and growth of a new American industry, which would bring along with it thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity, the revenues of which could be taxed to assist our ailing federal budget,” Campbell said.
Frank, ranking member of the Financial Services Committee, said the effort had stalled in his own committee because Chairman Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., isn’t convinced the ban should go.
But a bill introduced by Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, lifting the ban on online poker—but not all gambling—could give Frank and Campbell a foothold to move some of their goals through Bono Mack’s subcommittee instead.
“If all we could get would be poker, I’d be for it,” Frank said.
Campbell also supports rerouting through Energy and Commerce.
“There’s a clear path in the Energy and Commerce Committee, so we're supporting the [Barton] bill and hope it passes,” said Christopher Bognanno, communications director for Campbell.
How the House will approach online gambling isn't perfectly clear because GOP members are split. Some oppose legalization as hurting traditional values; others support it in a libertarian argument against government excess.
But the outcome rests on Bono Mack, who can schedule a markup for Barton’s bill if she’s won over. Barton is hoping for a markup this year, his spokesman said.
But Bono Mack isn’t convinced just yet one way or the other.
“No markup is imminent,” said Ken Johnson, an aide to Bono Mack.
The next step is a hearing with federal law enforcement officials sometime next year, he said.
Want to stay ahead of the curve? Sign up for National Journal’s AM & PM Must Reads. News and analysis to ensure you don’t miss a thing.
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2006/12/07
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WASHINGTON -- A top Nevada gaming regulator assured lawmakers Friday morning that gambling on the Internet can be policed, from software that ferrets out cheaters to systems that can identify underage and addicted players.
The comments from Gaming Control Board Chairman Mark Lipparelli were aimed at fears that online wagering could spin out of control if legalized by Congress.
He said his answer would be "an unconditional yes" if asked whether the gaming industry and states could deal with underage gamblers, betting addicts, money laundering and computer "poker bots" that enable players to cheat.
"You can probably get away with trying to cheat a system but you will be uncovered fairly quickly," Lipparelli said. "The analytical tools that are being employed are very robust. You might be able to get away with it once but you will leave big fingerprints behind."
Lipparelli's testimony came before a House commerce subcommittee that is studying online gambling in response to a bill filed to legalize web poker, and another that would open the door to a broader array of games.
Also testifying was Frank Fahrenkopf, president and chief executive of the American Gaming Association; addiction researcher Rachel Volberg of the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago; and Charles McIntyre, director of the New Hampshire lottery.
McIntyre came with a specific message: If Congress legalizes online poker, states, through their lottery apparatuses, have infrastructure in place to claim a piece of the action.
A path forward for either of the bills remains unclear. Industry officials say a poker-only bill is more likely to advance, but subcommittee chairman Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., made clear after the hearing that nothing will be moving fast, if at all.
Democrats on Friday urged Bono Mack to hold another hearing to probe officials from departments of Justice, Treasury and Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission, which would likely have a role in overseeing a new system of online gaming.
"For anything to continue to move it would take more hearings, but at this point I have not said yes or no," said Bono Mack, who told the audience at Friday's hearing she was taking a "careful approach."
She said it would probably be early in the new year before she set the next steps, if any.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, chief sponsor of the poker bill, said "the votes are there" to pass his bill, but "if they want to have another hearing I am open to that."
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is negotiating a separate online poker bill, and major casinos have held off on getting behind any bill until his version emerges.
Earlier this fall, Barton and others made a push for the deficit reduction "supercommittee" to embrace the legalization of Internet poker before it reaches a deadline of next Wednesday.
But the supercommittee remains deadlocked over issues much larger than card games, and appeared unlikely Friday to come up with a solution at all to the debt crisis.
The comments from Gaming Control Board Chairman Mark Lipparelli were aimed at fears that online wagering could spin out of control if legalized by Congress.
He said his answer would be "an unconditional yes" if asked whether the gaming industry and states could deal with underage gamblers, betting addicts, money laundering and computer "poker bots" that enable players to cheat.
"You can probably get away with trying to cheat a system but you will be uncovered fairly quickly," Lipparelli said. "The analytical tools that are being employed are very robust. You might be able to get away with it once but you will leave big fingerprints behind."
Lipparelli's testimony came before a House commerce subcommittee that is studying online gambling in response to a bill filed to legalize web poker, and another that would open the door to a broader array of games.
Also testifying was Frank Fahrenkopf, president and chief executive of the American Gaming Association; addiction researcher Rachel Volberg of the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago; and Charles McIntyre, director of the New Hampshire lottery.
McIntyre came with a specific message: If Congress legalizes online poker, states, through their lottery apparatuses, have infrastructure in place to claim a piece of the action.
A path forward for either of the bills remains unclear. Industry officials say a poker-only bill is more likely to advance, but subcommittee chairman Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., made clear after the hearing that nothing will be moving fast, if at all.
Democrats on Friday urged Bono Mack to hold another hearing to probe officials from departments of Justice, Treasury and Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission, which would likely have a role in overseeing a new system of online gaming.
"For anything to continue to move it would take more hearings, but at this point I have not said yes or no," said Bono Mack, who told the audience at Friday's hearing she was taking a "careful approach."
She said it would probably be early in the new year before she set the next steps, if any.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, chief sponsor of the poker bill, said "the votes are there" to pass his bill, but "if they want to have another hearing I am open to that."
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is negotiating a separate online poker bill, and major casinos have held off on getting behind any bill until his version emerges.
Earlier this fall, Barton and others made a push for the deficit reduction "supercommittee" to embrace the legalization of Internet poker before it reaches a deadline of next Wednesday.
But the supercommittee remains deadlocked over issues much larger than card games, and appeared unlikely Friday to come up with a solution at all to the debt crisis.
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2006/12/07
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Congress is taking another look at Internet gambling.
A House panel is continuing a series of hearings on legalizing and regulating online gambling.
Lawmakers note that Internet gambling has been driven underground and offshore for millions of U.S. participants.
Such ventures have no proper oversight and offer no protections for U.S. consumers.
Skeptics have raised concerns about fueling gambling addictions.
There are several pending bills in Congress involving legalizing and regulating online gambling.
:dirol
A House panel is continuing a series of hearings on legalizing and regulating online gambling.
Lawmakers note that Internet gambling has been driven underground and offshore for millions of U.S. participants.
Such ventures have no proper oversight and offer no protections for U.S. consumers.
Skeptics have raised concerns about fueling gambling addictions.
There are several pending bills in Congress involving legalizing and regulating online gambling.
:dirol
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2006/12/07
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There has always been some gossip surrounding the 1981 death of Hollywood starlet Natalie Wood, and now, thanks to a book written by Marti Rulli that exposes Wood's accidental death as more than that.
During a late night cruise, after a drunken argument with her husband, Robert Wagner, Wood apparently jumped off their boat and took the small dingy. At the time, police ruled that Wood had slipped off the boat while trying to tie down a dinghy, but a relentless Rulli interviewed the captain, who revealed Wood and Wagner had been arguing about her flirtation with actor Christopher Walken (also on the boat), before she went missing.
In her book, Rulli also revealed that Wagner instructed the crew to not call in the Coast Guard to aid in search and rescue efforts once they realized Natalie had gone missing. Moreover, Natalie's sister Lana Wood also says she doesn't believe that Natalie was trying to secure a dinghy and fell overboard and that she was so afraid of water, she wouldn't even go in her pool.
Lana claims Wagner didn't call her until 2 days after Natalie's death and told her Natalie's death "was an accident."
As for the reopening of the investigation, Lana says her sister "deserves the truth."
To make this case more bizarre, Natalie Wood was widely known for having the premonition that she would "die in dark water."
During a late night cruise, after a drunken argument with her husband, Robert Wagner, Wood apparently jumped off their boat and took the small dingy. At the time, police ruled that Wood had slipped off the boat while trying to tie down a dinghy, but a relentless Rulli interviewed the captain, who revealed Wood and Wagner had been arguing about her flirtation with actor Christopher Walken (also on the boat), before she went missing.
In her book, Rulli also revealed that Wagner instructed the crew to not call in the Coast Guard to aid in search and rescue efforts once they realized Natalie had gone missing. Moreover, Natalie's sister Lana Wood also says she doesn't believe that Natalie was trying to secure a dinghy and fell overboard and that she was so afraid of water, she wouldn't even go in her pool.
Lana claims Wagner didn't call her until 2 days after Natalie's death and told her Natalie's death "was an accident."
As for the reopening of the investigation, Lana says her sister "deserves the truth."
To make this case more bizarre, Natalie Wood was widely known for having the premonition that she would "die in dark water."
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ACH, the Atlantic City casino long considered to be at the greatest risk of having to close, will stay open for at least the next year.
But it won't be an easy year: the casino will enter 2012 with fewer employees, fewer slot machines and fewer table games. The cuts, needed to help bring ACH back up to the break-even point, will come amid a brutal casino market that continues to punish older, smaller gambling halls like the one that used to be called the Atlantic City Hilton.
New Jersey casino regulators on Wednesday approved a plan to keep the struggling casino open and save the jobs of nearly 2,000 workers. Eric Matejevich, chief financial officer of RIH, the casino's parent company, said the deal came none too soon.
"The company, quite frankly, was running out of cash," he said. "We had 20 parties that looked at the property; we had three that were very serious, but at the end of the day we couldn't get anybody to the finish line. That was very disappointing."
The state Casino Control Commission approved a plan for the casino's owner, Los Angeles-based Colony Capital, to pump $15 million into it to keep it afloat. In return, lenders will foreclose on and take ownership of two casinos in Mississippi that Colony owns, Bally's Tunica and Resorts Tunica, and will wipe out the mortgage debt for ACH. A hearing on the Mississippi transactions will take place on Thursday in that state.
Nicholas Ribis, ACH's chief executive officer, said the approval "is a big cloud lifted from this property."
The agreement commits Colony to running the casino through the end of November 2012. Officials with the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, who had expressed worry over ACH's ability to stay open and pay winning bets, salaries and expenses, voiced optimism that the deal will relieve some pressure from the casino.
Linda Kassekert, chairwoman of the casino commission, said ACH still faces major challenges and pointedly noted the approval is only for one year.
"The bottom line, and the main reason why I support this, is that it keeps the doors open and it keeps employees on the job," she said.
ACH had been known as the Atlantic City Hilton until the hotel giant ended a licensing deal over the summer. The Hilton logos will come off the building by the end of the year, and it will be named something else in the second quarter of 2012.
The deal also calls for an additional infusion of $9.3 million in cash for the casino when lenders release insurance proceeds from an August 2009 flooding claim.
All told, the deal will pump at least $24.3 million in new funds into the casino, which has been on life support for more than two years amid a fruitless effort to find a buyer.
"This gives us a clear path to reinvest in our core product," said Michael Frawley, the casino's chief operating officer. "We've kind of been at a standstill. This gives us an opportunity to reinvest and become competitive in this market, which we haven't been for some time."
He said ACH will eliminate jobs but would not say how many. The casino also will reduce the amount of slot machines and table games it offers.
"We're not going to save our way out of this," Frawley told the commission. "Labor is a significant focus of where we're going to go."
In September, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement wrote a report to the casino commission expressing concern over ACH's financial stability. The casino posted a gross operating loss of nearly $11 million in the first six months of this year, and its monthly casino revenue continues to plunge.
In October, it took in $10.7 million, a decrease of 15.6 percent from October 2011. For the first 10 months of this year, ACH has taken in $125.5 million, down 12 percent from the same period last year, and ahead of only the Golden Nugget Atlantic City.
According to financial documents filed with the state at the end of June, ACH had owed at least $414.6 million to its lenders, including U.S. Bank National Association and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank.
Colony borrowed money in October 2006 for its two Mississippi casinos, secured in part by the Atlantic City casino. The lenders will foreclose and become the new owners of those two Mississippi casinos.
Colony bought the Hilton for $513 million in 2005 as part of a $1.24 billion deal that netted them four casinos in New Jersey, Mississippi and Indiana. That, it turns out, was near the height of the market, which came in 2006.
Late that year, the first of what would ultimately become 10 casinos in neighboring Pennsylvania opened and began siphoning Atlantic City's customers. Atlantic City's casino revenue peaked in 2006 at $5.2 billion; it has since fallen to $3.6 billion at the end of 2010.
But it won't be an easy year: the casino will enter 2012 with fewer employees, fewer slot machines and fewer table games. The cuts, needed to help bring ACH back up to the break-even point, will come amid a brutal casino market that continues to punish older, smaller gambling halls like the one that used to be called the Atlantic City Hilton.
New Jersey casino regulators on Wednesday approved a plan to keep the struggling casino open and save the jobs of nearly 2,000 workers. Eric Matejevich, chief financial officer of RIH, the casino's parent company, said the deal came none too soon.
"The company, quite frankly, was running out of cash," he said. "We had 20 parties that looked at the property; we had three that were very serious, but at the end of the day we couldn't get anybody to the finish line. That was very disappointing."
The state Casino Control Commission approved a plan for the casino's owner, Los Angeles-based Colony Capital, to pump $15 million into it to keep it afloat. In return, lenders will foreclose on and take ownership of two casinos in Mississippi that Colony owns, Bally's Tunica and Resorts Tunica, and will wipe out the mortgage debt for ACH. A hearing on the Mississippi transactions will take place on Thursday in that state.
Nicholas Ribis, ACH's chief executive officer, said the approval "is a big cloud lifted from this property."
The agreement commits Colony to running the casino through the end of November 2012. Officials with the state Division of Gaming Enforcement, who had expressed worry over ACH's ability to stay open and pay winning bets, salaries and expenses, voiced optimism that the deal will relieve some pressure from the casino.
Linda Kassekert, chairwoman of the casino commission, said ACH still faces major challenges and pointedly noted the approval is only for one year.
"The bottom line, and the main reason why I support this, is that it keeps the doors open and it keeps employees on the job," she said.
ACH had been known as the Atlantic City Hilton until the hotel giant ended a licensing deal over the summer. The Hilton logos will come off the building by the end of the year, and it will be named something else in the second quarter of 2012.
The deal also calls for an additional infusion of $9.3 million in cash for the casino when lenders release insurance proceeds from an August 2009 flooding claim.
All told, the deal will pump at least $24.3 million in new funds into the casino, which has been on life support for more than two years amid a fruitless effort to find a buyer.
"This gives us a clear path to reinvest in our core product," said Michael Frawley, the casino's chief operating officer. "We've kind of been at a standstill. This gives us an opportunity to reinvest and become competitive in this market, which we haven't been for some time."
He said ACH will eliminate jobs but would not say how many. The casino also will reduce the amount of slot machines and table games it offers.
"We're not going to save our way out of this," Frawley told the commission. "Labor is a significant focus of where we're going to go."
In September, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement wrote a report to the casino commission expressing concern over ACH's financial stability. The casino posted a gross operating loss of nearly $11 million in the first six months of this year, and its monthly casino revenue continues to plunge.
In October, it took in $10.7 million, a decrease of 15.6 percent from October 2011. For the first 10 months of this year, ACH has taken in $125.5 million, down 12 percent from the same period last year, and ahead of only the Golden Nugget Atlantic City.
According to financial documents filed with the state at the end of June, ACH had owed at least $414.6 million to its lenders, including U.S. Bank National Association and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank.
Colony borrowed money in October 2006 for its two Mississippi casinos, secured in part by the Atlantic City casino. The lenders will foreclose and become the new owners of those two Mississippi casinos.
Colony bought the Hilton for $513 million in 2005 as part of a $1.24 billion deal that netted them four casinos in New Jersey, Mississippi and Indiana. That, it turns out, was near the height of the market, which came in 2006.
Late that year, the first of what would ultimately become 10 casinos in neighboring Pennsylvania opened and began siphoning Atlantic City's customers. Atlantic City's casino revenue peaked in 2006 at $5.2 billion; it has since fallen to $3.6 billion at the end of 2010.
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2006/12/07
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Over recent months companies have been discovering that people are just as eager to spend money gambling on Facebook games for virtual cash as they are in real online casinos. Of course here the companies have one major advantage, the house always wins. A few months ago the company Playtika (developers of ‘Slotomania’) was bought by Caesars Entertainment Corporation for $80 million. More recently German company Crowdpark has announced that it has raised $6 million to develop social betting games. Their view of social gaming allows players to bet against each other on anything ranging from developments in the business world to sports to entertainment.
Crowdpark has been funded by European investors Target Partners and Earlybird Venture Capital. Ingo Hinterding is co-founder and chief product officer and he believes that the company has invented an entirely new genre of Facebook game. He predicts that the company will also expand into the area of casino games and also launch their products on other platforms.
Another company to watch is the Seattle based DoubleDown Casino which has been doing well with slots, video poker, blackjack and roulette. Recently they launched a new application called ‘Photo Booth Friends’. It is a slot game where the symbols on the reels can be customised with photos of your friends.
According to the number of active monthly users, DoubleDown has managed to overtake popular games such as Zynga’s ‘Mafia Wars’. Last July Sean Ryan the director of game partnerhsips at Facebook said that the casino category is largely untapped but that there are a few “unbelievable monsters” out there. Ryan named DoubleDown as one of these unbelievable monsters and apparently the game is now generating as much as $140,000 a day in revenue.
Crowdpark has been funded by European investors Target Partners and Earlybird Venture Capital. Ingo Hinterding is co-founder and chief product officer and he believes that the company has invented an entirely new genre of Facebook game. He predicts that the company will also expand into the area of casino games and also launch their products on other platforms.
Another company to watch is the Seattle based DoubleDown Casino which has been doing well with slots, video poker, blackjack and roulette. Recently they launched a new application called ‘Photo Booth Friends’. It is a slot game where the symbols on the reels can be customised with photos of your friends.
According to the number of active monthly users, DoubleDown has managed to overtake popular games such as Zynga’s ‘Mafia Wars’. Last July Sean Ryan the director of game partnerhsips at Facebook said that the casino category is largely untapped but that there are a few “unbelievable monsters” out there. Ryan named DoubleDown as one of these unbelievable monsters and apparently the game is now generating as much as $140,000 a day in revenue.
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2006/12/07
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The table games are due to be in place by spring next year as part of a revamped facility to be called "Hollywood Casino." And next spring is the scheduled opening of a new casino in Oxford County, which is currently under construction.
"Along with that comes a lot more adminstrative work that has to be done within the office, as far as processing licenses, etcetera," said Maine Gambling Control Board Director Patrick Fleming, at the panel's monthly meeting. "One thing that we don't have is any type of computer software to help us do that more efficiently. Currently everything is done on paper."
Fleming says using paper to process and track applications, for example, is very labor intensive. He told board members he's already begun speaking to at least one software provider, and will report back to them with his recommendations next month.
The board also asked Fleming, who's the former head of the Maine State Police, to see if any federal law enforcement authorities might be able to assist in providing free software that the gambling control board could adopt. Fleming's report also recommended hiring more personnel next year to help with the inspection and auditing of Maine's expanded gambling industry.
No figures regarding cost were mentioned, but Fleming hopes the board's funding requirements can be addressed through emergency legislation in the Legislature's next session. If the funding was part of the budget bill, Fleming doubts it would be in place by spring of 2012, when both the casino in Oxford and table games in Bangor are expected to be in place.
The expansion of the state's gambling industry will also bring growth to the police department in the small town of Oxford "They are planning on increasing their complement as far as officers on the road," says Detective Donald Armstrong of the Maine State Police, who is with the Gambling Control Unit.
When northern New England's first full casino opens in Oxford next year, Armstrong says the town will need to have more than the five full-time police officers it currently employs to cope with the increased traffic. "Right now I guess they're not a 24-hour service police department--they're available, but they're not out there," he says. "They advise that they will be providing 24-hour coverage in the town when the casino does open."
Armstrong says he and a colleague will be going to Las Vegas early next month to meet with representatives from Silverton Casino, the gaming company that will manage the new Oxford facility.