Let your mouth speak archive

I would say that it is how being popular can be. You will be accused of sex scandals every now and then. Most popular athlete have been a victim.





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An Obama administration ruling that opens the door for states to allow some online gambling could prod lawmakers to pass federal Internet poker legislation — a prospect that’s dividing Indian tribes that depend on gaming for their livelihoods.

Some tribes see the ruling as a potential business opportunity, creating a chance to expand their gaming operations to the Web. But others who don’t have money to invest in online sites, say they can’t compete with flashy Las Vegas sites or fear cannibalizing brick-and-mortar gambling operations.

Tribal leaders and American Indian casinos, however, mostly agree that federal online poker legislation as written — which would make online gaming legal across the land, except in states that opt out — would squeeze tribes too hard.

“Now they are concerned that this ruling is going to be the impetus for the federal legislation,” said Penny Coleman, a lawyer who represents tribal nations. “They’re worried there’s going to be this big push now.”

The Justice Department, in a blockbuster ruling days before Christmas, removed years of ambiguity from federal law and gave states the green light to start cashing in on intrastate online gambling systems that don’t include sports betting.

States are already lining up. So are American Indian tribes.

The casino gaming industry, however, stands to lose if it can’t offer online gaming in every state — a possibility that a blanket federal law authorizing poker sites would preclude. And casino and poker lobbyists are expected to press Congress to pass Internet poker legislation before a number of states pass online gambling bills of their own during upcoming legislative sessions.

Tribal leaders “know Nevada doesn’t want to stay within its borders,” said Coleman, a former acting general counsel for the National Indian Gaming Commission under the last three administrations.

That expected push — and a fear they’ll be marginalized as big gaming interests have their way — has some tribes clearly worried.

At a Senate hearing in November, tribal leaders told lawmakers they want a seat at the table as Internet poker legislation is drafted.

They said bills under consideration give states like Nevada and casinos like Caesars Palace an inherent leg up in the online gambling game. They also voiced concerns about being taxed or regulated by the feds.

Still, not every tribe viewed the DOJ ruling as a bad omen. Some California tribes that have long wanted to offer online gambling in the Golden State welcomed the Justice opinion, Coleman said.

But in states where population is low, tribes are “not going to see the same economic benefit,” she said.

“A few sites and tribes will benefit and whole bunch won’t,” she said.

Of the roughly 200 tribes whose livelihoods depend on their gaming operations, only a handful have the resources to quickly set up Internet gambling sites in response to the DOJ ruling.

The Mohegan Tribe in Connecticut is on that short list.

Tribe Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum said his tribe has been preparing for an online gaming scheme for years. And after the DOJ ruling, Connecticut lawmakers have already floated the possibility of passing an Internet poker law, according to media reports.

Bozsum said he also met recently with Connecticut Lt. Gov Nancy Wyman to pitch online poker.

“This is already happening, it just needs some regulation,” he said. “Let’s get things in place and catch up to the rest of the world as far as Internet gambling goes.”

In Connecticut, two American Indian tribes are the only entities allowed to offer gambling in the state. That means they’ll also be the only two that can operate online gaming systems, leaving the Las Vegas casinos scene watching from the outside in this particular situation.

But Bozsum isn’t opposed to the federal law that would potentially pit his casino against Las Vegas giants. He thinks tribes can band together and compete online with the biggest gaming companies.

He even testified at the Senate hearing in November in favor of a federal law that considers American Indian concerns, and said in an interview that a state-by-state system could wind up being more complicated.

It could also ultimately limit the opportunity for tribes to spread their poker sites nationally.

“California wants it to be only in the state. I look at that as unfair to smaller states like Rhode Island or Montana,” he said. “When I look at the World Wide Web and anything that’s done there, I think of no boundaries.”

The Nevada Gaming Commission has unanimously approved its regulatory framework for online poker, which facilitates the launch of live poker games early in 2012. This development is not at all surprising because Las Vegas is naturally making attempts to safeguard its reputation as an international gaming hotspot. A number of US states have mulled over the idea of launching intrastate online gambling services, but Nevada is the first state to take definite steps in this direction. The approved online poker regulations are open for amendments, but they are easy to understand and promise plenty.


These regulations make it difficult for players to transfer gaming money to one another as all withdrawals and deposits need to take place through the online casino operator or the internet service provider (ISP) to assist proper accounting and taxing.

Online poker players in Nevada can use the gaming sites to deposit their funds, use it to wager on real money games, and credit the funds back into their accounts when they have had their fun. This eliminates the need to carry a lot of cask around. The rake is limited to just 10 percent of the pot.

The Nevada online poker regulations also require online poker room operators to hold a cash reserve that is equal in value to the total amount deposited by players. This law really ensures that players get paid when they win a jackpot. A player can open only one account and must provide proof that he/she is indeed 21 years or above.

Speaking on these developments, Poker Players’ Alliance (PPA) Executive Director John Pappas says, “Nevada is essentially moving ahead without a federal law. Should it become federal law, I think Nevada will be in position to be one of the first states certified to issue licenses.”

Nevada has a population of around 3 million, owing to which one cannot expect really large jackpots. Competition will be poor at the tables because players from other states will not be able to access the games. However, there is nothing to prevent other states from joining hands with Nevada if they do not want to create regulatory frameworks of their own.

The state has already done what the federal government could not—start from scratch. To make things better, the Department of Justice (DoJ) recently announced that the 1961 Wire Act applies only to betting on sports, which makes the formation of poker alliances between states easier in future.

While many Americans dread the April 15 tax deadline, for online poker players last year's Tax Day was especially bleak. For online gamblers April 15, 2011 was "Black Friday," the day the federal government shut down the biggest operators after an indictment charging fraud and illegal gambling.

But the U.S. Justice Department has now opened the door to a possible resurrection, issuing an opinion last month allowing states to sanction non-sports Internet gambling within their borders without violating federal law.

"There's a lot of uncertainty still," said Chuck Bunnell, a spokesman for the Mohegan Tribe, which runs the Mohegan Sun casino. "But the bottom line is it's happening right now, and it's not being regulated. And there's no revenue being generated by the state."

Governor Andrew Cuomo's call to expand gambling in New York is facing more opposition form religious and anti-gambling groups. Their concerns range from personal issues, such as a possible increase in gambling addiction, bankruptcy and suicide, to crime and other community problems.

Longtime anti-gambling activist Charlotte Wellins — and a self-described "strong supporter" of Cuomo — said she had just fired off an email to the governor.

"I basically said that I was highly disappointed that he was taking the stand he is," said Wellins, secretary of the Coalition Against Gambling in New York, "because it is wrong to balance the budget and add to the state coffers by expanding gambling in the state, that it is wrong for our government to prey upon those least able to afford it."

According to her group, gambling addiction rates double within 50 miles of a casino, and compulsive gamblers cost the economy between $14,006 and $22, 077 per year if two percent become addicted. The group has also noted that personal bankruptcy rates are 100 percent higher in counties with casinos than in counties without.

Some community activists also fear gambling would have a disproportionate impact on the populations they serve.

Peter Yee, the assistant executive director of Hamilton-Madison House, said that in one study gambling had ranked the top social ill within San Francisco’s Chinese community, and argued the problem was just as bad in New York. He estimated that 5,000 Chinese-New Yorkers currently travel daily to casinos outside the state. If casinos are legalized in the state, he said gambling addiction would become even more common than it is now.

"Minimally, the state has to be responsible," Yee said, adding that Albany should fund treatment for addiction.

Damaris McGuire, director of the New York State Episcopal Public Policy Network, said while the church had yet to take a formal stand on the issue, it did successfully oppose a similar 1997 effort.

One key difference from 1997, however, is that then-Governor George Pataki didn’t weigh in on the matter.

"That’s going to be different this year," said McGuire, referring to Cuomo's support for the expansion. "It’s certainly going to make it more complicated. We’re also in a different fiscal position, so for some people, it becomes much more seductive to look at easy money."

Supporters of gambling argue that gambling can revive economically depleted regions, such as the Catskills. But McGuire said that unlike other industries, casinos did not have a positive ripple effect on communities where they were located, because gambling tourists were less likely to frequent other establishments.

“They’re not going to that cute little B&B, or that wonderful French restaurant,” she said. “Casinos don’t want you to leave.”

Others say they will not oppose the proposal, but do worry about the negative social impacts. Assemblyman Felix Ortiz of Brooklyn has sponsored a bill that would fund a public awareness campaign, meant to counter gambling addiction.

Gov. Steve Beshear outlined what he believes to be Kentucky's priorities for the year in Wednesday evening's State of the Commonwealth address in front of a joint session of the General Assembly in Frankfort.

In Beshear's fifth address, the second-term Democrat discussed his plans for expanded gambling, the need for tax reform, fighting prescription drug abuse, strengthening the state's workforce, attracting businesses and protecting children.

As expected, Beshear began the speech by calling for Kentucky to pass a constitutional amendment to expand gaming. However, Beshear did not lay out specifics of what he wants to see with gaming.

"No. 1, we should allow the people of this state to vote on the issue of expanded gaming," Beshear said.

He added that Kentuckians are heading to neighboring states to spend money at casinos.

"It makes no sense to continue watching that happen," Beshear said. "We might as well be backing trucks filled with cash up to the Ohio River and dumping that money into the water."

Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, criticized Beshear for not including the details of his gambling proposal in the speech.

"I don't think the governor knows what will be in the proposal yet," Williams chided. "It's just been five years in the making, so he's probably still drafting it."

Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, said he would have liked to hear Beshear speak more on coal, saying in 2010 Beshear urged the Environmental Protection Agency to "stay off Kentucky's backs."

"We didn't hear any of that this year, and coal is very important to Kentucky, too," Wilson said. "It's something we desperately want to protect."

Beshear plans to lay out a process that will address Kentucky's tax code, saying the state must "align the system with the principles of fairness, and with a 21st century economy."

Wilson said he agrees reforming the tax code is something the state needs to do to remain competitive in attracting jobs and businesses, but doesn't expect any language on tax reform to come out of Beshear's office until next year.

Beshear also touched on budget expectations, saying the state will not rely on new revenue to balance the budget.

"The key to balancing this budget lies not on the revenue side, but on the spending side," he said.

The Beshear administration warned state agencies earlier Wednesday that they should brace for substantial spending reductions in the next budget cycle. Spokeswoman Kerri Richardson said those reductions could be in the range of 7 percent to 9 percent below current spending levels.

Budget cuts have been common in the past four years in Kentucky because of the recession that's blamed for $1 billion in revenue shortfalls.

A large majority of Beshear's speech hit on what he called "its core," the state's residents.

He called for a continued fight against prescription drugs in the state, as well as the "pill mills" and "pill pushers."

Beshear also cited a recent report by the Kentucky Department for Public Health that showed more Kentuckians died from drug overdoses than from car accidents.

"Think about that - our medicine cabinets are deadlier than our highways," Beshear said.

He also focused on children, once again urging for the high school dropout age to be raised to 18. He also called for greater focus on early childhood development.

"My vision for Kentucky guarantees every child the opportunity to succeed," Beshear said. "Every child, regardless of whether he or she is born in the suburbs, on a farm, in the inner city, or in a mountain hollow."

Beshear closed his speech by saying party lines must be put aside for the good of the state, calling the lure of partisanship "strong."

"The issues - from attacking prescription drug abuse to keeping our kids in school, from improving our workforce and protecting our children to keeping Kentucky tax money here at home by passing expanded gaming - require us to collaborate," he said.

Mobile sports betting has rapidly become 50% of the global gaming marketplace. The accelerated growth of smart phone and tablet use is the main culprit for this achievement. This scenario will show no signs of slowing down, and with the reduction of mobile and tablet price points and service distribution gains will create a sure jump in use the coming month ensuring that gaming operators will see continued growth from this sector. In the face of this certain reality, what online gambling companies must now embrace is the use of mobile interfaces to both engage both members and prospective clients on their terms. This leads to the necessity to both promote and provide financial transaction facilities via mobile user interfaces.

Traditionally, the mobile betting arm of an online gambling operator was situated as a utility piece for registered members. The product was more of a convenience than an actual fully equipped site. Fast forward a decade and it is very apparent that the use of mobile betting interfaces as a value added option for members is no longer a competitive position for operators to take.

What has been seen from the mobile sports betting sector is exciting. The reported growth across the globe is triple digits, and some of the related numbers that go hand and hand with that growth make the numbers even more fascinating. Sports Betting KPI’s that have been affected also include volume, bet ticket count, and bet size. Other affected KPI’s are site retention and length of visit per session.

Here are some quick web versus mobile comparisons on important traffic and member activity KPI’s:

Length of visit Desk Top= 4 minutes per session.

Length of visit Mobile = 9.5 minutes per session.

Returning Visit +201 Days Desk Top= 13.5%.

Returning Visit +201 Days Mobile = 18.6%.

Ave Bet Size Mobile = 30% greater than Desk-top.

Ave Ticket Count Mobile= 28% greater than Desk-top.

*Numbers based on Jan 1st 2011 to Dec 31st 2011 traffic and gambling activities.

Any online gambling operators who are not ready to welcome in the new era of mobile and tablet delivered products and services will definitely see attrition over the next six months. Those that provide more accessible ways to transact and promote will take the lead in this sector. The most important piece of that puzzle right now becomes the Mobile Cashier application. Companies such as BetDSI who have added mobile Blackjack, promotions, and a cashier to their mobile service platform carry a distinct advantage over their competition. The launch of their new mobile cashier is a huge win, and has been met with immediate positive results.

There are no doubts that the future of Mobile and Tablet Gambling is now, and companies like BetDSI Sportsbook who are looking to engage visitors with mobile driven user interfaces will be a big part of that future.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, long an opponent of online gambling, said this week that, while he continues to oppose it, governors and state lawmakers are the ones who will ultimately decide whether state lottery tickets can be sold online.

His remarks follow a U.S. Justice Department ruling last month on the Wire Act of 1961. The ruling is widely seen as clearing the way for Connecticut and other states to introduce online lottery ticket sales and online gaming.

That's something Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy would like the state consider. Blumenthal, however, said he believes the ruling is "very narrow" and focuses solely on the question of whether online lottery sales violate the Wire Act. In a brief interview earlier this week, Blumenthal said the decision on whether online gaming will be permitted is a matter for governors and state legislatures, not Congress. "I continue to oppose online gaming. The dangers of consumer fraud and scams ... are particularly significant,'' he said. "If there is an exception made for state lottery tickets, my hope is it will include those consumer protections against scams and frauds and also age verification [requirements.] ... But the ultimate decision is for the governor and the legislature to make ... it's ultimately a matter of state law.''

Yet a bill before Congress would legalize and regulate online poker on the federal level. The bill, H.R.2366, is pending in the House Energy and Commerce Committee's manufacturing subcommittee.

Blumenthal’s stance on online gaming in light of the recent Justice Department decision was recently discussed by conservative writer Don Pesci on his blog, "Connecticut Commentary: Red Notes from a Blue State." Pesci said he detected a thaw in Blumenthal's longheld views against online gaming, based on the senator's comments about the need for additional consumer protections should online gaming become legal.

In 2005, when Blumenthal was Connecticut’s attorney general, he told The Courant’s Rick Green: ``We have taken a more vigorous and more aggressive view about enforcing that act and the law. In our view [Internet gambling] should be regarded as illegal everywhere.''

Online gambling entrepreneurs such as Calvin Ayre have been predicting that the next big market for online gambling to expand is not really in America but in Asia. The Asian jurisdiction is one that is huge in comparison but much harder to enter.

Proof that this is the emerging market for the next while is in the research done by respected international group PriceWaterhouseCooper. The latest review of the online gambling scene has resulted in PriceWaterhouseCooper’s Global Gaming Outlook report which emphasizes that the Asian market is growing fast and there is no sign of that growth abating.
The region will expand the report suggests on several different levels. Revenues from gaming in the Asian jurisdiction are expected by all standards to continue to grow from the $34.4 billion currently being experienced to an estimated $79.3 billion in 2015. These figures have resulted in political calls for a review of current laws in many countries to accommodate the surge in popularity of the activity.

Gaming analyst Jonathan Galaviz, commented on the need for change, “There is a strong argument that, since consumers will engage in illegal online gaming anyway, it is better to license and tax it than to allow the revenues to go to unlicensed operators” Galaviz continued, “It’s probably an appropriate time for governments to, at the minimum, seriously research the issue and get up to speed on the topic for thoughtful policy discussions,”
Galaviz explained further, “tremendous growth in online gaming, especially in poker. Singapore, is an example of a country which is outlawed online gambling and has seen the popular past time surge by 49.7% in 2010. So it is suggested by detractors of the legalization of online gambling that “legalizing online gambling will likely cause a significant social impact.” “Once you allow online gambling, you are indirectly encouraging more people to flock there.” Commented, Mr.Felix Ling, who is a casino consultant and senior partner at Platform Asia Management Services.

We have all been following the dispute between the US and Antigua & Barbuda over the online gaming issues. Recently, the US Department of Justice shocked the gaming industry with a Christmas gift when it announced that its ban on online gambling would only apply to sports betting.

The question to ask is, Why only now?

Before we get into what this means for Antigua, let me just briefly remind readers of the history of the dispute between the US and Antigua at the WTO. Antigua first initiated the gaming dispute at the WTO in March 2003 after the US failed to comply with the General Agreement on Trade Service (GATS).

The US challenged the offshore gambling service that Antigua provides. Both countries had prior discussions to try and settle the matter outside the intervention of the WTO, but were unsuccessful. The first ruling was handed down in March 24, 2004 in favour of Antigua, stating that the US had violated the International Trade Agreement.

This was followed by another series of negotiations which were also unsuccessful. The US went ahead and filed an appeal on January 7, 2005, following the ruling with their basis being that their Federal laws ban such services.

Now tell me, if Antigua signs or intends to sign on to an international agreement that contradicts our constitution, wouldn’t it be wise to amend those legislations to incorporate the international agreement? Nevertheless, on April 7, 2005, the appellate body upheld the decision in favour of Antigua.

The gaming industry has been saying for years that online gambling would be beneficial to the economy. It was not until late 2011 that a US governmental body came out in support of the online gaming as an economical boost. The US Joint Committee on Taxation has done a 10-year projection on what would happen if legislation on online gambling was lifted.

The results show that if each state imposes a small tax on deposits, made to online gambling organisations, tax revenue is estimated at $41.8 billion.

Now let us look at the effect this will have on our small twin-island state. The industry will expand and significantly increase the amount of tax revenue collected by the government. With this increase, the government will have more money to spend on expensive tasks such as fixing our roads and maintaining them, and salaries for our workers, to name a few.

This will provide jobs for the unemployed, and attract more foreign investors involved in the gaming industry to invest in Antigua for reasons such as a preferred tax structure. A boost in this industry will even spark local investors’ interest. It will contribute to the tourism marketing of our country.

The effects are many and varied, and I hope the appropriate individuals are following this area of opportunity.

A Senate committee Monday will consider a sweeping proposal that would allow three mega-casinos in Florida, offer the possibility of additional gambling at parimutuel facilities and try to rein in Internet cafes. Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, filed a 170-page rewrite Friday afternoon to a controversial "destination" resort casinos bill that surfaced in October.

The rewrite did not change the heart of the bill: A new state gaming commission would be able to approve plans for up to three resort casinos that would be part of mixed-use developments --- with the resort owners required to sink at least $2 billion into each project.

But the proposal would require that each of the resort casinos be approved in local county referendums. Also, it would take a series of steps to try to allay objections from the politically influential parimutuel industry.

As an example, part of the rewrite would allow parimutuels to offer the same types of gambling --- such as black jack, craps and baccarat --- as the resort casinos. To do so, parimutuels would have to get voter approval in county referendums and pony up $125 million in fees.

Similarly, the proposal would allow parimutuels throughout the state to offer slot machines, a possibility that now is limited to facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Such an expansion into slot machines also would require approval in local referendums.

If resort casinos start to operate, the rewrite also would reduce from 35 percent to 18 percent a tax on slot-machine revenues at parimutuel facilities. Casinos or parimutuels that offer the broader array of games, such as black jack and craps, would be taxed at a 10 percent rate.

That lower proposed rate stems, at least in part, from the requirement that resort casinos spend $2 billion upfront on building and equipping their facilities.

Bogdanoff's proposal would bar the issuance of new parimutuel permits after July 1, 2012, a move that a summary issued by her office says is intended to stop "expansion of pari-mutuel gaming.''

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee is scheduled to vote Monday on Bogdanoff's proposal, the first test for what could be one of the most heavily lobbied issues of the 2012 legislative session.

Bogdanoff filed what is known as a "strike all amendment" Friday after members of the committee expressed concerns about the original version of the bill, such as whether it would offer "parity" to parimutuel facilities that have been in business for decades.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has said he wants to take the resort casinos issue to the full Senate for a vote. But it remains unclear whether the House --- which has traditionally been more opposed to gambling than the Senate --- will follow suit.

Adding to the uncertainty is that influential business lobbies have taken opposing positions about whether resort casinos should be approved. Groups such as Associated Industries of Florida and the Associated Builders and Contractors argue the bill would create much-needed construction jobs.

Carol Bowen, a vice president of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter, said this week that if lawmakers "really want to put people back to work, we just can't afford to say no to this.''

But other groups, such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce, argue that casino gambling won't lead to the job creation that backers promise and could end up hurting existing businesses.

"More casinos in Florida is a bad bet for Florida's future,'' said Mark Wilson, the chamber's president.

The revised proposal goes beyond the original version of the bill to deal with issues such as Internet cafes, which have sprouted in strip malls across the state. The cafes say they offer legal computerized sweepstakes games, but critics argue the games amount to a form of gambling.

Bogdanoff's amendment stops short of banning the cafes. But it would impose a number of regulations, such as calling for the businesses to obtain surety bonds and preventing them from suggesting on exterior signs that they offer gambling.

The proposed amendment, however, would not address a controversy that has centered on the opening of a parimutuel facility in Gadsden County that offers rodeo-style barrel racing.

Supporters of the facility, which is in Gretna, say barrel racing is a legitimate form of horse racing. But opponents argue that the facility offers barrel racing as a ploy to operate a potentially lucrative card room.

ANTI-GAMBLING senator Nick Xenophon is targeting Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg over plans by the billionaire to introduce real-money gambling on his social networking site.

Online gambling is set to be launched on Facebook within the next few months, with experts warning that the plan will lead to a new generation of problem gamblers.

The social networking site reportedly plans to use the UK as a testing ground for real-cash games, including virtual poker machines, poker, bingo and roulette, in the first quarter of the year.

Senator Xenophon has written to Mr Zuckerberg asking for clarification on the details.

He said legal loopholes could mean authorities would not be able to stop Facebook introducing the proposal here.

"Mark Zuckerberg needs to do the right thing - he is already worth a few billion bucks," Senator Xenophon said. "Does he really want to make money off the vulnerable and the addicted?" Australian law makes it an offence to provide interactive gambling to a customer in Australia.

However, it is not illegal for Australian residents to play online.

The Internet gambling business has always been a lucrative one, but federal law has kept states on the sidelines, barred from tapping into an estimated $4 billion that Americans spend every year to gamble online illegally.

Not anymore.

Now that the U.S. Department of Justice has reversed its outright ban on Internet gambling, states are scrambling to figure out what the decision might mean for them.

"Every state will be asking its AG: Tell us what this opinion means," says Mark Lipparelli, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

California, Illinois, Iowa, New York and New Jersey are among other states that are expected to move quickly to get in on the action. That is precisely what Nevada has done, but Nevada put some pieces in place before the ruling in a way that some of the other states have not done. It has also been in the full-fledged gambling business for more than 70 years.

No one really knows for sure how many Americans gamble online or how much revenue states will be able to collect if it is legal. The American Gaming Association figures that worldwide, online gambling generates $30 billion a year. The group figures that states could collect up to $2 billion in tax revenue if online poker were legalized.

DRAWING THE BOUNDARIES

For years, the federal government has construed the 1961 Federal Wire Act as a prohibition against online gambling. But in a ruling last month, the Justice Department indicated that that law restricts only sports wagering. "It's a big surprise," says Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling.

The ruling doesn't automatically legalize Internet gambling. States still have to pass legislation allowing for it and develop regulations overseeing it. And to many, it's unclear whether the decision legalizes only online gambling within a state's borders or also gambling that occurs across state lines.

Some experts interpret the decision to mean that states that pass their own online gambling laws could enter "compacts" with other states that have similar laws to allow online wagering on an interstate basis.

But the uncertainty has state officials like Lipparelli in Nevada worried. "We need Congress to make clear" what is legal, he says.

The American Gaming Association, the commercial casino industry's trade group, agrees.

It says the December ruling "validates the urgent need for federal legislation to curb what will now be a proliferation of domestic and foreign, unlicensed and unregulated gaming websites without consistent regulatory standards and safeguards against fraud, underage gambling and money laundering."

The Justice Department's ruling, drafted last September but not publicly released until late December, came in response to a request from New York and Illinois. Both states had asked whether it would be legal for them to use the Internet and out-of-state vendors to sell lottery tickets to in-state adults.

"We conclude that interstate transmission of wire communications that do not relate to a 'sporting event or contest' ... fall outside the reach of the Wire Act," the Justice Department said in the opinion. "Because the proposed New York and Illinois lottery proposals do not involve wagering on sporting events or contests, the Wire Act does not, in our view, prohibit them."

New York, which has the country's most profitable lottery, already had online "subscriptions" for its Mega Millions and Lotto games, and the ruling is expected to give the state the green light it was waiting for to do the same for other games.

Illinois state officials had always thought their plan to let the Illinois Lottery offer Mega Millions and Lotto online was legal, and now that the Justice Department has agreed, "we are proceeding as fast as we can," says Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael J. Jones. Lottery officials plan to ask legislators to give them authority to also offer Powerball online.

IN NINE MONTHS, NEVADA POKER?

Lotteries provide states with substantially more revenue ($17.9 billion) than commercial casinos ($4.5 billion).

Lucy Dadayan of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, a specialist in state gambling revenue, says the ruling almost guarantees that "most states will consider expanding their lotteries in the hopes of generating more revenue in tough economic times."

But Dadayan says that "state officials should not jump into legalizing online lotteries and should carefully assess long-term social and financial costs of online lotteries."

Nevada is one of the few states that doesn't offer a lottery. But the Justice Department ruling is expected to give the state the final go-ahead that it was awaiting to launch online poker. In fact, the state has had an online gambling law on the books for 10 years, delaying its implementation only out of fear it might be running afoul of federal law.

Last month, Nevada became the first state to adopt online poker regulations. Gamblers could be playing Nevada poker games on the Internet in as few as nine months, with the state taking a cut of the revenue.

Gambling on the internet has made the practice much easier. Even so, gambling is heavily regulated especially in the United States. In addition to federal laws governing gambling activities, many states implement their own state laws to regulate gambling. Establishments and Businesses that operate gambling websites are required to maintain proper licensing. These strict measures have been used to deter the potential use of gambling over the internet as a mechanism for money laundering and in the funding of criminal activities. That said, gambling on the internet generates over five billion dollars for the United States alone. This includes revenue from sports and non-sport; such as blackjack, poker, and other online casino non-sport games, football, basketball, boxing, as well as sports such soccer, and the like. over a decade ago, with the advent of the internet, gamblers have new opportunities to participate in gambling activities from the comfort of their own home. Buoyed by credit cards and online banking, it has never been easier to gamble on the internet.

a registered account with a licensed gambling website is typically needed before anyone interested in gambling on the internet can place wagers online. it is absolutely essential that you select a reputable website to carry out your online gambling activities for your own security and privacy. Security issues that you should consider before become a member on a gambling website include measures taken to prevent collusion, encryption of all online information, gaming rules, among other facets. before joining, always take the time to go through the websites privacy statement and site terms. You can also ask around or search in forums to see what other internet gamblers say about the website. to open accounts specifically to manage your gambling activities, hundreds of websites are available to all types of gamblers. Generally, these websites support online payment aggregators such as neteller, cash transfer, webmoney, and Entropay; wire transfers directly from member bank accounts, digital cash, private label debit cards, and the more popular credit cards such as VISA and MasterCard. These methods of transferring money between a member’s account and profit accounts can also be used to place bets on the gambling website.

Most companies that facilitate gambling on the internet also provide their own software systems to manage the games their members can place a wager on. For instance, some of the more established companies have purpose built software that are capable of managing wagers placed on poker games of different variants as well as providing the means for members to participate in open tournaments and games. Gambling websites that provide a demo mode are much appreciated by players new to gambling on the internet. A demo mode allows new registrants to a gambling website to familiarize themselves with the gambling provider’s gambling application. In addition, it allows player to also familiarize themselves with the games provided without actually spending any real money. Though such practices may allow players to gain confidence with their providers system, it should in no way be the source of complacency. Good websites for gambling always remind their players of the real financial risks involved in gambling once a bet or wager is placed on any of their provided games.

Florida lawmakers open the 2012 legislative session two months early on Tuesday, tasked with the politically prickly chores of redrawing legislative and congressional maps, deciding on a potentially massive expansion of casinos and cutting their way out of another billion-dollar budget hole.

That expansive to-do list, combined with the clean sweep the Republican-controlled Legislature achieved on its ideological agenda last year and the uncertainty of this year's elections, might not leave much oxygen for other controversial issues this year. "I just don't know that people want to stick their necks out too far when they're going to be running in districts they're not familiar with," said House Minority Leader Ron Saunders, D-Key West.

Still, there'll be no shortage of tough decisions. Here's a look at the session's top issues:
Redistricting: Drawing new legislative and congressional lines — while adhering to new anti-gerrymandering standards — will dominate the 60-day session. Central Florida stands to gain one Hispanic-access congressional district in Orange and Osceola counties, along with a Hispanic-leaning state Senate seat. The region is also likely to elect more Democrats, according to early versions of the maps, although not enough to upset GOP control of the Legislature.

The Florida Senate is poised to pass its plans within two weeks, while the House — which has drafted seven congressional and five state House maps — could stretch its work into February.

The Legislature's early start is to allow time for a multilayered legal review of the final maps by Attorney General Pam Bondi, Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida Supreme Court and the federal courts before becoming official. And many groups — on both sides of the political aisle — are likely to challenge them along the way.

Gambling: Outside of the budget and redistricting, gambling is shaping up to be the most controversial and most watched issue of the 60-day session.

Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, want to allow three destination resorts that would include Vegas-style casinos. The bill will also create a new gambling control board, provide a lower tax rate for existing pari-mutuel "racinos" and stiffen regulation of other gambling in the state. The bill is slated for a first-round committee vote Monday afternoon and faces an uphill battle from there.

The business community remains divided, with The Florida Chamber of Commerce and Walt Disney World lobbying fervently against gambling. But some Central and South Florida tourism interests support it, as does Associated Industries of Florida.

Budget: Thanks to dwindling federal-stimulus dollars, declining property values and growing social safety-net programs, lawmakers face a budget shortfall of somewhere between $1.2billion and $1.9billion and a governor who wants to boost education spending by nearly $1billion.

Scott has proposed offsetting that increase by cutting $1.9billion from the state's Medicaid program, which provides health care to the poor, elderly and disabled. In Central Florida, the Florida Hospital system could lose $21million, while Orlando Health hospitals would lose $3.2million and Orlando Regional Medical Center $4.5million.

While Republicans are unanimous against raising taxes, there is disagreement over whether to close the budget hole with cuts early, or come back after March when economists will revise their revenue estimates and the picture may have brightened.

The 2012-13 fiscal year doesn't begin until July1, so Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, says there's no rush to pass a spending plan. But House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, has said there is no need to wait.

"Our job is to allocate a finite level of resources across a very broad range of needs," he said. "There is no magic bullet."

Internet sales tax: While the issue is percolating in Washington, Florida retailers are pushing lawmakers to go after online retailers such as Amazon that don't remit sales taxes to the state, saying they are hurting brick-and-mortar businesses and costing the state tax revenue.

It's unlikely anything too complex will pass, but Bogdanoff is planning to push a bill in the Senate and Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, has filed a House bill to "clarify existing law" by stating any company with a physical presence anywhere in the state would have to remit state sales taxes.

PIP: On the insurance front, lawmakers are looking to make big changes to Florida's no-fault personal injury auto-insurance law, or PIP, which pays for medical bills and lost wages.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Scott and Republican lawmakers have argued the Florida's PIP law is plagued by staged accidents and over-billing by medical providers, sticking drivers with a $910 million "fraud tax" built into their premiums.
Medical providers and trial lawyers have been sparring over the shape of potential reforms — whether lawmakers should eliminate the $10,000 in required PIP coverage, or instead place new limits on the types of services covered and when lawsuits could be filed. A House proposal released last week would limit PIP coverage to emergency room and follow-up treatment.

Caylee's law: Days after a jury acquitted Casey Anthony of murdering her daughter, lawmakers began pushing for a Caylee's Law in memory of the 2-year-old who was last seen on June 15, 2008. Her remains was found six months later.

Six bills have been filed between the two chambers that make it a felony to fail to report a missing child within a few days. Another measure requires a parent or guardian to notify law enforcement of the death of a minor within one hour after discovery of the death.

However, testimony by law-enforcement officials to the Senate's Select Committee on Protecting Florida's Children raised concerns about a missing-child reporting requirement, suggesting it would have unintended

Las Vegas isn't just about gambling. Tourists also come for the fine dining scene and live entertainment options, including eight Cirque du Soleil shows.

Other entertainment experiences await those who venture from the beaten path.

Circus Circus, at the near-vacant north end of the Strip, opens a museum on Jan. 19 dedicated to the art of a legendary Warner Bros. cartoonist with the Chuck Jones Experience.

Visitors will get to try their hand at drawing cartoon characters while learning about Jones, who died in 2002, through a short film. Admission cost will range from $14.95 (students, seniors, military, children 5-17) to $19.95 (adults).

In downtown Las Vegas' Fremont Street, the canopy light show flashes above a zip-line ride that careens 60 feet above the pavement for 800 feet, reaching speeds of 30 mph. (Cost: $15 before 6 p.m., $20 after. Hours: noon to 2 a.m. weekends, noon to midnight Sundays through Thursdays.)

Most of the entertainment options remain at the south end of the Strip, including CSI: The Experience at the MGM Grand. This touring exhibit began at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry in 2007, has an outlet at Discovery Times Square in New York and will soon open temporarily at the Buffalo Museum of Science (Jan. 28-April 29).

CSI: The Experience encourages visitors to play crime solver. But it's not cheap: $28 for adults and $21 ages 4-11 (plus a service charge), although coupons abound and Tix 4 Less booths sell discount tickets.

Newly enlisted investigators don CSI vests, view one of three crime scenes, take notes and then receive videotaped hints from the original "CSI" cast as they piece together whodunit and how. It's not much of a challenge.

For less expensive entertainment -- free, actually -- visit CBS's Television City, across from the "CSI" attraction in the MGM Grand's Studio Walk area (toward the back, near the pool).

Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with shows generally starting every half-hour, Television City is a test facility where visitors preview pilot episodes of unaired TV programs. While watching, visitors twist a dial to register their approval or disapproval. Afterward, they answer pages of questions about their likes and dislikes of the program. The whole thing takes about an hour.

The facility doesn't just test CBS programs. In early November, the site was showing "Bridal Boulevard," a wedding dress shopping show that appeared to those who saw it to be destined for cable's TLC.

And that's the challenge of attending a TV show test: You never know if you'll get something great or just another cruddy reality show. Regardless, for your efforts you're rewarded with coupons to various food stands in the MGM Grand, $5 off CSI: The Experience and 10 percent off the purchase of merchandise at the Television City store (T-shirts from "The Big Bang Theory," "Dexter," "Jersey Shore" and "NCIS" were on display, among other trinkets).

If you actually want to earn some money, visit Test America in the Miracle Mile shops at Planet Hollywood. Test America is ensconced in a second-floor space across from the V Theater/Stripper Bar, next to a restaurant called Blondie's.

A clerk at Tix 4 Less recommended Test America, saying she often stops in there after work if she needs a little extra cash. The key word is "little."

During a November visit, the facility was testing a new juice drink for children and their parents. Other visitors previewed and evaluated a trailer for the movie "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and then had to answer a lengthy series of questions on a computer screen. The whole visit lasted about 30-45 minutes and payment was a check for $2.

On Monday, the S3019 measure, which Authorizes Internet wagering at Atlantic City casinos under certain circumstances has been postponed. Initially it was scheduled to be heard in Assembly and Senate committees tomorrow and voted on in full sessions of both houses Monday; however, Sen. Ray Lesniak decided to have his measure passed through the Assembly and Senate before the final day of the current legislative session on January 9.

“Speaking with Governor Christie, I’ve agreed to reintroduce Internet gaming in the next legislative session, and I expect that we can get it through the Legislature and signed by the Governor within the first few weeks of the new session,” state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) said in a statement this evening.

“I believe that Internet gaming has transformational potential for New Jersey’s gaming industries. While I remain hopeful that New Jersey can take the lead on this exciting new direction for wagering, which would result in new revenues, new jobs and new economic activity in the Garden State, I recognise that the complex issues surrounding Internet wagering will take more time to iron out than we are afforded in the waning days of the current legislative session.

“This isn’t a question of if New Jersey gets Internet wagering but when and my money is on soon.”

There is a lot of media attention on a near New Year’s Eve announcement by the Justice Department to reverse its opinion formed mostly in the administration of George W, Bush that the Wire Act of 1961 prohibits most forms of gambling over the internet. The Justice Department is now willing to accept what most people including the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals a decade ago concluded; that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting and not other forms of gambling such as poker, blackjack etc. In fact some poker aficionados have argued that poker is not gambling at all

I spent close to 20 years as a sellside and buyside casino gaming analyst and have worked in government as well. This is a subject I know a fair amount about. I think a lot of the media rush has missed some salient points and I started to write a comprehensive piece on this, but decided it would be too long, so I will break up into chunks.

The first chunk is how close are we to legal online gambling? Not as close as most people would have you think. This DOJ opinion not withstanding and we will address whether this opinion is really the Holy Grail another time, changes in states laws and Nevada adopting regulations for online poker not withstanding – even if Congress repealed the Wire Act, the gating issue is the UIGEA and that payment processors are not likely to jump to process even legal gambling transactions unless UIGEA Is repealed.

What is UIGEA? In October 2006,. Congress passed the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) as a last minute non-germane amendment to the Safe Port Act. The UIGEA essentially put the burden on payment processors to stop handling transactions for most internet gambling. Specifically, transactions related to “illegal gambling”, but of course that depended on what was legal and illegal which draws us back to the Wire Act. The recent indictments of individuals related to online poker and the closing of major online poker sites in April 2011 was for UIGEA violations, not the Wire Act.

Under UIGEA the banks could still be held liable if they process an “illegal” gambling transaction. This is not something banks have to deal with it in any other type of business – they don’t need to know which vendors are approved or which products they sell are approved. Imagine a hypothetical situation where some online apparel retailers were legal and some were illegal. Imagine that some were legal in some states, but not in others. Further imagine that sale of shoes was illegal totally – the shoes here would be analogous to sports betting. Do you think banks would be processing online apparel transactions in this situation where they were held responsible for distinguishing all these things and if they got it wrong, they committed a felony? I don’t think any major banks are going to step up for this unless UIGEA is repealed and that might be a political impossibility unless Congress enthusiastically wants to embrace online gambling – don’t hold your breath.

Imagine super-sized online poker games with seven-figure jackpots. Gambling apps on your smart phone that let you pull the lever on a virtual slot machine while your boss isn’t looking.

The U.S. Justice Department last month cracked open the doors for these options and many more. Quietly, with a legal opinion, the federal government cleared the way for online gambling Dec. 23. And they began a race between states to create games and generate billions in revenue, gambling experts and legal scholars say.

For decades, the Justice Department has opposed online gambling in all its forms. But when New York and Illinois asked the federal government to clarify the rules for online lottery ticket sales, the opinion went farther: The only thing illegal under federal law was sports betting over state and federal lines.

Now states are starting to sort out what to do with a new freedom that could give them the potential to make billions.

Some states are already poised to go. Washington, D.C., has already legalized Internet poker to be run by the lottery there. Nevada has legalized Internet poker. Three other states: California, Iowa and New Jersey will likely approve online poker and other games this year, said I. Nelson Rose, a lawyer and expert on gambling law at Whittier College of Law in California.

At first, states will likely limit the games so only state residents can play. But it won’t take long for states to develop compacts, as they have with Powerball lotteries, to form multi-state games and larger jackpots, Rose said.

In some cases, the states will run the games. In others, casinos will. Either way, states will be taking a cut of the money.

When New York Lottery Director Gordon Medenica received the opinion letter from the Department of Justice the Friday before Christmas, he said, he was happily surprised. It had taken two years to get an answer to his question: Can the state sell single lottery tickets online without violating federal law.

Now the state offers online subscription sales of Lotto and Mega Millions tickets. The lottery wanted to add single-ticket online sales of Sweet Millions and Powerball. The opinion was that yes, the state could do this, and much more.

“It is really up to the states and the policy makers within those states to decide what they can do,” Medenica said.

In New York, the plan is to be cautious and watch the market, he said.

Medenica said the state plans to add the single ticket sales of Sweet Millions and Powerball in the next few months. He said the state asked its longtime games vendor, GTECH Corp. of Rhode Island, to develop a computer system to sell those tickets several years ago, but GTECH and the lottery wanted to be sure it was legal. The state asked the feds for guidance in 2009 and have been letting that system sit idle since then.

Medenica said the governor, legislature and customers will dictate what the lottery does with its new freedom.

State law clearly allows the lottery to sell tickets online. But whether it allows instant online games is unclear. Poker and Quick Draw would require the legislature to act, Medenica said. Quick Draw is an online, instant game that is played in bars and other outlets licensed by the lottery. Patrons buy tickets and the winning numbers pop up on a TV screen every few minutes. Online games could transfer that game to laptops and smart phones.

None of those options has been ruled out by the lottery, Medenica said.

“It’s something we need to study and stay open to the possibility and see where the marketplace goes,” he said.

Fran Fiorito, whose Euclid restaurant in Clay does more than $500,000 in Quick Draw business a year, said he doesn’t worry that online games would cut into his business. People play Quick Draw as part of an evening out with friends, he said.

“Those people are not going to sit home and play online,” Fiorito said.

He thinks the state would be smart to offer online games. “We need the money,” Fiorito said.

The legislators who oversee the lottery and other gambling are less sure.

State Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, chairman of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, prefers developing “brick and mortar” casinos. In his State of the State Address, the governor asked lawmakers to consider an amendment to the state Constitution that would legalize gambling and allow new casinos off of Indian land.

Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, D-Mount Vernon, chairman of the same committee in the Assembly, said he opposes online gambling.

“It’s too easy to cheat,” Pretlow said. He said he’d like to see other states legalize online games such as poker and watch the scandals unfold.

Poker is likely the first game to go online, said Bill Eadington, a gambling expert at the University of Nevada. It’s seen as a game of skill, unlike simpler casino games and slot machines. And it has a nostalgia that people like.

“Every president has played it. It’s the game of the Old West,” Eadington said.

Not to mention that it’s worth a lot of money. A study in California said legalizing online poker would generate $1.5 billion for the state government over the next decade. And once federal authorities shut down several popular online poker sites in March, that number went up to $2.5 billion, said Rose, the California gambling expert.

Eadington said slot machine games will be the most politically difficult for states to get online. They’re perceived as skill-free and highly addictive.

But Eadington also said that with the economy struggling, states will follow the pattern of the past three decades. When they have money, “gambling is an evil thing. They won’t consider it,” he said. “But when times are tough, morality takes a backseat.”

As the states begin to make their decisions, the casino industry is trying to move Congress to create federal regulations to bind states. That way, the casino operators wouldn’t have to deal with 50 different

In a report published before Christmas, the European Parliament ruled that online and land-based sectors of the same industries (in this case, the betting and gaming industry) are indeed in direct competition to one another and that legislation that favoured one over the other amounted to state aid.

The report could have gone further and pointed out that a tax system (such as we have in the UK) that favours online casinos, bingo clubs and bookies (low levels of employment and regulatory oversight) to the detriment of their land-based equivalents (high levels of employment, highly regulated) was not just unfair, and potentially illegal, but just plain misguided. Alas, Brussels requires that member states govern fairly and in accordance with European law; it does not require them to govern well.

This point has been made repeatedly over recent months to the Parliamentary Select Committee for Culture, Media and Sport, which has been convened to understand what has been the effect of gambling legislation in this country and why it has failed to deliver the economic benefits ministers had anticipated.

At a time when it is needed most, Britain's land-based gaming entertainment industry has the potential to boost employment and thereby contribute to the growth of the economy. However, it can only do this if the Government brings to an end the subsidies provided to online gaming and harmonises the taxation of all regulated forms of gambling under one simple and fair regime.

The Gambling Act was designed to create in Britain a modern gaming industry capable of making a positive contribution to the development of the leisure economy, adaptable to changing technologies and responsible to the welfare of customers. The intention was to benefit society by offering greater freedoms and more effective controls; to benefit business by rescinding anachronistic and redundant commercial restrictions; and to benefit the economy by promoting greater investment and job creation. The Act did sweep away a number of antiquated restrictions and allowed the industry to become more commercial. It also enshrined in law the principles by which we all strive to operate – free of crime, protective of our customers and at all times fair.

Yet, despite this, the licensed gaming industry in Britain today is still characterised by policies of taxation and regulation that appear designed to undermine rather than support the aims of the Act.

This is why the Select Committee inquiry is so important. It has handed Government and operators a second chance to mould the industry into something that is more responsible to society, provides greater benefit to the economy and is better able to compete in the global market.

Perhaps Government's biggest opportunity is to reform a system of policies that at present appears to run counter to the aims of the Act by discriminating against those sectors that provide the highest levels of customer protection and overall economic benefit.

The Rank Group's casinos and bingo clubs provide a range of customer protections, from controlled entry mechanisms and proof-of-age checks to systematic problem gambling training for all customer-facing employees. In 2009, Britain's casinos and bingo clubs accounted for just 0.09pc of all reported incidences of under-age gambling. Yet these two sectors are the highest taxed in the UK gaming industry. By comparison, most of Rank's online gaming competitors, who also target UK consumers but have no establishment in this country, pay no UK tax on their online gaming income. The small minority of UK established online companies that offer bingo and casino games enjoy the advantages of a benign system of regulation and lower rates of taxation. There are similar inconsistencies from a regulatory perspective. At present, Britain's licensed casinos account for just 1pc of the near 250,000 gaming machines in Britain today, despite being widely acknowledged as providing the safest environments for machine gaming to take place.

These are not simply the views of a self-interested businessman but are shared by senior ministers and our regulatory commissioners. In 2007, the present Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, wrote that Britain's casinos "are one of the easiest places to prevent problem gambling". Meanwhile, in its 2009 report into machine gaming, the Gambling Commission stated that bingo clubs and casinos were "seen to facilitate social gambling" (as distinct from solitary gambling) and were therefore less likely to foster problem gambling than other venues.

I wrote to HM Treasury in January 2010 to recommend the harmonisation of gaming taxation in Great Britain, even though this would mean that the Rank's online business would be subject to higher taxation. Since then, the Government has signalled its intention to regulate and tax all online gambling in Britain.

These are sensible steps, but if they are undertaken in isolation, without consideration for the broader industry, then the Government will have failed in its duty to provide protection for its citizens and to promote economic growth.

As it looks ahead to a challenging year for the economy in 2012, the Government has an opportunity to get things right. It has an industry that (unlike many others) is willing to invest and to create skilled jobs; and it has the counsel of John Whittingdale's Select Committee and the European Commission to turn to for guidance. I hope that this time Government ministers choose what is right over what is politically expedient.