Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Select your timezone:
Hear that whooshing sound? It’s the sound of something rushing in to fill a vacuum – except that the “something” in this case is social and mobile gaming companies, and the vacuum is the market for real money gambling games in the Unites States.
If you’re a casual gamer (and you probably are if you’re reading Gamezebo), you may have already seen how the companies that make some of your favorite games are preparing to offer you casino and poker games played for real money when it becomes legal. Zynga is the biggest name, as it’s made little secret that it sees a future for itself in mobile gambling. Others like Glu Mobile are in the process of testing the waters overseas in order to be ready as soon as possible when the U.S. gives them the green light.
And make no mistake about it, online and mobile gambling are on the way. Within the past month, both Nevada and New Jersey passed bills to join Delaware in formally legalizing intrastate real money gaming. Other states are sure to follow to avoid being left out, similar to the way physical casinos have popped up in more and more places that got tired of seeing gambling dollars travel elsewhere.
That’s if the federal government doesn’t act first. There are renewed efforts underway for legislating things at the national level, this time supported by the casino companies that opposed such measures in the past. They’ve seen that the future of gambling, like so many things, is mobile, and they want to make sure they’re a part of it. But while internet-based gambling has existed in a murky legal status in the United States for some time, it’s been a flourishing industry in other countries since the late 1990s. Some of those casino software providers, like 888 Holdings, are also eyeing up an American market that analysts think could be as large as $10 billion by 2017. Their existing expertise in creating online and mobile casino games will be a valuable asset.
What’s shaping up is an intriguing three-way battle to win the hearts, minds and (especially) dollars of players, and it’s not clear who will come out on top. Will it be the social gaming companies with their knowledge of viral behavior? Will the existing online casino providers dominate since they already understand the space? Or could the physical casino conglomerates rule with their ability to tie online games into experiences at their resorts?
It could even be a combination of those forces, since some of the businesses have already partnered up to increase their chances of success. The place to watch is New Jersey, which is expected to be the first state to actually have games up and running, perhaps as soon as this summer. It’s going to be a wild time until everything shakes out.
In the meantime, drop us a comment and let us know how you feel about gambling on your computer or mobile device, and whether you’d make the move from playing slots or casino games for fun to trying your luck with real money at stake.
Online gambling in the US: it's pretty much inevitable | Gamezebo
If you’re a casual gamer (and you probably are if you’re reading Gamezebo), you may have already seen how the companies that make some of your favorite games are preparing to offer you casino and poker games played for real money when it becomes legal. Zynga is the biggest name, as it’s made little secret that it sees a future for itself in mobile gambling. Others like Glu Mobile are in the process of testing the waters overseas in order to be ready as soon as possible when the U.S. gives them the green light.
And make no mistake about it, online and mobile gambling are on the way. Within the past month, both Nevada and New Jersey passed bills to join Delaware in formally legalizing intrastate real money gaming. Other states are sure to follow to avoid being left out, similar to the way physical casinos have popped up in more and more places that got tired of seeing gambling dollars travel elsewhere.
That’s if the federal government doesn’t act first. There are renewed efforts underway for legislating things at the national level, this time supported by the casino companies that opposed such measures in the past. They’ve seen that the future of gambling, like so many things, is mobile, and they want to make sure they’re a part of it. But while internet-based gambling has existed in a murky legal status in the United States for some time, it’s been a flourishing industry in other countries since the late 1990s. Some of those casino software providers, like 888 Holdings, are also eyeing up an American market that analysts think could be as large as $10 billion by 2017. Their existing expertise in creating online and mobile casino games will be a valuable asset.
What’s shaping up is an intriguing three-way battle to win the hearts, minds and (especially) dollars of players, and it’s not clear who will come out on top. Will it be the social gaming companies with their knowledge of viral behavior? Will the existing online casino providers dominate since they already understand the space? Or could the physical casino conglomerates rule with their ability to tie online games into experiences at their resorts?
It could even be a combination of those forces, since some of the businesses have already partnered up to increase their chances of success. The place to watch is New Jersey, which is expected to be the first state to actually have games up and running, perhaps as soon as this summer. It’s going to be a wild time until everything shakes out.
In the meantime, drop us a comment and let us know how you feel about gambling on your computer or mobile device, and whether you’d make the move from playing slots or casino games for fun to trying your luck with real money at stake.
Online gambling in the US: it's pretty much inevitable | Gamezebo
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The Delaware Lottery Office intends to award contracts for Delaware’s online gambling systems by May this year, as the target date for online poker to go live is on September 30, 2013. The requests for proposal are for the following four aspects of online casino operations:
1. Providers of Backend Technology Platform or the supplier of the online casino’s foundation software that will provide modules for network management, member account management, cashiering/payout systems, multi-level monitoring and reporting systems, promotional offers and customer support services.
2. Vendors of Game Content or the developers of poker game variations and typical casino games such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette, video lottery games, bingo, keno and the like.
3. Vendors of Support Services or third-party companies that provide expertise in maintaining a safe and secure online gambling site, such as the payments processor, web-hosting site, IP blocking and network security provider and geo-location tracker, just to mention a few.
4. Providers of Operations Management or experienced online Internet-based gaming operators who will manage the entire components of both land-based and web-based casinos such as handling of payments, customer service, institution and implementation of gaming ethics, policies and measures against fraud and collusion, as well as putting in place systems that will ensure responsible gaming.
The firms that have already submitted their proposals include well-placed companies such as Amaya Gaming, Bally Technologies, Continent 8 Technologies, 888 Holdings, IGT, PokerStars, Scientific Games, SHFL Entertainment and Stan James PLC. An important point of evaluation of the Delaware Lottery Office is the timely manner by which providers can deliver, install, implement, pass testing and go live on the scheduled date agreed upon, on or before September 30, 2013.
Delaware Poised to Award Online Casino Contracts : ADI News
1. Providers of Backend Technology Platform or the supplier of the online casino’s foundation software that will provide modules for network management, member account management, cashiering/payout systems, multi-level monitoring and reporting systems, promotional offers and customer support services.
2. Vendors of Game Content or the developers of poker game variations and typical casino games such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette, video lottery games, bingo, keno and the like.
3. Vendors of Support Services or third-party companies that provide expertise in maintaining a safe and secure online gambling site, such as the payments processor, web-hosting site, IP blocking and network security provider and geo-location tracker, just to mention a few.
4. Providers of Operations Management or experienced online Internet-based gaming operators who will manage the entire components of both land-based and web-based casinos such as handling of payments, customer service, institution and implementation of gaming ethics, policies and measures against fraud and collusion, as well as putting in place systems that will ensure responsible gaming.
The firms that have already submitted their proposals include well-placed companies such as Amaya Gaming, Bally Technologies, Continent 8 Technologies, 888 Holdings, IGT, PokerStars, Scientific Games, SHFL Entertainment and Stan James PLC. An important point of evaluation of the Delaware Lottery Office is the timely manner by which providers can deliver, install, implement, pass testing and go live on the scheduled date agreed upon, on or before September 30, 2013.
Delaware Poised to Award Online Casino Contracts : ADI News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The European Union is debating the much needed harmonized online betting platform requested by various nations which want to see a regulated and controlled online gambling policy in place in the near future. The European Commission is being urged to take measures against nations within the Union who don`t comply with the e-commerce free trade agreement that is generally considered E.U. policy.
Recent discussions in the European parliament have revealed there are very different points of view in regards to the implementation of a standard set of rules governing online gambling services. A draft report authored by Ashley Fox, (ECR, UK) has asked for more co-operation among nations to create a more attractive and secure EU market. The report submitted by the Member of the European Parliament from Gibraltar, is slanted primarily to the advantage of private betting operators rather than the government monopolies. Recently the Committee on the Internal Market looked at the differing points of view regarding the report.
Sirpa Pietikäinen EPP, for Finland stated, “The starting point of the report needs to be reviewed,” adding, “There should be more of a focus on respecting the subsidiary principle and the various [European] traditions. We need to be very clear about the fact that betting games are not an economic activity like any other activity – and that this is a reality, which justifies more consumer protection.” Denmark`s Christel Schaldemose and Jürgen Creutzmann from Germany concurred with the member from Finland`s point of view and called for more consumer protection.
Sakari Aeras of the Finnish ministry in charge of gambling also said that “online gaming is not a normal service and it calls for stricter player identification measures to avoid abuses. Finland would like to see the establishment of a monopoly of three operators. The debate among E.U. nations is focused on the rights of individual nations to keep or establish an exclusive system while others want a harmonized platform with free trade for all.
European Parliament Hears Online Gambling Debate
Recent discussions in the European parliament have revealed there are very different points of view in regards to the implementation of a standard set of rules governing online gambling services. A draft report authored by Ashley Fox, (ECR, UK) has asked for more co-operation among nations to create a more attractive and secure EU market. The report submitted by the Member of the European Parliament from Gibraltar, is slanted primarily to the advantage of private betting operators rather than the government monopolies. Recently the Committee on the Internal Market looked at the differing points of view regarding the report.
Sirpa Pietikäinen EPP, for Finland stated, “The starting point of the report needs to be reviewed,” adding, “There should be more of a focus on respecting the subsidiary principle and the various [European] traditions. We need to be very clear about the fact that betting games are not an economic activity like any other activity – and that this is a reality, which justifies more consumer protection.” Denmark`s Christel Schaldemose and Jürgen Creutzmann from Germany concurred with the member from Finland`s point of view and called for more consumer protection.
Sakari Aeras of the Finnish ministry in charge of gambling also said that “online gaming is not a normal service and it calls for stricter player identification measures to avoid abuses. Finland would like to see the establishment of a monopoly of three operators. The debate among E.U. nations is focused on the rights of individual nations to keep or establish an exclusive system while others want a harmonized platform with free trade for all.
European Parliament Hears Online Gambling Debate
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
As corporations hear the siren call of electronic dance music, the deals keep getting bigger.
On Thursday, SFX Entertainment will announce that it has bought 75 percent of ID&T, a Dutch festival promoter, for $102 million in cash and stock. The deal, perhaps the biggest in the market so far, will give SFX a major foothold on the global festival circuit as it tries to build a $1 billion media empire centered on dance.
ID&T puts on the annual Tomorrowland festival in Belgium, which last year drew 180,000 people, as well as Sensation, an indoor event held in 20 countries. ID&T already formed a joint venture with SFX to bring a festival to North America, and on Wednesday the two companies revealed the details of that partnership: TomorrowWorld, an event for 150,000 people to be held in Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., from Sept. 27 to 29.
(Why not call the new one Tomorrowland? Disney owns that name in the United States, according to Duncan Stutterheim, one of ID&T’s founders.)
“We are aligned with a festival operator who has been doing this for 20 years and has helped define quality and a great experience for fans,” Mr. Sillerman said in an interview. “It also gives us the global footprint to begin creating the worldwide community of dance fans.”
The deal values ID&T at $136 million.
Mr. Sillerman, who corporatized the concert industry in the 1990s through a previous incarnation of SFX, revived the company last year to capitalize on the rise of electronic dance music, or E.D.M.
After decades on the cultural margins, dance has taken over the sound of Top 40 radio and drawn huge crowds to festivals around the world — and, in turn, the attention of Wall Street investors.
So far SFX has bought a string of Miami nightclubs and several festival and live-event companies. But its acquisition spree took off recently when it paid $50 million for Beatport, a download store that Mr. Sillerman wants to use as a hub to connect the disparate global dance audience, and therefore and attract advertising dollars from major brands. This week, SFX also announced an investment from the advertising giant WPP that has been estimated at $10 million.
Mr. Stutterheim said in an interview that SFX’s resources would help his festival franchises expand quickly around the world. This year, ID&T events will take place in Brazil, South Africa and perhaps in Kenya, and Mr. Stutterheim said he was looking at various spots in Asia.
“I believe in this story, that this will build into a new worldwide electronic company,” he said of SFX. “This is a really big step, and we could never do it ourselves.”
Last year, ID&T brought its Sensation event to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in cooperation with Live Nation. But the SFX deal is a sign that corporate allegiances are being drawn at the top levels of the festival market. Live Nation, which has been building its own dance empire, is said to be in the advanced stages of takeover talks with Insomniac, the promoter behind the Electronic Daisy Carnival events.
Another power struggle is taking shape in Las Vegas, where top D.J.’s are booked to multimillion-dollar residencies at the nightclubs attached to major casinos. The Wynn casinos have built a lineup with dozens of D.J.’s; a nightclub branch of Hakkasan, a high-end restaurant chain, has arrived as a major competitor. The club, opening next month at the MGM Grand, has booked a number of star D.J.’s, like Tiësto, Deadmau5 and Steve Aoki, who have been associated with Wynn.
Mr. Stutterheim, like other entrepreneurs in the dance world, built his business and his festival brands as an independent company, and said that at first he was ambivalent about selling to a corporation whose goals were anything but indie.
“There was hesitation in the beginning, of course,” he said. “But for me the big change was when the agents came in with the big D.J.’s, the big, top-dollar stars that changed the game. Now it’s just the professional entertainment industry. I’m seeing possibilities, and I don’t have any hesitance now. That’s the way it’s going, so, O.K., let’s go that way.”
On Thursday, SFX Entertainment will announce that it has bought 75 percent of ID&T, a Dutch festival promoter, for $102 million in cash and stock. The deal, perhaps the biggest in the market so far, will give SFX a major foothold on the global festival circuit as it tries to build a $1 billion media empire centered on dance.
ID&T puts on the annual Tomorrowland festival in Belgium, which last year drew 180,000 people, as well as Sensation, an indoor event held in 20 countries. ID&T already formed a joint venture with SFX to bring a festival to North America, and on Wednesday the two companies revealed the details of that partnership: TomorrowWorld, an event for 150,000 people to be held in Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., from Sept. 27 to 29.
(Why not call the new one Tomorrowland? Disney owns that name in the United States, according to Duncan Stutterheim, one of ID&T’s founders.)
“We are aligned with a festival operator who has been doing this for 20 years and has helped define quality and a great experience for fans,” Mr. Sillerman said in an interview. “It also gives us the global footprint to begin creating the worldwide community of dance fans.”
The deal values ID&T at $136 million.
Mr. Sillerman, who corporatized the concert industry in the 1990s through a previous incarnation of SFX, revived the company last year to capitalize on the rise of electronic dance music, or E.D.M.
After decades on the cultural margins, dance has taken over the sound of Top 40 radio and drawn huge crowds to festivals around the world — and, in turn, the attention of Wall Street investors.
So far SFX has bought a string of Miami nightclubs and several festival and live-event companies. But its acquisition spree took off recently when it paid $50 million for Beatport, a download store that Mr. Sillerman wants to use as a hub to connect the disparate global dance audience, and therefore and attract advertising dollars from major brands. This week, SFX also announced an investment from the advertising giant WPP that has been estimated at $10 million.
Mr. Stutterheim said in an interview that SFX’s resources would help his festival franchises expand quickly around the world. This year, ID&T events will take place in Brazil, South Africa and perhaps in Kenya, and Mr. Stutterheim said he was looking at various spots in Asia.
“I believe in this story, that this will build into a new worldwide electronic company,” he said of SFX. “This is a really big step, and we could never do it ourselves.”
Last year, ID&T brought its Sensation event to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in cooperation with Live Nation. But the SFX deal is a sign that corporate allegiances are being drawn at the top levels of the festival market. Live Nation, which has been building its own dance empire, is said to be in the advanced stages of takeover talks with Insomniac, the promoter behind the Electronic Daisy Carnival events.
Another power struggle is taking shape in Las Vegas, where top D.J.’s are booked to multimillion-dollar residencies at the nightclubs attached to major casinos. The Wynn casinos have built a lineup with dozens of D.J.’s; a nightclub branch of Hakkasan, a high-end restaurant chain, has arrived as a major competitor. The club, opening next month at the MGM Grand, has booked a number of star D.J.’s, like Tiësto, Deadmau5 and Steve Aoki, who have been associated with Wynn.
Mr. Stutterheim, like other entrepreneurs in the dance world, built his business and his festival brands as an independent company, and said that at first he was ambivalent about selling to a corporation whose goals were anything but indie.
“There was hesitation in the beginning, of course,” he said. “But for me the big change was when the agents came in with the big D.J.’s, the big, top-dollar stars that changed the game. Now it’s just the professional entertainment industry. I’m seeing possibilities, and I don’t have any hesitance now. That’s the way it’s going, so, O.K., let’s go that way.”
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Opposition to gambling over the Internet is lessening in New Jersey, even though a new poll finds more people against it than for it.
The Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released Wednesday finds 46 percent of respondents oppose the state’s recent decision to legalize Internet betting, with 41 percent favoring it.
That’s down significantly from just two years ago, when 67 percent of respondents to the poll said they were against Internet gambling.
Gov. Chris Christie signed an online gambling bill into law on Feb. 26. It authorizes any game currently offered at an Atlantic City casino to be offered online, although no casino has yet gotten an Internet betting operation up and running.
The law will not take effect until the state Division of Gaming Enforcement sets a start date, sometime between three and nine months after the law was signed. Casino executives have estimated it could take six months to a year to get the system up and running.
Sixty-six percent of those who support Internet gambling said additional revenue for the state is the main reason they favor it. Only 10 percent cited the convenience of being able to gamble online.
Those who oppose Internet gambling are clearly worried about potentially harmful effects it could have on society. New Jersey recently lost a federal court battle to overturn a federal law restricting sports betting to four states that met a 1991 deadline to approve it: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana.
New Jersey officials are appealing that ruling, and Christie says he’s willing to take it to the U.S. Supreme Court if need be.
Online betting grows on N.J. | Courier-Post | courierpostonline-com
The Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released Wednesday finds 46 percent of respondents oppose the state’s recent decision to legalize Internet betting, with 41 percent favoring it.
That’s down significantly from just two years ago, when 67 percent of respondents to the poll said they were against Internet gambling.
Gov. Chris Christie signed an online gambling bill into law on Feb. 26. It authorizes any game currently offered at an Atlantic City casino to be offered online, although no casino has yet gotten an Internet betting operation up and running.
The law will not take effect until the state Division of Gaming Enforcement sets a start date, sometime between three and nine months after the law was signed. Casino executives have estimated it could take six months to a year to get the system up and running.
Sixty-six percent of those who support Internet gambling said additional revenue for the state is the main reason they favor it. Only 10 percent cited the convenience of being able to gamble online.
Those who oppose Internet gambling are clearly worried about potentially harmful effects it could have on society. New Jersey recently lost a federal court battle to overturn a federal law restricting sports betting to four states that met a 1991 deadline to approve it: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana.
New Jersey officials are appealing that ruling, and Christie says he’s willing to take it to the U.S. Supreme Court if need be.
Online betting grows on N.J. | Courier-Post | courierpostonline-com
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Australian politicians have been arguing about the online gambling industry for some time now with the issue being a hot potato for the current Gillard government. While the officials argue the business of gambling keeps advancing as best it can with the possibility of problems waiting in the wings.
The recent takeover of Australia`s Sportingbet by the joint venture between William Hill and GVC Holdings for £459 million has garnered another round of critical interest. The Chief executive of William Hill, Ralph Topping commented on the deal, “This acquisition is part of our core strategy to expand selectively into international markets and to grow online revenues. Australia is one of the largest licensed betting markets in the world where, up until now, William Hill has not had a footprint.” Meanwhile the government is proposing the prohibition of micro-betting and in-game betting much to the concern of online gambling operators in Australia.
The new owner of Sportingbet, William Hill is concerned with the possible outcome of the proposed new rules. Topping commented that allowing legal bookmakers to offer bets that customers would otherwise place offshore was the best way to control gaming and stamp out potential corruption. "One of the most uneducated comments that can be made about sport and its integrity in the UK, is that that kind of 'in-play betting' would lead to fixings and whatever else," Topping continued, "There has been none of that happen. The best way you can regulate a business and control it is to have legitimate bookmakers involved. The problem you get is when the business is run by criminals or unregulated bookmakers."
The internet is an open book for gamblers in Australia and the Australian punter is an avid one says the CEO of William Hill. The introduction of the bans on micro betting and in play punts will drive gamblers offshore rather than keeping the funds in Australia. This is a familiar refrain from all operators who desire a regulated and licensed environment.
Australian Online Gambling Facing Challenges
The recent takeover of Australia`s Sportingbet by the joint venture between William Hill and GVC Holdings for £459 million has garnered another round of critical interest. The Chief executive of William Hill, Ralph Topping commented on the deal, “This acquisition is part of our core strategy to expand selectively into international markets and to grow online revenues. Australia is one of the largest licensed betting markets in the world where, up until now, William Hill has not had a footprint.” Meanwhile the government is proposing the prohibition of micro-betting and in-game betting much to the concern of online gambling operators in Australia.
The new owner of Sportingbet, William Hill is concerned with the possible outcome of the proposed new rules. Topping commented that allowing legal bookmakers to offer bets that customers would otherwise place offshore was the best way to control gaming and stamp out potential corruption. "One of the most uneducated comments that can be made about sport and its integrity in the UK, is that that kind of 'in-play betting' would lead to fixings and whatever else," Topping continued, "There has been none of that happen. The best way you can regulate a business and control it is to have legitimate bookmakers involved. The problem you get is when the business is run by criminals or unregulated bookmakers."
The internet is an open book for gamblers in Australia and the Australian punter is an avid one says the CEO of William Hill. The introduction of the bans on micro betting and in play punts will drive gamblers offshore rather than keeping the funds in Australia. This is a familiar refrain from all operators who desire a regulated and licensed environment.
Australian Online Gambling Facing Challenges
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The online gambling industry is not just about web sites and punting it is also about the other businesses that help contribute to the industry operations and development. There are a number of peripheral companies that make the games and produce the content which is vital to maintaining a progressive and interesting internet wagering environment.
The Jersey Gambling Commission has recently issued its first Software Development Permit to well established firm E-scape Interactive for the development and distribution of gambling games. Web services and digital marketing firm, E-scape Interactive has been in business since 1998 and has a wealth of experience in the field. With the permit the company which has a excellent reputation for both innovation and quality will be able to access markets in Europe without difficulty.
Steve Hickson, Managing Director of E-scape Interactive commented on the granting of the first permit, “Being awarded this license is great news for E-scape Interactive and for Jersey’s digital industries,” Hickson, continued, “We have been successfully exporting our services around the world and creating games for globally renowned gaming brands but this permit, awarded by an independent third party regulator, adds to our credibility and will give us even greater reach. The whole team at E-scape is looking forward to attracting new business to Jersey, helping both the company and the Island to develop reputations for the delivery of high quality digital services.”
Jason Lane, Chief Executive at the Jersey Gambling Commission also commented on the awarding of this license, “We have developed the Software Development Permit in order to give third party operators and their customers confidence in games that are designed in Jersey,” The idea is to provide a benchmark for excellence, something the international online gambling industry expects. Lane added, “E-scape has satisfied all of the conditions required to be awarded the permit and I hope that it helps the company break into new markets, putting Jersey’s name on the map as a jurisdiction known for the development of high quality, innovative games.”
Jersey Issues First Software Development Permit for Online Gambling
The Jersey Gambling Commission has recently issued its first Software Development Permit to well established firm E-scape Interactive for the development and distribution of gambling games. Web services and digital marketing firm, E-scape Interactive has been in business since 1998 and has a wealth of experience in the field. With the permit the company which has a excellent reputation for both innovation and quality will be able to access markets in Europe without difficulty.
Steve Hickson, Managing Director of E-scape Interactive commented on the granting of the first permit, “Being awarded this license is great news for E-scape Interactive and for Jersey’s digital industries,” Hickson, continued, “We have been successfully exporting our services around the world and creating games for globally renowned gaming brands but this permit, awarded by an independent third party regulator, adds to our credibility and will give us even greater reach. The whole team at E-scape is looking forward to attracting new business to Jersey, helping both the company and the Island to develop reputations for the delivery of high quality digital services.”
Jason Lane, Chief Executive at the Jersey Gambling Commission also commented on the awarding of this license, “We have developed the Software Development Permit in order to give third party operators and their customers confidence in games that are designed in Jersey,” The idea is to provide a benchmark for excellence, something the international online gambling industry expects. Lane added, “E-scape has satisfied all of the conditions required to be awarded the permit and I hope that it helps the company break into new markets, putting Jersey’s name on the map as a jurisdiction known for the development of high quality, innovative games.”
Jersey Issues First Software Development Permit for Online Gambling
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
FULL TEXT OF CHIEF MINISTER’S SPEECH YESTERDAY TO EU’s INTERNAL MARKET & CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE:
Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you today to present an overview of Gibraltar’s arrangements for the regulation and supply of remote gambling services and our views on the future of the industry.
As you know, the 30,000 people of Gibraltar joined the EU with the United Kingdom forty years ago in 1973.
Since then, Gibraltar has played by the rules of the EU.
I was able to announce last month that we are now totally up to date with all transpositions required of us in terms of EU Directives.
I am sure you will agree that this is a stunning and remarkable achievement for a jurisdiction of our size.
That means that we – little Gibraltar - are ahead of most Member States, despite the fact that we are probably the jurisdiction with the least resources in the EU and serves to demonstrate the importance that we put on complying with our obligations. That is important for you to know and note.
REMOTE GAMBLING
Remote gambling emerged as a ‘transnational’ economic service also some 40 years ago when UK bookmakers began to regularly take bets by telephone from customers in many parts of the world.
So although remote gambling is not a new phenomenon, it is certainly an accelerating one.
In the mid 1990s a UK bookmaker established offices and call centres in Gibraltar to process its business more efficiently and based on the lower cost base prevalent in Gibraltar and much of southern Europe.
In parallel, similar businesses were being established in much more remote places. I am not here to criticise those jurisdictions that are beyond the shores of the EU, but I will say that from the outset, only Gibraltar required its remote gambling industry to operate FROM THE BEGINNING at the highest levels of probity and integrity.
Indeed, we allowed only a handful of the existing ‘blue chip’ firms to base themselves in Gibraltar.
Hence, we have always had nearly all of the UK and Europe’s major brand names in remote gambling in Gibraltar, and few others. As the Gibraltar remote gaming industry quickly adopted the internet, and with the emergence of broadband, telephone sports betting quickly developed into internet gambling of roulette, blackjack, slots bingo and poker.
As a result, the industry now employs approximately 2,000 people directly and many hundreds of others indirectly.
Indeed, it is also a source of cross frontier work and cohesion; with many who work in the industry living in Spain and crossing into Gibraltar each day.
The industry has grown not just in Gibraltar but around the world.
But Gibraltar stuck to its guiding principles : only licensing small numbers of blue chip operators for a good and simple reason - such companies bring with them strong internal controls, and as valuable a brand name as Gibraltar itself.
RISK-AVERSE
We are a risk-averse jurisdiction. We licence risk-averse companies.
We licence companies who value their reputation as much as we value ours.
It was and remains Gibraltar’s explicit intention to avoid a proliferation of remote gambling companies and to maintain the HIGHEST standards of regulation in the EU and indeed the whole world.
In the EU legal context, as you know, remote gambling has not been included in the Services Directive, but it is recognised as an economic activity governed by Treaty principles.
Gibraltar licence holders are therefore entitled to and have taken advantage of the opportunity that presents, but with major caveats which no other jurisdiction, to my knowledge, has adopted.
For example, where an EU Member State passes legislation which satisfies the European Commission as being compliant with Treaty principles, and there is no other obvious impediment in that law, then Gibraltar requires its operators to abide by it – but not otherwise.
As a consequence, when Italy, France, Spain and Denmark negotiated their own legislation out of monopoly protectionist models and into competitive market models, Gibraltar required our licence holders to leave those markets unless they were granted local licences.
They have done so.
And we have extended this principle beyond the EU. Gibraltar was the only jurisdiction to require its operators to withdraw from the US market when it passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in 2006. Only Gibraltar took this step, and its relevance should not be understated.
It lead to massive economic and market losses by a number of our operators whilst ‘bad actors’ took over the US market and now dominate world and European poker, and some have even gone on to be licensed by EU MS.
There is a salutary lesson to be learnt from that experience.
So let me now turn to some of the detail of our regulatory model and how this complements both the European Commission Action Plan and the recent draft report led by Ashley Fox for IMCO.
We are pleased that the Commission’s first statement is a call for Member States to comply with internal market principles, and that the enforcement of EU law would be a priority.
Both Member States and businesses need clarity in the law if they are to develop and supply this market safely and efficiently.
Any gaps or ambiguities in the law allows unsafe and unreliable suppliers to take substantial market share and even dominate certain markets.
So the reality is that without proper action to address these concerns, the EU risks continuing to reward those who care little about compliance whilst penalising those who are committed to compliance.
Likewise, we welcome the EC’s commitment to encourage greater administrative cooperation between MS and their regulators.
Gibraltar offers an open door policy to regulators, politicians and others with an interest in this area.
However, the EU’s track record of fostering Member State co-operation in this area is not good.
I can tell you that some regulatory bodies
Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you today to present an overview of Gibraltar’s arrangements for the regulation and supply of remote gambling services and our views on the future of the industry.
As you know, the 30,000 people of Gibraltar joined the EU with the United Kingdom forty years ago in 1973.
Since then, Gibraltar has played by the rules of the EU.
I was able to announce last month that we are now totally up to date with all transpositions required of us in terms of EU Directives.
I am sure you will agree that this is a stunning and remarkable achievement for a jurisdiction of our size.
That means that we – little Gibraltar - are ahead of most Member States, despite the fact that we are probably the jurisdiction with the least resources in the EU and serves to demonstrate the importance that we put on complying with our obligations. That is important for you to know and note.
REMOTE GAMBLING
Remote gambling emerged as a ‘transnational’ economic service also some 40 years ago when UK bookmakers began to regularly take bets by telephone from customers in many parts of the world.
So although remote gambling is not a new phenomenon, it is certainly an accelerating one.
In the mid 1990s a UK bookmaker established offices and call centres in Gibraltar to process its business more efficiently and based on the lower cost base prevalent in Gibraltar and much of southern Europe.
In parallel, similar businesses were being established in much more remote places. I am not here to criticise those jurisdictions that are beyond the shores of the EU, but I will say that from the outset, only Gibraltar required its remote gambling industry to operate FROM THE BEGINNING at the highest levels of probity and integrity.
Indeed, we allowed only a handful of the existing ‘blue chip’ firms to base themselves in Gibraltar.
Hence, we have always had nearly all of the UK and Europe’s major brand names in remote gambling in Gibraltar, and few others. As the Gibraltar remote gaming industry quickly adopted the internet, and with the emergence of broadband, telephone sports betting quickly developed into internet gambling of roulette, blackjack, slots bingo and poker.
As a result, the industry now employs approximately 2,000 people directly and many hundreds of others indirectly.
Indeed, it is also a source of cross frontier work and cohesion; with many who work in the industry living in Spain and crossing into Gibraltar each day.
The industry has grown not just in Gibraltar but around the world.
But Gibraltar stuck to its guiding principles : only licensing small numbers of blue chip operators for a good and simple reason - such companies bring with them strong internal controls, and as valuable a brand name as Gibraltar itself.
RISK-AVERSE
We are a risk-averse jurisdiction. We licence risk-averse companies.
We licence companies who value their reputation as much as we value ours.
It was and remains Gibraltar’s explicit intention to avoid a proliferation of remote gambling companies and to maintain the HIGHEST standards of regulation in the EU and indeed the whole world.
In the EU legal context, as you know, remote gambling has not been included in the Services Directive, but it is recognised as an economic activity governed by Treaty principles.
Gibraltar licence holders are therefore entitled to and have taken advantage of the opportunity that presents, but with major caveats which no other jurisdiction, to my knowledge, has adopted.
For example, where an EU Member State passes legislation which satisfies the European Commission as being compliant with Treaty principles, and there is no other obvious impediment in that law, then Gibraltar requires its operators to abide by it – but not otherwise.
As a consequence, when Italy, France, Spain and Denmark negotiated their own legislation out of monopoly protectionist models and into competitive market models, Gibraltar required our licence holders to leave those markets unless they were granted local licences.
They have done so.
And we have extended this principle beyond the EU. Gibraltar was the only jurisdiction to require its operators to withdraw from the US market when it passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in 2006. Only Gibraltar took this step, and its relevance should not be understated.
It lead to massive economic and market losses by a number of our operators whilst ‘bad actors’ took over the US market and now dominate world and European poker, and some have even gone on to be licensed by EU MS.
There is a salutary lesson to be learnt from that experience.
So let me now turn to some of the detail of our regulatory model and how this complements both the European Commission Action Plan and the recent draft report led by Ashley Fox for IMCO.
We are pleased that the Commission’s first statement is a call for Member States to comply with internal market principles, and that the enforcement of EU law would be a priority.
Both Member States and businesses need clarity in the law if they are to develop and supply this market safely and efficiently.
Any gaps or ambiguities in the law allows unsafe and unreliable suppliers to take substantial market share and even dominate certain markets.
So the reality is that without proper action to address these concerns, the EU risks continuing to reward those who care little about compliance whilst penalising those who are committed to compliance.
Likewise, we welcome the EC’s commitment to encourage greater administrative cooperation between MS and their regulators.
Gibraltar offers an open door policy to regulators, politicians and others with an interest in this area.
However, the EU’s track record of fostering Member State co-operation in this area is not good.
I can tell you that some regulatory bodies
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
In a development that could reverberate throughout the entertainment industry, a New York Supreme Court judge has taken the bold step of enjoining the broadcast of Lifetime Television's telefilm "Romeo Killer: The Christopher Porco Story," which was scheduled to air Saturday.
The film is based on the true story of the murder of Peter Porco and the attempted murder of his wife, Joan Porco; the resulting criminal investigation; and the prosecution and conviction of their son, Christopher Porco, for those crimes. The case drew national news attention, and Lifetime's planned film drew a lawsuit from the convicted killer, who alleges that "Romeo Killer" violates his rights. On Tuesday, Judge Robert Muller issued an injunction that not only prevents the airing but also prohibits Lifetime from promoting the film, which stars Matt Barr as Chris Porco, Lolita Davidovich as his mother and Eric McCormack as the case's lead detective. In reaction, Lifetime is filing an emergency application to vacate or stay the injunction on appeal. According to court documents, the cable network says it stands to lose more than $1 million if it is not given immediate appellate relief.
As of Wednesday morning, there was no mention of "Romeo Killer" on Lifetime's homepage, and its promotional links to the telefilm had been disabled. Throughout the years, publicity rights has become a bigger and bigger issue in entertainment. The laws vary by state but generally protect an individual's likeness from being exploited. Increasingly, the boundaries between an individual's right to protect an image and First Amendment allowances on free expression aren't particularly clear, and some lawyers wonder if the confusion might chill speech.
This has the potential of being one of those cases.
Porco sued Lifetime, claiming that the film violated New York Civil Rights Section 51, the state's version of publicity rights, which allows a person to seek redress if his or her "name, portrait, picture or voice is used … for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade without the written consent first obtained."
The jailed killer, who hasn't seen "Romeo Killer," alleged that the movie was a “substantially fictionalized account ... about plaintiff and the events that led to his incarceration."
Lifetime counters that "the essential elements of the movie are true and accurate and based on court and police records, interviews with persons involved, and historical and other documents." The cable network also points out that Porco's story has been told on CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" and the TruTV series "Forensic Files."
Without even getting a summons, Lifetime now has been ordered to not air its telefilm. Muller has issued an injunction, finding that "Defendant appears to concede that the movie is fictionalized." The judge has said that he is "not persuaded" that monetary damages would be sufficient redress and also has waved away Lifetime's concern that the injunction represents a "prior restraint" on its free speech rights. According to an appeal that Lifetime is filing -- obtained by The Hollywood Reporter -- "The Supreme Court’s order is unprecedented and would cause grave and irreparable damage not just to Lifetime but to the constitutional protections for speech."
Lifetime cites many landmark rulings that are supposed to restrain judges from making prior restraints on free expression and says: "This is not a case where national security concerns are in jeopardy. It is not even a case involving potential irreparable injury from the disclosure of trade secrets or other confidential information; it involves a movie based on the public facts of a murder prosecution. While plaintiff may not want the story of his crime repeated in a television movie, the constitutional protection of speech and press on matters of public concern flatly prevent the issuance of an order enjoining the broadcast of the movie."
The defendant also makes the case that its film fits the "newsworthy" exceptions to New York's publicity rights law and that claims of a story being "fictionalized" don't overcome that.
Lifetime also says that Porco hasn't made a sufficient case about the irreparable harm he'll face if the film is aired and says that the balance of hardships tips entirely in its favor.
After spending $2 million to acquire the rights to the film and nearly $1 million to promote the movie as "appointment viewing," Lifetime says an injunction would have a "devastating financial and reputational impact" on the network, that it "will lead to a reluctance among cable affiliates and advertisers to spend money on Lifetime," that TV viewers "will come to see Lifetime as unreliable and not trustworthy" when they find that the program doesn't air as scheduled, that advertisers will have to be made whole, that local cable operators will be out from their own investments in advertising and more.
Says the network, "Even now, Lifetime employees are scrambling to comply with the Supreme Court’s order at great cost in human and financial resources."
The film is based on the true story of the murder of Peter Porco and the attempted murder of his wife, Joan Porco; the resulting criminal investigation; and the prosecution and conviction of their son, Christopher Porco, for those crimes. The case drew national news attention, and Lifetime's planned film drew a lawsuit from the convicted killer, who alleges that "Romeo Killer" violates his rights. On Tuesday, Judge Robert Muller issued an injunction that not only prevents the airing but also prohibits Lifetime from promoting the film, which stars Matt Barr as Chris Porco, Lolita Davidovich as his mother and Eric McCormack as the case's lead detective. In reaction, Lifetime is filing an emergency application to vacate or stay the injunction on appeal. According to court documents, the cable network says it stands to lose more than $1 million if it is not given immediate appellate relief.
As of Wednesday morning, there was no mention of "Romeo Killer" on Lifetime's homepage, and its promotional links to the telefilm had been disabled. Throughout the years, publicity rights has become a bigger and bigger issue in entertainment. The laws vary by state but generally protect an individual's likeness from being exploited. Increasingly, the boundaries between an individual's right to protect an image and First Amendment allowances on free expression aren't particularly clear, and some lawyers wonder if the confusion might chill speech.
This has the potential of being one of those cases.
Porco sued Lifetime, claiming that the film violated New York Civil Rights Section 51, the state's version of publicity rights, which allows a person to seek redress if his or her "name, portrait, picture or voice is used … for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade without the written consent first obtained."
The jailed killer, who hasn't seen "Romeo Killer," alleged that the movie was a “substantially fictionalized account ... about plaintiff and the events that led to his incarceration."
Lifetime counters that "the essential elements of the movie are true and accurate and based on court and police records, interviews with persons involved, and historical and other documents." The cable network also points out that Porco's story has been told on CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" and the TruTV series "Forensic Files."
Without even getting a summons, Lifetime now has been ordered to not air its telefilm. Muller has issued an injunction, finding that "Defendant appears to concede that the movie is fictionalized." The judge has said that he is "not persuaded" that monetary damages would be sufficient redress and also has waved away Lifetime's concern that the injunction represents a "prior restraint" on its free speech rights. According to an appeal that Lifetime is filing -- obtained by The Hollywood Reporter -- "The Supreme Court’s order is unprecedented and would cause grave and irreparable damage not just to Lifetime but to the constitutional protections for speech."
Lifetime cites many landmark rulings that are supposed to restrain judges from making prior restraints on free expression and says: "This is not a case where national security concerns are in jeopardy. It is not even a case involving potential irreparable injury from the disclosure of trade secrets or other confidential information; it involves a movie based on the public facts of a murder prosecution. While plaintiff may not want the story of his crime repeated in a television movie, the constitutional protection of speech and press on matters of public concern flatly prevent the issuance of an order enjoining the broadcast of the movie."
The defendant also makes the case that its film fits the "newsworthy" exceptions to New York's publicity rights law and that claims of a story being "fictionalized" don't overcome that.
Lifetime also says that Porco hasn't made a sufficient case about the irreparable harm he'll face if the film is aired and says that the balance of hardships tips entirely in its favor.
After spending $2 million to acquire the rights to the film and nearly $1 million to promote the movie as "appointment viewing," Lifetime says an injunction would have a "devastating financial and reputational impact" on the network, that it "will lead to a reluctance among cable affiliates and advertisers to spend money on Lifetime," that TV viewers "will come to see Lifetime as unreliable and not trustworthy" when they find that the program doesn't air as scheduled, that advertisers will have to be made whole, that local cable operators will be out from their own investments in advertising and more.
Says the network, "Even now, Lifetime employees are scrambling to comply with the Supreme Court’s order at great cost in human and financial resources."
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Gambling has always been viewed as a sin in Western society. Slowly but surely, new casino projects are being approved throughout the United States. In the east coast of the United States in particular, there have been two new casinos opened in Maryland, four being constructed in Ohio, and recently in Pennsylvania (Sands Bethlehem), and New York City (Worlds Resort). The Revel in Atlantic City has also opened, competing against the top-end luxury of The Borgata.
The gaming market is currently shifting to online at a steady pace throughout the world. Although legislature has been opposed to gambling in general throughout history, there is significant tax revenue that will ultimately be generated. That tax revenue will climb to several billion dollars, considering the international online gaming revenue is currently over 30 billion dollars and is in its infant stages.
"If all 50 states were to follow Nevada's example, that the U.S. could theoretically see an additional $80 billion a year in tax revenues - enough to wipe out California's state debt three times over," Mr Casey, PR director at casino.org stated. "That money could be used to do a lot of good in America." This reveals the overwhelming potential that politicians will gradually legalize this industry to the online space, and the virtual world that we have become accustom to.
The legalization will surely happen at a slow pace, resulting in a steady increase in tax revenue. Politicians likely will give into the lobbyists' who end up paying off our politicians to get their vote. Ultimately, I speculate that it is inevitable that online gambling will be prevalent in the United States. Whether or not you support gambling or online poker, it is an industry that is extremely lucrative and will benefit our government that is always in desperate need to increase tax revenue to keep up with its frivolous spending.
This industry is comparative to the tobacco industry. The government very well knows that supporting the tobacco industry kills millions of Americans and impairs their quality of living. Yet, the government continues to allow large tobacco companies to operate while collecting billions of dollars in tax revenue. When it boils down to it, our government cares the most about the money it will generate rather several million lives.
The online gambling industry will swiftly be able to steal market share from casinos for several reasons, which is why many smaller casinos in particular will take a nose dive and struggle to remain in business.
Read More: Companies Ready To Set Sail With The Potential Online Gaming Boom - Seeking Alpha
The gaming market is currently shifting to online at a steady pace throughout the world. Although legislature has been opposed to gambling in general throughout history, there is significant tax revenue that will ultimately be generated. That tax revenue will climb to several billion dollars, considering the international online gaming revenue is currently over 30 billion dollars and is in its infant stages.
"If all 50 states were to follow Nevada's example, that the U.S. could theoretically see an additional $80 billion a year in tax revenues - enough to wipe out California's state debt three times over," Mr Casey, PR director at casino.org stated. "That money could be used to do a lot of good in America." This reveals the overwhelming potential that politicians will gradually legalize this industry to the online space, and the virtual world that we have become accustom to.
The legalization will surely happen at a slow pace, resulting in a steady increase in tax revenue. Politicians likely will give into the lobbyists' who end up paying off our politicians to get their vote. Ultimately, I speculate that it is inevitable that online gambling will be prevalent in the United States. Whether or not you support gambling or online poker, it is an industry that is extremely lucrative and will benefit our government that is always in desperate need to increase tax revenue to keep up with its frivolous spending.
This industry is comparative to the tobacco industry. The government very well knows that supporting the tobacco industry kills millions of Americans and impairs their quality of living. Yet, the government continues to allow large tobacco companies to operate while collecting billions of dollars in tax revenue. When it boils down to it, our government cares the most about the money it will generate rather several million lives.
The online gambling industry will swiftly be able to steal market share from casinos for several reasons, which is why many smaller casinos in particular will take a nose dive and struggle to remain in business.
Read More: Companies Ready To Set Sail With The Potential Online Gaming Boom - Seeking Alpha
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Playtech has announced excellent results for 2012 and is now placing its focus on the next big market, the United States. Until recently Playtech has been very quiet about its plans for the US, but recently the CEO, Mor Weizer, said that he will announce some news in the “not too distant future”. He made the comment while responding to questions from journalists and investors during an earnings call to discuss Playtech’s 2012 annual report.
The only other thing Weizer said was that “developments are in their infancy” and that there is still a lot of work to be done to resolve regulatory, political and practical problems.
Last year was an exceptional year for Playtech. It reported overall revenue increases of more than 50% and signed a number of agreements with operators such as Paddy Power, Betfair, Betfred and Gala Coral.
Furthermore, Playtech has been continuing to release excellent games, most recently an arcade-style game, Cash Blox. The game is based on the classic Tetris game and it is sure to be a success. Players will find it at the majority of Playtech online casinos.
Playtech Planning for Move into US Market - Online Casino Archives
The only other thing Weizer said was that “developments are in their infancy” and that there is still a lot of work to be done to resolve regulatory, political and practical problems.
Last year was an exceptional year for Playtech. It reported overall revenue increases of more than 50% and signed a number of agreements with operators such as Paddy Power, Betfair, Betfred and Gala Coral.
Furthermore, Playtech has been continuing to release excellent games, most recently an arcade-style game, Cash Blox. The game is based on the classic Tetris game and it is sure to be a success. Players will find it at the majority of Playtech online casinos.
Playtech Planning for Move into US Market - Online Casino Archives
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Justin Timberlake reportedly impressed producers when he stood in as frontman on US chat show ‘Saturday Night Live’ so much that he is being lined up to host next year’s Oscars ceremony.
After pulling in a record number of viewers on his debut as host, Oscar bosses are now keen to snap the 32-year-old singer for Academy awards the Sun reported.
A source told National Enquirer magazine that getting the former member of boy band ‘N Sync to host would now be a huge coup for the Oscars.
The source said that Timberlake had been considered before, but the bosses always thought that he was too young and not seasoned enough.
The source added that Timberlake is the frontrunner for the hosting job after showing that he knows how to sing, dance, host and improvise on the spot.
After pulling in a record number of viewers on his debut as host, Oscar bosses are now keen to snap the 32-year-old singer for Academy awards the Sun reported.
A source told National Enquirer magazine that getting the former member of boy band ‘N Sync to host would now be a huge coup for the Oscars.
The source said that Timberlake had been considered before, but the bosses always thought that he was too young and not seasoned enough.
The source added that Timberlake is the frontrunner for the hosting job after showing that he knows how to sing, dance, host and improvise on the spot.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
It's been 9 years since The Chronicles of Riddick hit our cinema screens, but US cinema goers can look forward to catching up with Vin Diesel's escaped convict in September 2013.
Riddick, the third installment in the sci-fi franchise, sees our Vin left for dead on a desolate planet, fighting some pretty vicious aliens in order to survive. There's only one way to escape, and it just so happens that it requires him to let the bounty hunters, who've been chasing him for a while now, know where he is.
The actor gave fans their first sneak peek at the movie when he posted an image online a while back, so it seemed fitting that he was the one who gave them their first teaser trailer. He uploaded the short clip to Facebook, saying: "As promised... the first look teaser to this year's Riddick! GRRRR"
MovieNews | Vin Diesel gives fans a sneak peek at Riddick - entertainment.ie
Riddick, the third installment in the sci-fi franchise, sees our Vin left for dead on a desolate planet, fighting some pretty vicious aliens in order to survive. There's only one way to escape, and it just so happens that it requires him to let the bounty hunters, who've been chasing him for a while now, know where he is.
The actor gave fans their first sneak peek at the movie when he posted an image online a while back, so it seemed fitting that he was the one who gave them their first teaser trailer. He uploaded the short clip to Facebook, saying: "As promised... the first look teaser to this year's Riddick! GRRRR"
MovieNews | Vin Diesel gives fans a sneak peek at Riddick - entertainment.ie
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Most US gambling operators do not understand remote betting, says Brian Mattingley, chief executive of London-listed online gambling operator 888 Holdings. But, he adds, Caesars Entertainment gets it. The Las Vegas casino operator is 888’s joint venture partner in the US where, one by one, states are passing laws to allow online gambling.
The US prohibits online gambling and has cracked down on operators, particularly those from other countries, that target US gamers.
However, states in need of new tax revenue have been able to pass laws allowing it within their own borders – in much the way that some states have legalised marijuana for medical consumption despite the US government considering it illegal.
Whether other US casino groups grasp the intricacies of remote betting is open to question, says Mr Mattingley. “They think they understand part of it, but don’t know how to get on with doing it.”
Europe-based operators such as 888, forced out of the US in 2006 when Congress passed a law cracking down on online gambling, are licking their lips at the prospect of returning to a newly-reopened US market.
888 is seen by analysts and rivals as a likely winner as the US market unfurls. State regulators are expected to grant online licences to incumbent US gambling businesses such as land-based casinos or Native American gaming reservations.
If Mr Mattingley is correct, these businesses have little or no experience in gambling technology or in marketing online gambling to customers. That is where European online operators such as 888 and Bwin.party, which has joint ventures with MGM and Boyd Gaming, come in.
Industry consultants H2 Gambling Capital says a US market could reach close to $7.4bn in poker, casino and bingo gross winnings in five years’ time, assuming legislation is passed in 17 states. Delaware passed a law regulating online gambling last summer. Nevada and New Jersey followed suit this year. The industry now expects a repeat of the rapid state by state legalisation of riverboat gaming in the 1990s.
“Neighbouring states didn’t want their residents to cross their borders to gamble,” says Norbert Teufelberger, chief executive of Bwin.party, who worked with US land-based casinos in that decade. “It had a domino effect. [Regulation] happened really fast. I believe it will happen similarly online.”
Pennsylvania borders New Jersey and decimated its rival state’s gaming industry in Atlantic City when it legalised casino gaming. New Jersey’s online push has not gone unnoticed over the state border and a bill to legalise internet gambling is being considered in Pennsylvania. Illinois is debating a revised gaming bill.
Nick Batram, leisure analyst at Peel Hunt, says: “Whilst some states will never allow online gaming, any state that has a land-based offering will be keen to protect their interests and this may mean reluctantly moving online.”
The big prize is California – America’s most populous state – where two rival gaming bills are being debated. A poker-only bill has the best chance of success, says Richard “Skip” Bronson, chairman and founder of US Digital Gaming, which provides technology platforms for gaming operators and regulators.
“California, at least initially, is going to be [online] poker-only,” he says, although that is unlikely to last long: it is inevitable that other games will also be regulated within the state, he adds. “You have to look at the history of the gaming industry . . . it’s the best predictor of the future.”
Poker, casino and bingo are the games that will make up the US online market. European operators with sports betting at the core of their business, such as William Hill, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, are faced with strident opposition to betting from sports bodies like the NFL and the NBA. “For the traditional bookmakers, the opportunity looks limited at the moment,” says Mr Batram.
Bwin.party hopes for a renaissance in the US of its Party Poker brand. Other operators, such as online poker operator PokerStars are also trying to get back into the US after being barred for several years.
Last year, Isle of Man-based PokerStars paid $731m to settle a US Department of Justice prosecution over allegations including bank fraud and money laundering. PokerStars did not admit wrongdoing.
But PokerStars is blocked from the Nevada market because of a clause in the state’s gambling bill that bars any online gambling operator involved in unregulated bets since 2007.
So PokerStars, which described the Nevada clause as “anti-competitive, unfair and potentially in violation of US constitutional law”, is switching its focus to New Jersey. Its parent company is bidding to buy a land-based casino in Atlantic City, which would enable it to apply for a New Jersey online licence. In a sign of how intense competition in the US market is likely to become, PokerStars’ bid is vehemently opposed by the American Gaming Association.
Caesars, a member of the AGA and keen to build an early online advantage, is probably the best-placed US casino operator, according to analysts. Its shares have increased more than a third since it became clear that the New Jersey governor would sign the bill to clear the way for legal online gambling within a state where Caesars is the biggest operator.
Despite the potential size of the US market, online gambling does not seem to suit all operators. Less focused on the online market are Las Vegas Sands and its rival Wynn Resorts.
“Investors will need to prepare themselves for the heavy initial investment companies will make when markets open,” says Mr Batram.
“There will be a huge land grab and it is all about building liquidity as quickly as possible.”
[url=www-ft-com/cms/s/0/6d425c9c-9178-11e2-b4c9-00144feabdc0-html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fcompanies_travel-leisure%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct#axzz2OXlrYqwf]US is joker in pack for online betting - FT-com[/ur
The US prohibits online gambling and has cracked down on operators, particularly those from other countries, that target US gamers.
However, states in need of new tax revenue have been able to pass laws allowing it within their own borders – in much the way that some states have legalised marijuana for medical consumption despite the US government considering it illegal.
Whether other US casino groups grasp the intricacies of remote betting is open to question, says Mr Mattingley. “They think they understand part of it, but don’t know how to get on with doing it.”
Europe-based operators such as 888, forced out of the US in 2006 when Congress passed a law cracking down on online gambling, are licking their lips at the prospect of returning to a newly-reopened US market.
888 is seen by analysts and rivals as a likely winner as the US market unfurls. State regulators are expected to grant online licences to incumbent US gambling businesses such as land-based casinos or Native American gaming reservations.
If Mr Mattingley is correct, these businesses have little or no experience in gambling technology or in marketing online gambling to customers. That is where European online operators such as 888 and Bwin.party, which has joint ventures with MGM and Boyd Gaming, come in.
Industry consultants H2 Gambling Capital says a US market could reach close to $7.4bn in poker, casino and bingo gross winnings in five years’ time, assuming legislation is passed in 17 states. Delaware passed a law regulating online gambling last summer. Nevada and New Jersey followed suit this year. The industry now expects a repeat of the rapid state by state legalisation of riverboat gaming in the 1990s.
“Neighbouring states didn’t want their residents to cross their borders to gamble,” says Norbert Teufelberger, chief executive of Bwin.party, who worked with US land-based casinos in that decade. “It had a domino effect. [Regulation] happened really fast. I believe it will happen similarly online.”
Pennsylvania borders New Jersey and decimated its rival state’s gaming industry in Atlantic City when it legalised casino gaming. New Jersey’s online push has not gone unnoticed over the state border and a bill to legalise internet gambling is being considered in Pennsylvania. Illinois is debating a revised gaming bill.
Nick Batram, leisure analyst at Peel Hunt, says: “Whilst some states will never allow online gaming, any state that has a land-based offering will be keen to protect their interests and this may mean reluctantly moving online.”
The big prize is California – America’s most populous state – where two rival gaming bills are being debated. A poker-only bill has the best chance of success, says Richard “Skip” Bronson, chairman and founder of US Digital Gaming, which provides technology platforms for gaming operators and regulators.
“California, at least initially, is going to be [online] poker-only,” he says, although that is unlikely to last long: it is inevitable that other games will also be regulated within the state, he adds. “You have to look at the history of the gaming industry . . . it’s the best predictor of the future.”
Poker, casino and bingo are the games that will make up the US online market. European operators with sports betting at the core of their business, such as William Hill, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, are faced with strident opposition to betting from sports bodies like the NFL and the NBA. “For the traditional bookmakers, the opportunity looks limited at the moment,” says Mr Batram.
Bwin.party hopes for a renaissance in the US of its Party Poker brand. Other operators, such as online poker operator PokerStars are also trying to get back into the US after being barred for several years.
Last year, Isle of Man-based PokerStars paid $731m to settle a US Department of Justice prosecution over allegations including bank fraud and money laundering. PokerStars did not admit wrongdoing.
But PokerStars is blocked from the Nevada market because of a clause in the state’s gambling bill that bars any online gambling operator involved in unregulated bets since 2007.
So PokerStars, which described the Nevada clause as “anti-competitive, unfair and potentially in violation of US constitutional law”, is switching its focus to New Jersey. Its parent company is bidding to buy a land-based casino in Atlantic City, which would enable it to apply for a New Jersey online licence. In a sign of how intense competition in the US market is likely to become, PokerStars’ bid is vehemently opposed by the American Gaming Association.
Caesars, a member of the AGA and keen to build an early online advantage, is probably the best-placed US casino operator, according to analysts. Its shares have increased more than a third since it became clear that the New Jersey governor would sign the bill to clear the way for legal online gambling within a state where Caesars is the biggest operator.
Despite the potential size of the US market, online gambling does not seem to suit all operators. Less focused on the online market are Las Vegas Sands and its rival Wynn Resorts.
“Investors will need to prepare themselves for the heavy initial investment companies will make when markets open,” says Mr Batram.
“There will be a huge land grab and it is all about building liquidity as quickly as possible.”
[url=www-ft-com/cms/s/0/6d425c9c-9178-11e2-b4c9-00144feabdc0-html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fcompanies_travel-leisure%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct#axzz2OXlrYqwf]US is joker in pack for online betting - FT-com[/ur
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
US states that are pushing for the legalisation of online gambling want to link up with foreign countries to create a global market of regulated gambling jurisdictions, the Financial Times has learnt.
New Jersey, which last month passed a bill legalising online gambling, included a provision in its new law allowing for “compacts with foreign countries”.
Nevada also passed a law legalising online gambling: casino companies in the state are pushing for a provision allowing for “international compacts” to be added to the law in the current legislative session, according to people familiar with the situation.
Agreements between US states and countries such as the UK – which has a regulated online gaming market – would be the first step towards a regulated global gaming industry which could transform the fortunes of operators on both sides of the Atlantic.
European online gaming operators have effectively been locked out of the US for the last seven years following a ban on electronic gambling transactions and a Department of Justice-led crackdown on internet poker companies.
But “compacts” with individual states could be a way back in, given the absence of a new national law. The states want to raise new tax revenues at a time when many of them are struggling with vast deficits.
New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have legalised online gaming, limiting play to residents of their individual states. Pennsylvania, California and Illinois are also exploring legalisation: the Illinois bill allows for the state, which has a population of 13m, “to enter into agreements with other gaming entities, including foreign entities”.
Compacts between states and other countries would greatly expand the number of potential players and solve “the liquidity problem” caused by limiting play to residents of a particular state. “Liquidity in a state like Nevada is irrelevant unless you have compact capability,” said one Las Vegas-based casino operator, which is pushing for legalisation.
However, William Horne, the Nevada state representative who authored its gaming bill which was signed into law last month, sounded a cautionary note, saying the state had to recognise current US laws that limit online gaming. “We have to do it right,” he said.
The Nevada law currently allows for agreements between states, which will boost existing US operators and companies that are successful in applying for licences: 888 Holdings, a Gibraltar-based online gambling group, last week became the first international company to succeed in its application for a licence to operate in Nevada.
The group has a joint venture with Caesars Entertainment which has four casinos in Atlantic City, as well as several properties in Las Vegas.
US gambling states want global market - FT-com
New Jersey, which last month passed a bill legalising online gambling, included a provision in its new law allowing for “compacts with foreign countries”.
Nevada also passed a law legalising online gambling: casino companies in the state are pushing for a provision allowing for “international compacts” to be added to the law in the current legislative session, according to people familiar with the situation.
Agreements between US states and countries such as the UK – which has a regulated online gaming market – would be the first step towards a regulated global gaming industry which could transform the fortunes of operators on both sides of the Atlantic.
European online gaming operators have effectively been locked out of the US for the last seven years following a ban on electronic gambling transactions and a Department of Justice-led crackdown on internet poker companies.
But “compacts” with individual states could be a way back in, given the absence of a new national law. The states want to raise new tax revenues at a time when many of them are struggling with vast deficits.
New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have legalised online gaming, limiting play to residents of their individual states. Pennsylvania, California and Illinois are also exploring legalisation: the Illinois bill allows for the state, which has a population of 13m, “to enter into agreements with other gaming entities, including foreign entities”.
Compacts between states and other countries would greatly expand the number of potential players and solve “the liquidity problem” caused by limiting play to residents of a particular state. “Liquidity in a state like Nevada is irrelevant unless you have compact capability,” said one Las Vegas-based casino operator, which is pushing for legalisation.
However, William Horne, the Nevada state representative who authored its gaming bill which was signed into law last month, sounded a cautionary note, saying the state had to recognise current US laws that limit online gaming. “We have to do it right,” he said.
The Nevada law currently allows for agreements between states, which will boost existing US operators and companies that are successful in applying for licences: 888 Holdings, a Gibraltar-based online gambling group, last week became the first international company to succeed in its application for a licence to operate in Nevada.
The group has a joint venture with Caesars Entertainment which has four casinos in Atlantic City, as well as several properties in Las Vegas.
US gambling states want global market - FT-com
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The Web can seem as infinite as space, and while it’s sometimes fun to explore on your own, prepare yourself to encounter plenty of emptiness between the worthwhile discoveries.
Wouldn’t it be more fun to get straight to the good stuff?
We're kicking off a week-long celebration of the undiscovered side of the web with our picks for the the best, but least-known entertainment sites.
These are the sites we like to visit to play games, listen to music, watch videos, be inspired, or to simply burn a few hours.
Wouldn’t it be more fun to get straight to the good stuff?
We're kicking off a week-long celebration of the undiscovered side of the web with our picks for the the best, but least-known entertainment sites.
These are the sites we like to visit to play games, listen to music, watch videos, be inspired, or to simply burn a few hours.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Yesterday’s Financial Times reported that the US states that are legalising online gambling want to link up with other countries to create a global market of regulated internet betting jurisdictions.
While the federal ban on online gambling remains, there is nothing to stop individual states legalising the activity, once it remains within their own borders and does not cross the line into other US states.
Many of them are doing so. New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have legalised online gaming, limiting play to residents of their individual states. Pennsylvania, California and Illinois are exploring the idea.
New Jersey’s legislation allows for “compacts with foreign countries”, that is, jurisdictions outside the US. Illinois has such a provision in its proposed legislation and operators in Nevada are pushing to have that state’s laws amended to allow for international agreements.
The logic behind this is obvious – liquidity is key to betting markets, and to making money from them. Individual US states may not have huge populations themselves (Illinois has 13 million people, one-fifth of the UK or France ), so the answer to their liquidity problem lies in tapping into a global market beyond US borders. This could be good news for European operators, to whom the US is closed, including Irish players such as Boylesports and Paddy Power – which has pre-approval for a licence in Nevada – as it could open a way in to the market, or at least parts of it.
However, the Republic itself is likely to be left out of the party. While online gambling is legal here, it is not regulated. The only real legislative recognition of the activity is in a Bill extending the 1 per cent betting levy to the internet.
There is no formal regulatory structure. Irish companies that offer internet betting are licensed in the Isle of Man or Channel Islands, part of the UK, or other European countries, so they can offer their products in those markets. Their operations are based here and they have traditional bookmakers’ licences for their high street businesses.
Given the federal attitude to online gambling, US states are only likely to enter into agreements with jurisdictions with formal – more than likely statutory – regulation.
Any jurisdiction with this, and with an agreement with one or more US states, will suddenly become a very attractive location for European online gambling companies keen to tap into the American market. But as things stand, they won’t be betting on the Republic.
Cantillon: Online gambling firms may miss US party - Retail News | Service Industry News | The Irish Times - Mon, Mar 25, 2013
While the federal ban on online gambling remains, there is nothing to stop individual states legalising the activity, once it remains within their own borders and does not cross the line into other US states.
Many of them are doing so. New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have legalised online gaming, limiting play to residents of their individual states. Pennsylvania, California and Illinois are exploring the idea.
New Jersey’s legislation allows for “compacts with foreign countries”, that is, jurisdictions outside the US. Illinois has such a provision in its proposed legislation and operators in Nevada are pushing to have that state’s laws amended to allow for international agreements.
The logic behind this is obvious – liquidity is key to betting markets, and to making money from them. Individual US states may not have huge populations themselves (Illinois has 13 million people, one-fifth of the UK or France ), so the answer to their liquidity problem lies in tapping into a global market beyond US borders. This could be good news for European operators, to whom the US is closed, including Irish players such as Boylesports and Paddy Power – which has pre-approval for a licence in Nevada – as it could open a way in to the market, or at least parts of it.
However, the Republic itself is likely to be left out of the party. While online gambling is legal here, it is not regulated. The only real legislative recognition of the activity is in a Bill extending the 1 per cent betting levy to the internet.
There is no formal regulatory structure. Irish companies that offer internet betting are licensed in the Isle of Man or Channel Islands, part of the UK, or other European countries, so they can offer their products in those markets. Their operations are based here and they have traditional bookmakers’ licences for their high street businesses.
Given the federal attitude to online gambling, US states are only likely to enter into agreements with jurisdictions with formal – more than likely statutory – regulation.
Any jurisdiction with this, and with an agreement with one or more US states, will suddenly become a very attractive location for European online gambling companies keen to tap into the American market. But as things stand, they won’t be betting on the Republic.
Cantillon: Online gambling firms may miss US party - Retail News | Service Industry News | The Irish Times - Mon, Mar 25, 2013
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Nevada has been awarded its first gaming license to a purely digital betting establishment.
Mere weeks after becoming the first state to allow online gambling after a federal ban was enacted several years ago, the Nevada Gaming Commission awarded its first online license to the Gibraltar-based gaming operator 888 on Thursday. The move paves the way for 888 to reestablish itself in the U.S. for the first time since it closed up shop in 2006, following passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act by Congress. "This is an historic moment for 888," said company CEO Brian Mattingley in a statement. "This is the first time a company uniquely providing online gaming has been licensed by any US jurisdiction."
According to Mattingley, the company will still have to undergo a review process before it can set up shop. Once it has met the state's standards, the company can provide online gaming capabilities for a number of casinos in Nevada, including Caesars Interactive Entertainment.
"We've entered into a partnership with 888 to have them provide the software and the technology for our online poker brand," Caesars spokesman Seth Palansky told the Daily Dot. "We excited that the project's moving forward."
The news comes after last month's decision by Gov. Brian Sandoval and state legislators to expand online gaming beyond Nevada's borders. The new bill allows Nevada to enter into compacts with other states to provide online gaming. It also expands the kinds of games Nevada-based online casinos can offer. 888 was one of more than 20 companies that had pre-filed applications with state regulators even before the legislation was signed into law.
Nevada is leading a state-by-state movement to reestablish legal Internet gaming in the United States. Many of the country's leading online betting and poker providers were shut down in 2011 when the federal government began enforcement of the UIGEA. The anti-gaming statute forbid U.S. banks from funnelling money into online betting operations, but it left open other avenues for states to permit and regulate online gaming. Still, other gambling establishments have gotten around the law by using Bitcoin, a difficult-to-trace digital currency.
In addition to Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware lawmakers have also passed laws to allow Internet gaming to return to their states. In New Jersey, one of the leading providers of online poker before the 2011 federal crackdown, Pokerstars, has already gained preliminary approval to buy and resurrect an Atlantic City Casino.
Daily Dot | Nevada pushes all in for online gambling
Mere weeks after becoming the first state to allow online gambling after a federal ban was enacted several years ago, the Nevada Gaming Commission awarded its first online license to the Gibraltar-based gaming operator 888 on Thursday. The move paves the way for 888 to reestablish itself in the U.S. for the first time since it closed up shop in 2006, following passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act by Congress. "This is an historic moment for 888," said company CEO Brian Mattingley in a statement. "This is the first time a company uniquely providing online gaming has been licensed by any US jurisdiction."
According to Mattingley, the company will still have to undergo a review process before it can set up shop. Once it has met the state's standards, the company can provide online gaming capabilities for a number of casinos in Nevada, including Caesars Interactive Entertainment.
"We've entered into a partnership with 888 to have them provide the software and the technology for our online poker brand," Caesars spokesman Seth Palansky told the Daily Dot. "We excited that the project's moving forward."
The news comes after last month's decision by Gov. Brian Sandoval and state legislators to expand online gaming beyond Nevada's borders. The new bill allows Nevada to enter into compacts with other states to provide online gaming. It also expands the kinds of games Nevada-based online casinos can offer. 888 was one of more than 20 companies that had pre-filed applications with state regulators even before the legislation was signed into law.
Nevada is leading a state-by-state movement to reestablish legal Internet gaming in the United States. Many of the country's leading online betting and poker providers were shut down in 2011 when the federal government began enforcement of the UIGEA. The anti-gaming statute forbid U.S. banks from funnelling money into online betting operations, but it left open other avenues for states to permit and regulate online gaming. Still, other gambling establishments have gotten around the law by using Bitcoin, a difficult-to-trace digital currency.
In addition to Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware lawmakers have also passed laws to allow Internet gaming to return to their states. In New Jersey, one of the leading providers of online poker before the 2011 federal crackdown, Pokerstars, has already gained preliminary approval to buy and resurrect an Atlantic City Casino.
Daily Dot | Nevada pushes all in for online gambling
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Some European politicians and experts expressed unanimous opinions that they do not see online gambling as a potential medium for money laundering. Dr. Friedrich Schneider, a Professor of Economics at Johannes-Kepler-University opined that organized crime groups or criminals would hardly consider Internet-based gambling websites as useful vehicles for money laundering, since such facilities could only channel a relatively small volume of money.
However, it is worthwhile to note that European experts expressed such opinions by taking into consideration the European anti-money laundering regulations that are already in place; from the simplest act of verifying a customer’s identity to the integration of sophisticated monitoring and record-keeping software used by European web-based gambling operators.
Such measures allow Internet gambling companies to trace financial transactions that can likely prevent money-laundering activities between online players.
They also cited as example that all gambling transactions consummated online have to make use of a licensed bank’s facilities. The latter is likewise compelled to monitor the funds that pass through their systems, as part of their compliance with EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives of the European Commission.
In UK, the Gambling Commission identifies the online gambling sector as a possible target of criminals and terrorists for laundering money, acquired illegally. Internet gambling operators must adhere to all aspects of anti-money laundering rules and guidance.
These include not only preventing, but also investigating and reporting anyone suspected or found violating such rules. Non-compliance with these actions constitutes behaviors that do not operate within the law, and will result to severe civil and criminal fines as well as imprisonment for the management of the online gambling company.
European Experts Do Not See Online Gambling as Potential Medium for Money Laundering : ADI News
However, it is worthwhile to note that European experts expressed such opinions by taking into consideration the European anti-money laundering regulations that are already in place; from the simplest act of verifying a customer’s identity to the integration of sophisticated monitoring and record-keeping software used by European web-based gambling operators.
Such measures allow Internet gambling companies to trace financial transactions that can likely prevent money-laundering activities between online players.
They also cited as example that all gambling transactions consummated online have to make use of a licensed bank’s facilities. The latter is likewise compelled to monitor the funds that pass through their systems, as part of their compliance with EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives of the European Commission.
In UK, the Gambling Commission identifies the online gambling sector as a possible target of criminals and terrorists for laundering money, acquired illegally. Internet gambling operators must adhere to all aspects of anti-money laundering rules and guidance.
These include not only preventing, but also investigating and reporting anyone suspected or found violating such rules. Non-compliance with these actions constitutes behaviors that do not operate within the law, and will result to severe civil and criminal fines as well as imprisonment for the management of the online gambling company.
European Experts Do Not See Online Gambling as Potential Medium for Money Laundering : ADI News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
.jpg?v=1.014689161)
.png?v=1.014689161)
The Farleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll found 46 percent of registered voters in New Jersey opposed the state’s decision last month to allow online wagering, and 41 percent support it.
Still, the support for online gambling has risen in recent years. A PublicMind poll conducted last May found 58 percent opposed and 31 percent in favor. In February 2011, 67 percent were opposed and 26 percent were favor it.
"Voters may be accepting the inevitable or have acquired new information that brought about a change of heart, given the heightened exposure any new legislation brings with it," Krista Jenkins, director of PublicMind Poll at Fairleigh Dickinson, said.
The poll also found that with New Jersey entangled in a lawsuit over wagering on professional and NCAA sports, a majority of voters supported the state’s right to regulate the betting as opposed to the federal government. Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked New Jersey’s attempt to allow sports betting at Atlantic City casinos and horse racing tracks. He rejected the state’ contention that a federal law unfairly allowed sports betting in only four states, and violated the 10th Amendment by forcing the state to ban such betting.
The poll found that even though most of those surveyed knew little about the case, nearly 80 percent said the choice to regulate gambling — on sports or overall — should rest with the states.
"New Jersey voters clearly see this as an example of federal overreach into state sovereignty," Jenkins said. "In a rare moment of agreement, voters of both parties agree the federal government should stay out of the matter and let New Jersey have its spoils."
The poll, which questioned 702 registered voters by telephone from March 4 through March 10, had a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.
Poll says N.J. voter support for online gambling has increased | NJ-com