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2006/12/07
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The country of Bulgaria has been experiencing political unrest recently with the 42nd National Assembly of Bulgaria’s Parliament holding its meetings behind new-style stronger barriers and a powerful police presence, with the ruling axis determined to continue business as usual, although protesters who have a majority of public support are demanding the resignation of the government.
Even thought he government has other issues to attend to Bulgarian parliament was presented a bill regarding the gambling industry with a number of amendments to the taxation of gambling firms who offer services in Bulgaria.
These amendments would bring the laws of Bulgaria into line with international practices and call for a stop to the blacklisting of so call illegal online gambling operators. These changes were introduced by eleven of the representatives in the parliament from the two parties ruling the country. The timing is not set for the debate on the new amended rules for online gambling firms in Bulgaria.
The blocking of sites in Bulgaria has not been effective in stopping the punters from accessing other web sites. Bulgaria’s Gambling Commission has blacklisted many gambling websites, requesting by court order that Bulgarian internet service providers discontinue access to the banned sites. The blocking move has not resulted in licenses being applied for and the geolocation system is often simply bypassed by tech savvy gamblers.
Bulgarian news website Mediapool.bg reported recently that the Remote Gambling Association’s Sue Rossiter, Head of projects and policy at the (RGA) said the association is backing the proposed amendments.
The most important aspect of the proposed bill is changing the way that gambling is taxed. The move would replace the 15 per cent tax on gambling revenues with a one-off licensing fee of 100 000 leva around 50,000 euro and a 20 per cent tax on the “difference between the bets made and the winnings paid out”.
Bulgaria Proposes New Online Gambling Tax Regulations
Even thought he government has other issues to attend to Bulgarian parliament was presented a bill regarding the gambling industry with a number of amendments to the taxation of gambling firms who offer services in Bulgaria.
These amendments would bring the laws of Bulgaria into line with international practices and call for a stop to the blacklisting of so call illegal online gambling operators. These changes were introduced by eleven of the representatives in the parliament from the two parties ruling the country. The timing is not set for the debate on the new amended rules for online gambling firms in Bulgaria.
The blocking of sites in Bulgaria has not been effective in stopping the punters from accessing other web sites. Bulgaria’s Gambling Commission has blacklisted many gambling websites, requesting by court order that Bulgarian internet service providers discontinue access to the banned sites. The blocking move has not resulted in licenses being applied for and the geolocation system is often simply bypassed by tech savvy gamblers.
Bulgarian news website Mediapool.bg reported recently that the Remote Gambling Association’s Sue Rossiter, Head of projects and policy at the (RGA) said the association is backing the proposed amendments.
The most important aspect of the proposed bill is changing the way that gambling is taxed. The move would replace the 15 per cent tax on gambling revenues with a one-off licensing fee of 100 000 leva around 50,000 euro and a 20 per cent tax on the “difference between the bets made and the winnings paid out”.
Bulgaria Proposes New Online Gambling Tax Regulations
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2006/12/07
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29893
Skrill is one of Europe's largest online payments systems and among the world's largest independent digital wallet providers with as many as 36 million accounts held globally. Skrill allows customers to make online payments easily and securely without revealing any personal financial data, as well as send and receive money online at a reasonable cost. Skrill's worldwide payment network offers access to direct payment processing via 100 payment options in 200 countries and territories and 40 currencies incorporating just one system.
It was announced recently that Skrill has been granted approval by New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement to provide its services when the online gambling industry launches this month. In America, Skrill operates as Skrill USA, Inc. which is a registered money service business and licensed money transmitter in the state of New Jersey and other U.S. states.
The Chief Executive Officer of Skrill USA, Neil Steinhardt, commented on the approval,
"We're extremely excited about the new opportunities opening up in the US market for gambling merchants and consumers. Skrill's global reach aligned with local expertise makes us the perfect partner to work with businesses in this market.The Skrill digital wallet offers merchants a tailored solution to process deposits and withdrawals faster, increase conversion rates and provide full chargeback protection.” Steinhardt continued, "Customers can benefit from the ability to make online payments conveniently and securely at low cost. For gaming customers, being able to conduct high-speed, high conversion payments on any device on the go is vital."
Launched in 2012, Skrill's 1-Tap product promises to deliver optimised payment solutions across desktop, mobile and tablet platforms by linking to the punters digital wallet account. 1-Tap makes deposits and withdrawals much easier for punters to add to their accounts without the problem of repeatedly having to enter their personal details or card information.
Skrill Scores Approval for Online Gambling in New Jersey
It was announced recently that Skrill has been granted approval by New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement to provide its services when the online gambling industry launches this month. In America, Skrill operates as Skrill USA, Inc. which is a registered money service business and licensed money transmitter in the state of New Jersey and other U.S. states.
The Chief Executive Officer of Skrill USA, Neil Steinhardt, commented on the approval,
"We're extremely excited about the new opportunities opening up in the US market for gambling merchants and consumers. Skrill's global reach aligned with local expertise makes us the perfect partner to work with businesses in this market.The Skrill digital wallet offers merchants a tailored solution to process deposits and withdrawals faster, increase conversion rates and provide full chargeback protection.” Steinhardt continued, "Customers can benefit from the ability to make online payments conveniently and securely at low cost. For gaming customers, being able to conduct high-speed, high conversion payments on any device on the go is vital."
Launched in 2012, Skrill's 1-Tap product promises to deliver optimised payment solutions across desktop, mobile and tablet platforms by linking to the punters digital wallet account. 1-Tap makes deposits and withdrawals much easier for punters to add to their accounts without the problem of repeatedly having to enter their personal details or card information.
Skrill Scores Approval for Online Gambling in New Jersey
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2006/12/07
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29893
Internet addiction is said to be more pervasive than alcoholism in the United States, and while treatment is available, how do you know when you need it?
Dr. Kimberly Young is founder of the Center for Internet Addiction at Bradford Regional Medical Center in central Pennsylvania, the first inpatient treatment program for Internet addiction in the nation.
Dr. Young says she first encountered internet addiction in 1994 when she learned that a friend’s husband was spending more than 50 hours a week in AOL chat rooms, at a time when internet usage was billed by the hour.
“It made me wonder, ‘could people get addicted to the internet in the same way we talk about drugs, alcohol, food, and gambling?’,” says Young.
From there she met people who have experienced job-loss, weight-loss and ruined relationships, because they couldn’t control their use of the internet.
Dr. Young recently completed a survey of approximately 1,000 people with this problems, and she found common threads among those with the addiction.
“We’re finding that people who have poor coping skills, more problems with social anxiety, more problems in general with psychiatric conditions, like depression or alcoholism, are having more of a problem with internet addiction.” These vulnerabilities are usually evident in excessive online gaming, gambling, and pornography.
At the Center for Internet Addiction, Dr. Young developed a 72 hour detoxification program where patients are kept in a locked ward. From there, Dr. Young says the patient is eased back into functional use of the internet.
“We’re not looking at an abstinence model, we’re looking at kind of a food addiction model. So treatment really is about learning to control and moderate your internet use.” Through software monitoring and firewalls, Dr. Young says her patients learn how to make healthy choices online.
Dr. Kimberly Young is founder of the Center for Internet Addiction at Bradford Regional Medical Center in central Pennsylvania, the first inpatient treatment program for Internet addiction in the nation.
Dr. Young says she first encountered internet addiction in 1994 when she learned that a friend’s husband was spending more than 50 hours a week in AOL chat rooms, at a time when internet usage was billed by the hour.
“It made me wonder, ‘could people get addicted to the internet in the same way we talk about drugs, alcohol, food, and gambling?’,” says Young.
From there she met people who have experienced job-loss, weight-loss and ruined relationships, because they couldn’t control their use of the internet.
Dr. Young recently completed a survey of approximately 1,000 people with this problems, and she found common threads among those with the addiction.
“We’re finding that people who have poor coping skills, more problems with social anxiety, more problems in general with psychiatric conditions, like depression or alcoholism, are having more of a problem with internet addiction.” These vulnerabilities are usually evident in excessive online gaming, gambling, and pornography.
At the Center for Internet Addiction, Dr. Young developed a 72 hour detoxification program where patients are kept in a locked ward. From there, Dr. Young says the patient is eased back into functional use of the internet.
“We’re not looking at an abstinence model, we’re looking at kind of a food addiction model. So treatment really is about learning to control and moderate your internet use.” Through software monitoring and firewalls, Dr. Young says her patients learn how to make healthy choices online.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Just as legal online gambling gets started in the U.S., banks and payment processors are refusing to play.
Credit-card issuers Bank of America Corp. (BAC:US), Wells Fargo & Co. and American Express Co., along with EBay Inc. (EBAY:US)’s PayPal, aren’t allowing the transactions, according to the companies. Delaware and Nevada permit Internet wagering, with New Jersey poised to become the third and biggest state on Nov. 26.
The rejections threaten a nascent business with the potential to reach $7.4 billion in annual revenue in four years, the estimate of researcher H2 Gambling Capital. Some Visa and MasterCard issuers have concerns over potential liability for underage wagering or other violations, according to the American Bankers Association. American Express and PayPal say they don’t process gambling transactions of any kind. “There are still things that can go wrong even with controls in place,” Steve Kenneally, vice president for regulatory compliance at the Washington-based association, said in an interview. “Does the revenue I get offset the potential downside?”
In Delaware, which introduced online betting Oct. 31, players’ Visa and MasterCard transactions were rejected by some banks, according to Vernon Kirk, director of the state lottery, which runs the wagering there.
Players in Nevada, which took its first online poker bets April 30, have had difficulty opening accounts. The state is communicating with credit-card issuers, Jim Barbee, technology chief for the state Gaming Control Board, said in an e-mail.
Visa Inc. (V:US) and MasterCard Inc. allow gambling-related credit-card transactions on their networks in states where it’s legal, according to both companies. That leaves the decision-making to the card issuers.
“Visa has updated its procedures to code newly legalized Internet gambling transactions so that financial institutions can identify and process them in states where they are allowed,” Rosetta Jones, a spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. MasterCard allows its cards to be used for online gambling in states where it’s legal, according to Jim Issokson, a spokesman, who declined to discuss individual banks.
“This is all bank-dependent,” said Seth Palansky, a spokesman for Caesars Entertainment Corp. (CZR:US)’s interactive unit, which runs the World Series of Poker website in the state. “There is an education that is ongoing regarding gaming transactions due to the new laws.”
Review Possible
Bank of America doesn’t allow the transactions, Anne Pace, a spokeswoman for the second-largest U.S. bank, wrote in an e-mail. The company is reviewing whether to permit them in the future, she said. American Express bars use of its cards for any gambling, Marina Norville, a spokeswoman, said in an e-mail.
Wells Fargo also doesn’t allow the use of its credit cards for online gambling, said Natalie Brown, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco-based bank. Nor does Discover Financial Services, according to Jon Drummond, a representative of the Riverwoods, Illinois-based credit-card issuer. Both cited federal compliance issues.
Paypal, the Web-based payments service, cited internal policies, which it said are subject to change. “PayPal does not permit the use of its service for online gambling in the U.S. according to our acceptable use policy,” said Jeff Rutledge, an outside spokesman with MSL San Francisco.
Banks are concerned they may be held liable for illegal bets placed with their credit cards, such as by underage gamblers or customers who may not be physically present in the states where online betting is legal, said Kenneally, of the banking association.
Federal Act
“There’s still the uncertainty over Internet gambling and the liability that could fall on a bank,” Kenneally said.
Banks programmed their card-payment systems to reject gambling transactions after Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006, according to Kenneally. The law barred businesses from accepting payments for illegal online bets.
In the past year, Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey legalized online betting and now must get banks to alter their setups to accept transactions they have been blocking.
The rejections in Delaware have been most acute with Visa credit-card transactions, according to Kirk, the state lottery official. Many banks offering MasterCard have updated their systems to reflect the legal changes, he said. Debit-card transactions have been approved virtually 100 percent.
Contacting Banks
Delaware is compiling data about credit-card acceptance rates and will contact the card issuers, Kirk said in an e-mail. Lottery officials have also discussed the situation with the Delaware Bankers Association. About 1,100 players have signed up in the state in the past two weeks.
WSOP-com and Ultimate Poker, two sites licensed to offer online poker to people in Nevada, have averaged 120 players and 100 players, respectively, over the past seven days, according to Pokerscout-com, an industry website. PokerStars, the largest player outside the U.S., has averaged 23,500.
Customers of Ultimate Gaming in New Jersey, which is scheduled to introduce online betting Nov. 26, will have a variety of payment options, including wire transfer, check by mail and cash deposits at the Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, according to Tom Breitling, chairman of the company.
“We will continue to work with Visa to improve acceptance rates,” he said in an e-mail.
Online Casinos Hobbled as PayPal, BofA Reject Bets - Businessweek
Credit-card issuers Bank of America Corp. (BAC:US), Wells Fargo & Co. and American Express Co., along with EBay Inc. (EBAY:US)’s PayPal, aren’t allowing the transactions, according to the companies. Delaware and Nevada permit Internet wagering, with New Jersey poised to become the third and biggest state on Nov. 26.
The rejections threaten a nascent business with the potential to reach $7.4 billion in annual revenue in four years, the estimate of researcher H2 Gambling Capital. Some Visa and MasterCard issuers have concerns over potential liability for underage wagering or other violations, according to the American Bankers Association. American Express and PayPal say they don’t process gambling transactions of any kind. “There are still things that can go wrong even with controls in place,” Steve Kenneally, vice president for regulatory compliance at the Washington-based association, said in an interview. “Does the revenue I get offset the potential downside?”
In Delaware, which introduced online betting Oct. 31, players’ Visa and MasterCard transactions were rejected by some banks, according to Vernon Kirk, director of the state lottery, which runs the wagering there.
Players in Nevada, which took its first online poker bets April 30, have had difficulty opening accounts. The state is communicating with credit-card issuers, Jim Barbee, technology chief for the state Gaming Control Board, said in an e-mail.
Visa Inc. (V:US) and MasterCard Inc. allow gambling-related credit-card transactions on their networks in states where it’s legal, according to both companies. That leaves the decision-making to the card issuers.
“Visa has updated its procedures to code newly legalized Internet gambling transactions so that financial institutions can identify and process them in states where they are allowed,” Rosetta Jones, a spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. MasterCard allows its cards to be used for online gambling in states where it’s legal, according to Jim Issokson, a spokesman, who declined to discuss individual banks.
“This is all bank-dependent,” said Seth Palansky, a spokesman for Caesars Entertainment Corp. (CZR:US)’s interactive unit, which runs the World Series of Poker website in the state. “There is an education that is ongoing regarding gaming transactions due to the new laws.”
Review Possible
Bank of America doesn’t allow the transactions, Anne Pace, a spokeswoman for the second-largest U.S. bank, wrote in an e-mail. The company is reviewing whether to permit them in the future, she said. American Express bars use of its cards for any gambling, Marina Norville, a spokeswoman, said in an e-mail.
Wells Fargo also doesn’t allow the use of its credit cards for online gambling, said Natalie Brown, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco-based bank. Nor does Discover Financial Services, according to Jon Drummond, a representative of the Riverwoods, Illinois-based credit-card issuer. Both cited federal compliance issues.
Paypal, the Web-based payments service, cited internal policies, which it said are subject to change. “PayPal does not permit the use of its service for online gambling in the U.S. according to our acceptable use policy,” said Jeff Rutledge, an outside spokesman with MSL San Francisco.
Banks are concerned they may be held liable for illegal bets placed with their credit cards, such as by underage gamblers or customers who may not be physically present in the states where online betting is legal, said Kenneally, of the banking association.
Federal Act
“There’s still the uncertainty over Internet gambling and the liability that could fall on a bank,” Kenneally said.
Banks programmed their card-payment systems to reject gambling transactions after Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006, according to Kenneally. The law barred businesses from accepting payments for illegal online bets.
In the past year, Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey legalized online betting and now must get banks to alter their setups to accept transactions they have been blocking.
The rejections in Delaware have been most acute with Visa credit-card transactions, according to Kirk, the state lottery official. Many banks offering MasterCard have updated their systems to reflect the legal changes, he said. Debit-card transactions have been approved virtually 100 percent.
Contacting Banks
Delaware is compiling data about credit-card acceptance rates and will contact the card issuers, Kirk said in an e-mail. Lottery officials have also discussed the situation with the Delaware Bankers Association. About 1,100 players have signed up in the state in the past two weeks.
WSOP-com and Ultimate Poker, two sites licensed to offer online poker to people in Nevada, have averaged 120 players and 100 players, respectively, over the past seven days, according to Pokerscout-com, an industry website. PokerStars, the largest player outside the U.S., has averaged 23,500.
Customers of Ultimate Gaming in New Jersey, which is scheduled to introduce online betting Nov. 26, will have a variety of payment options, including wire transfer, check by mail and cash deposits at the Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, according to Tom Breitling, chairman of the company.
“We will continue to work with Visa to improve acceptance rates,” he said in an e-mail.
Online Casinos Hobbled as PayPal, BofA Reject Bets - Businessweek
Join:
2006/12/07
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29893
Toronto Canada is a marvelous city and the biggest in the country with a population of over 2.5 million. The metropolis has been in the news quite a lot lately with the scandal involving the still in power Mayor Rob Ford who has admitted publicly that he has broken the law and has confessed to doing drugs and drinking to excess. The problem with this situation is that the embattled mayor is not stepping down even after repeated calls from fellow council members for him to resign.
The world is watching the folly with comedians having a field day with the Mayor’s repeated confessions putting him in even more trouble than the day before. Finally one online gambling firm is offering odds on the outcome of the Rob Ford fiasco. Bodog.ca a sportsbook on the internet is giving the public a chance to punt on the fate of the big man in the Mayor’s seat. Today for example Toronto’s city council voted to remove executive power from Ford effectively making him a lame duck leader.
Bodog is using the question “What will Toronto Mayor Rob Ford do before Dec. 31, 2013?” to focus on the scale of the wagering. The biggest payout of the three options is “Resign as mayor” with 9-4 odds, followed by “Take temporary leave” at 3-2. The safest betting option is “Neither, will remain mayor” with 1-1 odds.
Adam Burns, Sports book manager for Bodog.ca, commented, “The resign option is, we felt, the most unlikely thing,” Burns added, “We have lower limits on this about $100 and it’s just kind of fun. We felt like this was a good time to do it because (Ford) says he doesn’t want to resign and people in Toronto want him to take a leave. The story’s taken a turn and some sort of decision has to be made.” “These things are always tricky,” Burns explained, “People can know the outcome before we take it down. We have to be on top of it.”
Online Gambling On Toronto's Embattled Mayor
The world is watching the folly with comedians having a field day with the Mayor’s repeated confessions putting him in even more trouble than the day before. Finally one online gambling firm is offering odds on the outcome of the Rob Ford fiasco. Bodog.ca a sportsbook on the internet is giving the public a chance to punt on the fate of the big man in the Mayor’s seat. Today for example Toronto’s city council voted to remove executive power from Ford effectively making him a lame duck leader.
Bodog is using the question “What will Toronto Mayor Rob Ford do before Dec. 31, 2013?” to focus on the scale of the wagering. The biggest payout of the three options is “Resign as mayor” with 9-4 odds, followed by “Take temporary leave” at 3-2. The safest betting option is “Neither, will remain mayor” with 1-1 odds.
Adam Burns, Sports book manager for Bodog.ca, commented, “The resign option is, we felt, the most unlikely thing,” Burns added, “We have lower limits on this about $100 and it’s just kind of fun. We felt like this was a good time to do it because (Ford) says he doesn’t want to resign and people in Toronto want him to take a leave. The story’s taken a turn and some sort of decision has to be made.” “These things are always tricky,” Burns explained, “People can know the outcome before we take it down. We have to be on top of it.”
Online Gambling On Toronto's Embattled Mayor
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2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
In life, Floyd Collins could not savor the fame he craved. The young Kentuckian became a celebrity after a 1925 cave-exploring expedition went horribly awry. Pinned under heavy rock, Collins survived for more than a week underground but rescue efforts failed to free him.
The carnival of tourism and breathless media coverage of the tragedy was satirized in Billy Wilder’s film “Ace in the Hole.” Floyd’s story is also addressed in “Floyd Collins,” a daring Off Broadway musical composed by Adam Guettel a decade before the 2003 Seattle debut of his Broadway hit, “The Light in the Piazza.”
The earlier work is now getting its first (to my knowledge) mounting in Seattle, thanks to the can-do fringe troupe STAGEright. No surprise it’s taken so long, given the show’s big cast, a difficult score and rather grim premise.
Despite a clearly uneven cast, STAGEright gives its all under Lindsey Larson’s lively direction to this bittersweet (and not humorless, praise be) chronicle of likable, enterprising Floyd (Brian Lange), his hardscrabble family and friends, and the hucksters descending on them.
To its credit, this is a humane portrait of a community in crisis, not just one individual. Yes, we return often to Floyd sweating it out in his living tomb (evoked effectively in Brandon Estrella’s simple set), which makes for a weighty 2 ½ hours. But the viewpoint here is not claustrophobic.
There is spoken dialogue (book by Tina Landau), however music is the main means of expression. Mostly conversational in tone, and sprinkled with folksy touches, it is often jarring in form. Unbridled rhythms and jagged melodic lines dominate, rather than conventional Broadway-style tunes.
The sonic adventurousness is both stimulating, and frustrating. When Guettel does surrender to song the score soars.
Chelsea LeValley beguiles vocally and dramatically as quirky, spunky Nellie Collins. Her rendition of the sparkling “Through the Mountain,” a song fantasizing a glorious reunion with her brother Floyd, is a high point. Lange’s robust rendition of the majestic spiritual soliloquy “Where Glory Goes,” is another peak.
Guettel’s sophisticated choral writing shines, as does a tender, wrenching duet (“Heart An’ Hand”) for Floyd’s weary parents (poignant Bill Johns and Beth Wallace). As a lyricist, Guettel excels at mixed-emotion sentiments — a talent he shares with mentor Stephen Sondheim. (Note: Landau also contributed to the lyrics.)
Some voices are weak here, some acting overeager. And even some of the better singers, like Lange and Jordan Melin, as Floyd’s brother Homer, need more vocal nuance, and volume control. (It’s not so easy being heard above Mark Rabe’s adept but over-amped piano backing, but bombast in the compact Richard Hugo House theater is painful.)
All in all, STAGEright merits kudos for taking on “Floyd Collins” — an early, bold chapter in an immensely gifted composer’s musical life.
The carnival of tourism and breathless media coverage of the tragedy was satirized in Billy Wilder’s film “Ace in the Hole.” Floyd’s story is also addressed in “Floyd Collins,” a daring Off Broadway musical composed by Adam Guettel a decade before the 2003 Seattle debut of his Broadway hit, “The Light in the Piazza.”
The earlier work is now getting its first (to my knowledge) mounting in Seattle, thanks to the can-do fringe troupe STAGEright. No surprise it’s taken so long, given the show’s big cast, a difficult score and rather grim premise.
Despite a clearly uneven cast, STAGEright gives its all under Lindsey Larson’s lively direction to this bittersweet (and not humorless, praise be) chronicle of likable, enterprising Floyd (Brian Lange), his hardscrabble family and friends, and the hucksters descending on them.
To its credit, this is a humane portrait of a community in crisis, not just one individual. Yes, we return often to Floyd sweating it out in his living tomb (evoked effectively in Brandon Estrella’s simple set), which makes for a weighty 2 ½ hours. But the viewpoint here is not claustrophobic.
There is spoken dialogue (book by Tina Landau), however music is the main means of expression. Mostly conversational in tone, and sprinkled with folksy touches, it is often jarring in form. Unbridled rhythms and jagged melodic lines dominate, rather than conventional Broadway-style tunes.
The sonic adventurousness is both stimulating, and frustrating. When Guettel does surrender to song the score soars.
Chelsea LeValley beguiles vocally and dramatically as quirky, spunky Nellie Collins. Her rendition of the sparkling “Through the Mountain,” a song fantasizing a glorious reunion with her brother Floyd, is a high point. Lange’s robust rendition of the majestic spiritual soliloquy “Where Glory Goes,” is another peak.
Guettel’s sophisticated choral writing shines, as does a tender, wrenching duet (“Heart An’ Hand”) for Floyd’s weary parents (poignant Bill Johns and Beth Wallace). As a lyricist, Guettel excels at mixed-emotion sentiments — a talent he shares with mentor Stephen Sondheim. (Note: Landau also contributed to the lyrics.)
Some voices are weak here, some acting overeager. And even some of the better singers, like Lange and Jordan Melin, as Floyd’s brother Homer, need more vocal nuance, and volume control. (It’s not so easy being heard above Mark Rabe’s adept but over-amped piano backing, but bombast in the compact Richard Hugo House theater is painful.)
All in all, STAGEright merits kudos for taking on “Floyd Collins” — an early, bold chapter in an immensely gifted composer’s musical life.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Internet gambling is on a roll in the US market after years lurking in the shadows. New Jersey kicks off its online wagering November 26, becoming the most populous state to do so after Nevada and Delaware.
Other states have become active since 2011, when the federal government signaled it would not block most forms of Internet wagering. California, Illinois and Pennsylvania are considering such moves.
Using geolocation technology, the systems require that gamblers be located within the state. But reciprocal agreements could allow gamblers to cross state lines as more states authorize online bets.
"Once these states are successful within their borders, they will figure out how to pool players across state lines to take bets from each other, and a lot of other states will jump in," said Whittier Law School professor I. Nelson Rose.
"Within 10 years, I think we will see a very large portion of states will have Internet gambling."
Morgan Stanley estimated legal US online gambling revenues would reach $670 million in 2014, increasing to $9.3 billion in 2020.
The launch in a handful of states "will release a floodgate of investor interest in the online space, and spur new states to open to reap tax dollars," analyst Vaughan Lewis said in a note to clients.
The United States has a patchwork of gambling regulations. While casino gambling was only allowed in Nevada a few decades ago, New Jersey allowed casinos in Atlantic City in the 1970s and many states have either commercial or Indian tribe casinos.
Until recently, the federal government claimed that online gambling was unlawful. But a 2011 Justice Department legal opinion said only sports betting would be considered illegal.
Nevada authorized online poker in 2012, and Delaware and New Jersey passed laws allowing a full range of casino games.
But Rose said the Internet opens up new categories of gambling, ranging from "social" games to virtual slot machines.
"People who play games online are not interested in picking numbers and waiting a week," he said.
The gaming industry relies on federal guidelines for online betting, but Congress has been deadlocked on the matter amid disputes over whether any law would cover poker alone or a full range of games.
Despite existing bans, Americans spent $2.6 billion on online gambling in 2012 in a global industry worth $33 billion, according to a study for the American Gaming Association, which represents commercial casino operators.
Chris Thom, chairman of the online payment and identification firm SecureTrading, said the patchwork state-by-state system hampers efforts to develop a competitive online gaming industry in the United States.
"To get into that global system you are going to have to have critical mass," he told AFP.
Thom said federal legislation would enable greater consumer protection and help outlaw unlicensed operators.
A national system could also generate revenues for the federal government.
But "the longer it goes on, the more difficult it is to produce a federal bill that is clean and straightforward," Thom said, noting that states will want to maintain existing rules and not join a federal system.
The American Gaming Association has also called for federal rules.
"While we have long supported federal regulation versus state regulation, the most important point is that online gaming must be regulated to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of the games," said association president Geoff Freeman.
Representative Jim McDermott has introduced a bill to ensure taxes and fees are collected within a regulated regime.
"You'd hope this opportunity to generate billions in economic activity and new government revenues will get serious consideration," said Michael Waxman of the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative.
"It's shocking that Congress has decided to leave in place hypocritical laws that allow some forms of online gambling activity, such as betting on horse racing, but prohibits others, like poker and bingo."
Online gambling critics warn of the dangers of unhindered expansion online—that geographic and age restrictions could be easily bypassed, and unsavory elements could use the systems to launder money.
"This is not just fun and games, it's a question of national economic security," said University of Illinois business professor John Kindt.
Kindt said the expansion of Internet gambling would simply be "a transfer of wealth, with no productivity gains," and that those profiting would likely be offshore firms or organized crime.
Read more at: Online gambling gains momentum in US
Other states have become active since 2011, when the federal government signaled it would not block most forms of Internet wagering. California, Illinois and Pennsylvania are considering such moves.
Using geolocation technology, the systems require that gamblers be located within the state. But reciprocal agreements could allow gamblers to cross state lines as more states authorize online bets.
"Once these states are successful within their borders, they will figure out how to pool players across state lines to take bets from each other, and a lot of other states will jump in," said Whittier Law School professor I. Nelson Rose.
"Within 10 years, I think we will see a very large portion of states will have Internet gambling."
Morgan Stanley estimated legal US online gambling revenues would reach $670 million in 2014, increasing to $9.3 billion in 2020.
The launch in a handful of states "will release a floodgate of investor interest in the online space, and spur new states to open to reap tax dollars," analyst Vaughan Lewis said in a note to clients.
The United States has a patchwork of gambling regulations. While casino gambling was only allowed in Nevada a few decades ago, New Jersey allowed casinos in Atlantic City in the 1970s and many states have either commercial or Indian tribe casinos.
Until recently, the federal government claimed that online gambling was unlawful. But a 2011 Justice Department legal opinion said only sports betting would be considered illegal.
Nevada authorized online poker in 2012, and Delaware and New Jersey passed laws allowing a full range of casino games.
But Rose said the Internet opens up new categories of gambling, ranging from "social" games to virtual slot machines.
"People who play games online are not interested in picking numbers and waiting a week," he said.
The gaming industry relies on federal guidelines for online betting, but Congress has been deadlocked on the matter amid disputes over whether any law would cover poker alone or a full range of games.
Despite existing bans, Americans spent $2.6 billion on online gambling in 2012 in a global industry worth $33 billion, according to a study for the American Gaming Association, which represents commercial casino operators.
Chris Thom, chairman of the online payment and identification firm SecureTrading, said the patchwork state-by-state system hampers efforts to develop a competitive online gaming industry in the United States.
"To get into that global system you are going to have to have critical mass," he told AFP.
Thom said federal legislation would enable greater consumer protection and help outlaw unlicensed operators.
A national system could also generate revenues for the federal government.
But "the longer it goes on, the more difficult it is to produce a federal bill that is clean and straightforward," Thom said, noting that states will want to maintain existing rules and not join a federal system.
The American Gaming Association has also called for federal rules.
"While we have long supported federal regulation versus state regulation, the most important point is that online gaming must be regulated to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of the games," said association president Geoff Freeman.
Representative Jim McDermott has introduced a bill to ensure taxes and fees are collected within a regulated regime.
"You'd hope this opportunity to generate billions in economic activity and new government revenues will get serious consideration," said Michael Waxman of the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative.
"It's shocking that Congress has decided to leave in place hypocritical laws that allow some forms of online gambling activity, such as betting on horse racing, but prohibits others, like poker and bingo."
Online gambling critics warn of the dangers of unhindered expansion online—that geographic and age restrictions could be easily bypassed, and unsavory elements could use the systems to launder money.
"This is not just fun and games, it's a question of national economic security," said University of Illinois business professor John Kindt.
Kindt said the expansion of Internet gambling would simply be "a transfer of wealth, with no productivity gains," and that those profiting would likely be offshore firms or organized crime.
Read more at: Online gambling gains momentum in US
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2006/12/07
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A recent Bloomberg report has made it known that the banks in America have not been informed that there is such a thing as legal online gambling in the States. The problem has obviously been a frustrating experience for those in the business of trying to actually offer their products to customers in Nevada Delaware and soon New Jersey.
Many money processors such as Credit-card issuers at the Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co. and American Express Co., along with EBay Inc.’s PayPal, will not process online gambling transactions, according to statements from these firms. This is unacceptable to many punters wishing to play online at legal sites granted permission by the legislation of these state governments.
There is huge potential revenue expected to possibly reach over seven billion US dollars in a mere four years according to research firm H2 Gambling Capital.
The dampening of the momentum is expected to cause a great deal of disruption in the start up new internet gambling ventures. The money processors such as Visa and Master Card are concerned that there may be repercussions from violations and underage betting according to the American Bankers Association. American Express and PayPal have stated categorically they don’t process gambling transactions of any sort.
Rosetta Jones, a spokeswoman, for Visa related this message via e-mail, “Visa has updated its procedures to code newly legalized Internet gambling transactions so that financial institutions can identify and process them in states where they are allowed,”
Steve Kenneally, Vice President for Regulatory Compliance at the Washington-based association, American Bankers Association said, “There are still things that can go wrong even with controls in place,” Kenneally added, “Does the revenue I get offset the potential downside?”
The authorities must talk to the banks in order to get the money processors sorted out before the industry suffers any real issues. Timing is essential in a start up industry such as the re-introduction of internet wagering in America.
US Online Gambling Money Processing Stalled
Many money processors such as Credit-card issuers at the Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co. and American Express Co., along with EBay Inc.’s PayPal, will not process online gambling transactions, according to statements from these firms. This is unacceptable to many punters wishing to play online at legal sites granted permission by the legislation of these state governments.
There is huge potential revenue expected to possibly reach over seven billion US dollars in a mere four years according to research firm H2 Gambling Capital.
The dampening of the momentum is expected to cause a great deal of disruption in the start up new internet gambling ventures. The money processors such as Visa and Master Card are concerned that there may be repercussions from violations and underage betting according to the American Bankers Association. American Express and PayPal have stated categorically they don’t process gambling transactions of any sort.
Rosetta Jones, a spokeswoman, for Visa related this message via e-mail, “Visa has updated its procedures to code newly legalized Internet gambling transactions so that financial institutions can identify and process them in states where they are allowed,”
Steve Kenneally, Vice President for Regulatory Compliance at the Washington-based association, American Bankers Association said, “There are still things that can go wrong even with controls in place,” Kenneally added, “Does the revenue I get offset the potential downside?”
The authorities must talk to the banks in order to get the money processors sorted out before the industry suffers any real issues. Timing is essential in a start up industry such as the re-introduction of internet wagering in America.
US Online Gambling Money Processing Stalled
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2006/12/07
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Taylor Swift "didn't fit in" on the Victoria's Secret catwalk, according to model Jessica Hart.
The 23-year-old singer performed at the annual fashion show in New York on Wednesday, but Australian lingerie model Ms Hart wasn't impressed by her on the runway.
Asked if the leggy 'I Knew You Were Trouble' star could pull it off as a Victoria's Secret model, Ms Hart replied bluntly: "No."
Speaking to Women's Wear Daily at the after show party at New York hotspot Tao, she said: "I think, you know what, God bless her heart. I think she's great. But I don't know, to me, she didn't fit. I don't know if I should say that.
"I think what you find is that for a lot of us, we've been working for 14, 15 years, what it takes to make it here comes from experience and confidence and knowing how to be confident with yourself.
"I think it comes with age. It's definitely the benchmark of all jobs."
Although Ms Hary wasn't a fan of Taylor, model Karlie Kloss was a bit star struck by her performance, wearing a Union Jack print mini-dress, accompanied with a matching train and top hat.
The 21-year-old model said: "She and I need to be best friends!"
"I think she's the coolest young girl. She's a great role model, and I love her music. It's happening. I mean, girl power."
Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge, 28, agreed with Ms Kloss, she said: "[Taylor] is one of my best friends, so we had so much fun."
Taylor Swift 'didn't fit in' at Victoria's Secret show - Entertainment News | TVNZ
The 23-year-old singer performed at the annual fashion show in New York on Wednesday, but Australian lingerie model Ms Hart wasn't impressed by her on the runway.
Asked if the leggy 'I Knew You Were Trouble' star could pull it off as a Victoria's Secret model, Ms Hart replied bluntly: "No."
Speaking to Women's Wear Daily at the after show party at New York hotspot Tao, she said: "I think, you know what, God bless her heart. I think she's great. But I don't know, to me, she didn't fit. I don't know if I should say that.
"I think what you find is that for a lot of us, we've been working for 14, 15 years, what it takes to make it here comes from experience and confidence and knowing how to be confident with yourself.
"I think it comes with age. It's definitely the benchmark of all jobs."
Although Ms Hary wasn't a fan of Taylor, model Karlie Kloss was a bit star struck by her performance, wearing a Union Jack print mini-dress, accompanied with a matching train and top hat.
The 21-year-old model said: "She and I need to be best friends!"
"I think she's the coolest young girl. She's a great role model, and I love her music. It's happening. I mean, girl power."
Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge, 28, agreed with Ms Kloss, she said: "[Taylor] is one of my best friends, so we had so much fun."
Taylor Swift 'didn't fit in' at Victoria's Secret show - Entertainment News | TVNZ
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Billionaire casino magnate Shel******don Adelson, whose record-breaking campaign spending in 2012 made him an icon of the new super-donor era, is leveraging that newfound status in an escalating feud with industry rivals over the future of gambling.
Adelson, best known for building upscale casino resorts in Nevada and more recently in Asia, wants to persuade Congress to ban Internet betting. He says the practice is a danger to society and could tarnish the industry’s traditional business model. Nearly all of his competitors, including Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts, disagree. They say regulated Internet gambling can be done safely and can boost the industry.
To make his point, Adelson is preparing a public campaign to portray online gambling as a danger to children, the poor and others who could be exploited by easy access to Internet betting.
Three states have moved to legalize online gambling, with New Jersey scheduled to go live this month. At least a dozen others are expected to consider it next year.
The new push against Internet gambling is Adelson’s biggest foray into a legislative debate directly related to his business, and it sets up a test of the influence that a mega-donor can exert when lawmakers know he is willing to spend enormous sums to influence elections.
Adelson has begun hiring lobbyists and public relations experts in Washington and in state capitals nationwide to press his case in what is shaping up to be one of the most heavily lobbied debates of 2014. In January, Adelson plans to roll out an advocacy group, the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, that aides say will include advocates for children and others who are considered vulnerable to the temptations and ******potential harms of online betting. The coalition hopes to enlist organizations representing women, African Americans and Hispanics, all seen as likely to be sympathetic to the cause.
Advisers to Adelson say he is intensely focused on the coming battle and talks about it every day with his staff. He has about two dozen experts working nearly full time on the issue.
“In my 15 years of working with him, I don’t think I have ever seen him this passionate about any issue,” said Andy Abboud, Adelson’s top political adviser.
Rival firms view Adelson’s initiative as a major threat and say they will mount a counter******offensive arguing that his proposed ban would foster a dangerous, unregulated black market.
Some competitors noted that Adelson, whose chosen political candidates lost last year, could not guarantee success, even with his ability to tap a seemingly bottomless bank account.
“We don’t make a habit of picking fights with billionaires,” said John Pappas, executive director of the industry-aligned Poker Players Alliance. “But in this case, I think we’ll win, because millions of Americans who want to play online will oppose this legislation, along with dozens and dozens of states that want the freedom to authorize any kind of gaming they see fit.”
Still, Adelson’s industry rivals say they are struck by his new assertiveness. They point with trepidation to his campaign expenditures last year, which dwarfed those of the entire industry.
Sheldon Adelson, top 2012 donor, launching campaign against Internet gambling - The Washington Post
Adelson, best known for building upscale casino resorts in Nevada and more recently in Asia, wants to persuade Congress to ban Internet betting. He says the practice is a danger to society and could tarnish the industry’s traditional business model. Nearly all of his competitors, including Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts, disagree. They say regulated Internet gambling can be done safely and can boost the industry.
To make his point, Adelson is preparing a public campaign to portray online gambling as a danger to children, the poor and others who could be exploited by easy access to Internet betting.
Three states have moved to legalize online gambling, with New Jersey scheduled to go live this month. At least a dozen others are expected to consider it next year.
The new push against Internet gambling is Adelson’s biggest foray into a legislative debate directly related to his business, and it sets up a test of the influence that a mega-donor can exert when lawmakers know he is willing to spend enormous sums to influence elections.
Adelson has begun hiring lobbyists and public relations experts in Washington and in state capitals nationwide to press his case in what is shaping up to be one of the most heavily lobbied debates of 2014. In January, Adelson plans to roll out an advocacy group, the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, that aides say will include advocates for children and others who are considered vulnerable to the temptations and ******potential harms of online betting. The coalition hopes to enlist organizations representing women, African Americans and Hispanics, all seen as likely to be sympathetic to the cause.
Advisers to Adelson say he is intensely focused on the coming battle and talks about it every day with his staff. He has about two dozen experts working nearly full time on the issue.
“In my 15 years of working with him, I don’t think I have ever seen him this passionate about any issue,” said Andy Abboud, Adelson’s top political adviser.
Rival firms view Adelson’s initiative as a major threat and say they will mount a counter******offensive arguing that his proposed ban would foster a dangerous, unregulated black market.
Some competitors noted that Adelson, whose chosen political candidates lost last year, could not guarantee success, even with his ability to tap a seemingly bottomless bank account.
“We don’t make a habit of picking fights with billionaires,” said John Pappas, executive director of the industry-aligned Poker Players Alliance. “But in this case, I think we’ll win, because millions of Americans who want to play online will oppose this legislation, along with dozens and dozens of states that want the freedom to authorize any kind of gaming they see fit.”
Still, Adelson’s industry rivals say they are struck by his new assertiveness. They point with trepidation to his campaign expenditures last year, which dwarfed those of the entire industry.
Sheldon Adelson, top 2012 donor, launching campaign against Internet gambling - The Washington Post
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2006/12/07
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New Jersey is deadly serious about making sure anyone who gambles online once Internet betting begins this week is physically within the state. And the technology designed to ensure it may freeze some bettors out of the action unless they move farther away from the state's borders.
A key aspect of the law legalizing Internet gambling is that all the activity takes place within New Jersey's borders. To comply with that, technology companies working with the Atlantic City casinos have erected so-called digital fencing near — but not exactly conforming to — the state's borders.
The result in some places will be small no-play zones, from which potential gamblers will have to move temporarily if they want to bet online. These include places like the edge of the state's borders along the Hudson and Delaware rivers, where the fence has been moved an unspecified distance inland to guard against anyone located in New York or Pennsylvania slipping through the safeguards and gambling online in New Jersey.
"Unfortunately for some people, there may not be sufficient verification that they are in New Jersey — even if they are — and they'll be denied," said David Rebuck, director of the state Division of Gaming Enforcement. "It's an unavoidable consequence."
It is one thing the casinos and their regulators will be paying close attention to when a five-day, invitation-only trial of online gambling begins at 6 p.m. Thursday. If all goes well, the entire state will be allowed to gamble online as of Nov. 26.
The border adjustments are seen as a way to protect the casinos from potential fines if they are found to let anyone gamble illegally. No dollar amounts have been set as potential penalties. "No one can afford to risk that," said Tobin Prior, CEO of Ultimate Gaming, which is the Trump Taj Mahal Casino resort's online partner. "We would err on the side of caution."
The company also offers online gambling in Nevada, and set up its electronic fence about a mile and a half from the state's borders, which was not a problem because they are sparsely populated. In New Jersey, however, some of the state's most densely populated areas lie along the Hudson waterfront, including Jersey City, Hoboken and Weehawken, as well as Camden and Trenton along the Delaware.
Officials of several companies offering so-called geolocation technology would not specify exactly how far their boundaries are from the state's actual border, but Prior said the no-play zone would be smaller than it is in Nevada. Rebuck said it will vary from provider to provider; someone may be frozen out of one casino's online site but able to access another's.
Matt Katz is founder of CAMS LLC, which provides geolocation technology to the Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza, and age verification technology to the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. He was asked if the best available technology could, for example, determine whether a player is riding in a car at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge in Camden, or whether that person had crossed over into Philadelphia — and into off-limits Pennsylvania territory.
"That is the kind of question that keeps me up at night," he said. "That's why the providers are giving themselves a margin of error or a buffer zone."
Rip Gerber, founder of the Locaid geolocation company, agreed.
"That's the best practice in the industry right now, even though the technology is capable of going right up to the border, because the casinos don't want to risk a violation," he said. "People will try to cheat. You know there will be some guy filming himself for YouTube, starting a poker hand in New Jersey on the PATH train and trying to finish it in New York. That's why I'm giving myself a bit of a buffer zone at the border."
He and others said they expect technology will be developed soon that can shrink or even eliminate any no-play zones.
A key component — but only one of several used to verify physical locations — is data from wireless carriers. They rely on connections that phones make to the nearest cell tower. While people can easily download applications to their phone that will let it mask its GPS coordinates — users cannot thwart or trick cellphone tower data, tech execs say.
Multiple layers of high technology will also work to ensure that minors or people on casino exclusion lists don't get online to gamble. Companies will cross-check the information provided by a customer at sign-up against several public and private databases and other sources. That could lead to software asking a personal identifying question that only a legitimate user would be able to answer, Katz said.
What the software can't prevent is someone legally allowed to gamble logging on, and letting an underage person use the device to gamble. Even so, the money won or lost would still be the responsibility of the adult account holder.
Online gambling won't be possible in small no-play zones near N.J. borders | NJ-com
A key aspect of the law legalizing Internet gambling is that all the activity takes place within New Jersey's borders. To comply with that, technology companies working with the Atlantic City casinos have erected so-called digital fencing near — but not exactly conforming to — the state's borders.
The result in some places will be small no-play zones, from which potential gamblers will have to move temporarily if they want to bet online. These include places like the edge of the state's borders along the Hudson and Delaware rivers, where the fence has been moved an unspecified distance inland to guard against anyone located in New York or Pennsylvania slipping through the safeguards and gambling online in New Jersey.
"Unfortunately for some people, there may not be sufficient verification that they are in New Jersey — even if they are — and they'll be denied," said David Rebuck, director of the state Division of Gaming Enforcement. "It's an unavoidable consequence."
It is one thing the casinos and their regulators will be paying close attention to when a five-day, invitation-only trial of online gambling begins at 6 p.m. Thursday. If all goes well, the entire state will be allowed to gamble online as of Nov. 26.
The border adjustments are seen as a way to protect the casinos from potential fines if they are found to let anyone gamble illegally. No dollar amounts have been set as potential penalties. "No one can afford to risk that," said Tobin Prior, CEO of Ultimate Gaming, which is the Trump Taj Mahal Casino resort's online partner. "We would err on the side of caution."
The company also offers online gambling in Nevada, and set up its electronic fence about a mile and a half from the state's borders, which was not a problem because they are sparsely populated. In New Jersey, however, some of the state's most densely populated areas lie along the Hudson waterfront, including Jersey City, Hoboken and Weehawken, as well as Camden and Trenton along the Delaware.
Officials of several companies offering so-called geolocation technology would not specify exactly how far their boundaries are from the state's actual border, but Prior said the no-play zone would be smaller than it is in Nevada. Rebuck said it will vary from provider to provider; someone may be frozen out of one casino's online site but able to access another's.
Matt Katz is founder of CAMS LLC, which provides geolocation technology to the Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza, and age verification technology to the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. He was asked if the best available technology could, for example, determine whether a player is riding in a car at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge in Camden, or whether that person had crossed over into Philadelphia — and into off-limits Pennsylvania territory.
"That is the kind of question that keeps me up at night," he said. "That's why the providers are giving themselves a margin of error or a buffer zone."
Rip Gerber, founder of the Locaid geolocation company, agreed.
"That's the best practice in the industry right now, even though the technology is capable of going right up to the border, because the casinos don't want to risk a violation," he said. "People will try to cheat. You know there will be some guy filming himself for YouTube, starting a poker hand in New Jersey on the PATH train and trying to finish it in New York. That's why I'm giving myself a bit of a buffer zone at the border."
He and others said they expect technology will be developed soon that can shrink or even eliminate any no-play zones.
A key component — but only one of several used to verify physical locations — is data from wireless carriers. They rely on connections that phones make to the nearest cell tower. While people can easily download applications to their phone that will let it mask its GPS coordinates — users cannot thwart or trick cellphone tower data, tech execs say.
Multiple layers of high technology will also work to ensure that minors or people on casino exclusion lists don't get online to gamble. Companies will cross-check the information provided by a customer at sign-up against several public and private databases and other sources. That could lead to software asking a personal identifying question that only a legitimate user would be able to answer, Katz said.
What the software can't prevent is someone legally allowed to gamble logging on, and letting an underage person use the device to gamble. Even so, the money won or lost would still be the responsibility of the adult account holder.
Online gambling won't be possible in small no-play zones near N.J. borders | NJ-com
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29893
In the face of increasing popularity in global Internet gaming, a U.S. lawyer has suggested that China, including Macau, should embrace the trend and adjust their policies accordingly.
Anthony Cabot is a partner at Lewis and Roca LLP, a US-based law firm. His practice focuses on Internet gaming, gaming law and administrative law.
Cabot cited figures from the United Kingdom that show revenue from online gambling totaled USD2.65 billion in 2011. Last year, the Internet was responsible for 20 percent of all gambling revenue in the U.K., an all time high.
What does this mean for China and Macau? According to Cabot, China has more than 568 million Internet users, the largest user base in the world. The figure is double the amount of the U.S.’s internet users, who ranks second. However, the percentage of China’s population with access to the Internet is only 42.3 percent, placing it at 102 in the world.
According to Cabot, more widespread access to the Internet ensures higher rates of Internet gambling. He demonstrated this with figures from countries that held high Internet access, such as the U.K. (87 percent of the population) and Nordic countries (95 percent), where online gaming is increasing.
There are three major approaches to the boom in online gaming, according to Cabot: “You can either ignore it, fight it or embrace it.”
If the region chooses to ignore the rapid expansion in popularity and not adapt, foreign-based competitors will move to penetrate the market and capture gamblers’ interest and money. Cabot illustrated his case with several figures. “Right now, almost 200 gaming sites are available in Chinese languages and about 20 accept Chinese RMB and 14 accept HK dollars.”
Referring to the second method of fighting the trend, he discussed government controls that could be imposed on residents to prevent access to gambling websites. Authorities could also prohibit access to players’ accounts through banking and other financial institutions. “However, the act seems to shift burden from the government to the finance sector,” which he said was not an ideal method. The third way could be banning advertisements on gambling websites.
The most feasible option, according to Cabot, is regulatory oversight from the authorities. The expert suggested fighting illegal websites and ensuring legal websites are competitive. “The reason people gamble on illegal websites is because they don’t need to pay tax. The cost is cheaper and they may receive rebates as well.” He believes it is time for the government to change its mindset by “permitting financial transactions at lower costs than the illegal sites.”
The speaker made his comments at a recent gaming summit in Macau.
MACAU DAILY TIMES - Expert says online gaming needs more rules
Anthony Cabot is a partner at Lewis and Roca LLP, a US-based law firm. His practice focuses on Internet gaming, gaming law and administrative law.
Cabot cited figures from the United Kingdom that show revenue from online gambling totaled USD2.65 billion in 2011. Last year, the Internet was responsible for 20 percent of all gambling revenue in the U.K., an all time high.
What does this mean for China and Macau? According to Cabot, China has more than 568 million Internet users, the largest user base in the world. The figure is double the amount of the U.S.’s internet users, who ranks second. However, the percentage of China’s population with access to the Internet is only 42.3 percent, placing it at 102 in the world.
According to Cabot, more widespread access to the Internet ensures higher rates of Internet gambling. He demonstrated this with figures from countries that held high Internet access, such as the U.K. (87 percent of the population) and Nordic countries (95 percent), where online gaming is increasing.
There are three major approaches to the boom in online gaming, according to Cabot: “You can either ignore it, fight it or embrace it.”
If the region chooses to ignore the rapid expansion in popularity and not adapt, foreign-based competitors will move to penetrate the market and capture gamblers’ interest and money. Cabot illustrated his case with several figures. “Right now, almost 200 gaming sites are available in Chinese languages and about 20 accept Chinese RMB and 14 accept HK dollars.”
Referring to the second method of fighting the trend, he discussed government controls that could be imposed on residents to prevent access to gambling websites. Authorities could also prohibit access to players’ accounts through banking and other financial institutions. “However, the act seems to shift burden from the government to the finance sector,” which he said was not an ideal method. The third way could be banning advertisements on gambling websites.
The most feasible option, according to Cabot, is regulatory oversight from the authorities. The expert suggested fighting illegal websites and ensuring legal websites are competitive. “The reason people gamble on illegal websites is because they don’t need to pay tax. The cost is cheaper and they may receive rebates as well.” He believes it is time for the government to change its mindset by “permitting financial transactions at lower costs than the illegal sites.”
The speaker made his comments at a recent gaming summit in Macau.
MACAU DAILY TIMES - Expert says online gaming needs more rules
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2006/12/07
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Monday
Code-Breakers (Prime, 7.30pm) Men of a certain age are suckers for this stuff to go along with the non-fiction on the bed-side table. This doco looks at Bill Tutte, an unsung hero among code breakers who managed to crack his way into Hitler's personal hotline. Kind of like a News of The World journo without the evil intent.
Wedding Crashers (TV2, 8.30pm) You want some good dumb fun? You got it. The 2005 comedy with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn is just that, they've never been better actually, although Will Ferrell almost steals the show with an inspired cameo. If you haven't seen it you are in for a treat.
Tuesday
The Incredible Mr Goodwin. (TV1 7.30pm) Thank the Christ that Dynamo has disappeared - his best trick yet. Goodwin, an escapologist and stunt man, may use the same shtick - tricks enhanced by people's genuine reactions - but he has yet to milk his act so much it turns into butter.
Christchurchers may recall their own version, The Great Randini, who escaped from a straitjacket hung from a crane in Hagley Park back in the 1980s.
Killing Kennedy (National Geographic, 7.30pm) Rob Lowe, hot from stealing the show in Behind the Candelabra, plays JFK, in this "International TV event". Based on the book by red-neck motor mouth Bill O'Reilly, who also wrote Nat Geo's rather good Killing Lincoln. I bet Bill can't wait for someone to knock off Obama.
Wild Planet: North America. (TV1, 8.30pm) Always hard to beat Attenborough at this game but this series has been a goody. It also helps that it was helmed by the former head of BBC's Natural History Unit. The voice-over from Mr Movember himself (Tom Selleck) brings to mind those old live action Disney films that featured animals on the run from bad people. This end-of-series episode shows how the camera people did what they did, which unlike those Disney movies, doesn't involve killing the poor beasts. Here's one of my faves - a fox that dives into the snow.
Wednesday
Embarrassing Bodies (TV2, 8.30pm) The listing says: "Tonight Dr Pixie chats to a woman who is concerned about her double nipples." But you know the drill, within a few minutes you'll be hiding behind the sofa as she looks up the arse of a saggy bottomed old man with boils. As interactive TV goes this has to be the best, it always has me screaming with delighted disgust.
Paul Casserly: Things to watch in the week ahead - Entertainment - NZ Herald News
Code-Breakers (Prime, 7.30pm) Men of a certain age are suckers for this stuff to go along with the non-fiction on the bed-side table. This doco looks at Bill Tutte, an unsung hero among code breakers who managed to crack his way into Hitler's personal hotline. Kind of like a News of The World journo without the evil intent.
Wedding Crashers (TV2, 8.30pm) You want some good dumb fun? You got it. The 2005 comedy with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn is just that, they've never been better actually, although Will Ferrell almost steals the show with an inspired cameo. If you haven't seen it you are in for a treat.
Tuesday
The Incredible Mr Goodwin. (TV1 7.30pm) Thank the Christ that Dynamo has disappeared - his best trick yet. Goodwin, an escapologist and stunt man, may use the same shtick - tricks enhanced by people's genuine reactions - but he has yet to milk his act so much it turns into butter.
Christchurchers may recall their own version, The Great Randini, who escaped from a straitjacket hung from a crane in Hagley Park back in the 1980s.
Killing Kennedy (National Geographic, 7.30pm) Rob Lowe, hot from stealing the show in Behind the Candelabra, plays JFK, in this "International TV event". Based on the book by red-neck motor mouth Bill O'Reilly, who also wrote Nat Geo's rather good Killing Lincoln. I bet Bill can't wait for someone to knock off Obama.
Wild Planet: North America. (TV1, 8.30pm) Always hard to beat Attenborough at this game but this series has been a goody. It also helps that it was helmed by the former head of BBC's Natural History Unit. The voice-over from Mr Movember himself (Tom Selleck) brings to mind those old live action Disney films that featured animals on the run from bad people. This end-of-series episode shows how the camera people did what they did, which unlike those Disney movies, doesn't involve killing the poor beasts. Here's one of my faves - a fox that dives into the snow.
Wednesday
Embarrassing Bodies (TV2, 8.30pm) The listing says: "Tonight Dr Pixie chats to a woman who is concerned about her double nipples." But you know the drill, within a few minutes you'll be hiding behind the sofa as she looks up the arse of a saggy bottomed old man with boils. As interactive TV goes this has to be the best, it always has me screaming with delighted disgust.
Paul Casserly: Things to watch in the week ahead - Entertainment - NZ Herald News
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2006/12/07
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29893
If Congress makes no progress on a national framework for online gambling this session, it won’t be for a lack of legislation.
Two lawmakers introduced bills over the summer that would legalize some form of Internet gambling nationwide. Last week, Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington, introduced a bill that would tax federally-sanctioned online wagering. The bill, dubbed the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2013, could compel online operators to hand over up to 12 cents of every dollar players deposited. The federal government would take four cents. The state or tribe in which the gambler is playing could also opt to collect 8 cents on the dollar. McDermott introduced similar bills in 2010 and 2011, without success.
This time, the measure is meant as companion legislation to a bill introduced in June by Republican New York Congressman Peter King. King’s proposal, called the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2013, would open the door to all forms of casino games.
In July, Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican, introduced a more limited bill that would pave the way for states to legalize online poker without fear of federal intervention. Barton’s legislation, dubbed the Internet Poker Freedom Act, would only apply to poker and would allow states to opt out of the federal system.
Capitol Hill could see another legislative push for online gambling before the session is out. Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who has said the issue is one of the most important that his home state faces, is working on new legislation with his Nevada colleague, Republican Sen. Dean Heller.
Gamblers wanting to make wagers from the privacy of their homes have had few options in recent years. The federal government cracked down definitively on Internet gambling in 2011. But the same year, the U.S. Justice Department issued a ruling making online gambling legal so long as it’s permitted on the state level.
Congress flirted with an online gambling bill in 2012, but industry infighting and partisan disagreement ultimately doomed it. When that legislation failed, states began moving ahead on their own.
Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have now legalized some kind of online gambling, and legislatures in other states are weighing the issue.
Morgan Stanley predicts that by 2020, online gambling in the U.S. will produce the same amount of revenue as Las Vegas and Atlantic City markets combined: $9.3 billion.
Industry players hailed the McDermott bill as a sign that Congress may finally move forward with comprehensive Internet gambling regulation.
Michael Waxman, spokesman for Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, said that together, the year’s gambling bills could create a fairer regulatory climate.
“With all of the fighting in D.C. over funding issues, you’d hope this opportunity to generate billions in economic activity and new government revenues will get serious consideration,” he said.
Latest federal Internet gambling bill proposes a tax; other bills would legalize web wagering - The Washington Post
Two lawmakers introduced bills over the summer that would legalize some form of Internet gambling nationwide. Last week, Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington, introduced a bill that would tax federally-sanctioned online wagering. The bill, dubbed the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2013, could compel online operators to hand over up to 12 cents of every dollar players deposited. The federal government would take four cents. The state or tribe in which the gambler is playing could also opt to collect 8 cents on the dollar. McDermott introduced similar bills in 2010 and 2011, without success.
This time, the measure is meant as companion legislation to a bill introduced in June by Republican New York Congressman Peter King. King’s proposal, called the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2013, would open the door to all forms of casino games.
In July, Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican, introduced a more limited bill that would pave the way for states to legalize online poker without fear of federal intervention. Barton’s legislation, dubbed the Internet Poker Freedom Act, would only apply to poker and would allow states to opt out of the federal system.
Capitol Hill could see another legislative push for online gambling before the session is out. Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who has said the issue is one of the most important that his home state faces, is working on new legislation with his Nevada colleague, Republican Sen. Dean Heller.
Gamblers wanting to make wagers from the privacy of their homes have had few options in recent years. The federal government cracked down definitively on Internet gambling in 2011. But the same year, the U.S. Justice Department issued a ruling making online gambling legal so long as it’s permitted on the state level.
Congress flirted with an online gambling bill in 2012, but industry infighting and partisan disagreement ultimately doomed it. When that legislation failed, states began moving ahead on their own.
Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have now legalized some kind of online gambling, and legislatures in other states are weighing the issue.
Morgan Stanley predicts that by 2020, online gambling in the U.S. will produce the same amount of revenue as Las Vegas and Atlantic City markets combined: $9.3 billion.
Industry players hailed the McDermott bill as a sign that Congress may finally move forward with comprehensive Internet gambling regulation.
Michael Waxman, spokesman for Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, said that together, the year’s gambling bills could create a fairer regulatory climate.
“With all of the fighting in D.C. over funding issues, you’d hope this opportunity to generate billions in economic activity and new government revenues will get serious consideration,” he said.
Latest federal Internet gambling bill proposes a tax; other bills would legalize web wagering - The Washington Post
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2006/12/07
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Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate who amassed much of his $33.8 fortune from the practice of gambling, has launched a battle against internet betting. He claims that online betting is a danger to society since the internet makes gambling accessible to children and low-income adults.
1
But it turns out that online gambling isn’t a great way to profit from a bet.
+
In a new study, researchers from Milan’s Università Bocconi looked at more than one million online bets made on Italian league soccer games. They found that gamblers who placed their bets early had a greater likelihood of winning. Internet gambling, however, tends to be a last-minute activity.
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The study found that as an event approached, the gamblers ran a greater risk of “information overload,” from stats on the web like player injuries, team rankings or recent scores. Last-minute betters weren’t able to analyze all the information properly and were more likely to make mistakes.
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Online gambling comes with other hazards, too. A 2009 report from the Journal of Consumer Research found that the risk of addiction is much higher in online gambling, and players are less likely to notice when funds are running low, as they’re withdrawing from an online account rather than placing cash on a table. Online betting also tends to be a solitary activity, so internet gamblers don’t have friends to intervene like they might in a casino.
+
The internet is everywhere but casinos are not, and that also elevates the risk for online gamblers.
+
Why betting online worsens your odds – Quartz
1
But it turns out that online gambling isn’t a great way to profit from a bet.
+
In a new study, researchers from Milan’s Università Bocconi looked at more than one million online bets made on Italian league soccer games. They found that gamblers who placed their bets early had a greater likelihood of winning. Internet gambling, however, tends to be a last-minute activity.
+
The study found that as an event approached, the gamblers ran a greater risk of “information overload,” from stats on the web like player injuries, team rankings or recent scores. Last-minute betters weren’t able to analyze all the information properly and were more likely to make mistakes.
+
Online gambling comes with other hazards, too. A 2009 report from the Journal of Consumer Research found that the risk of addiction is much higher in online gambling, and players are less likely to notice when funds are running low, as they’re withdrawing from an online account rather than placing cash on a table. Online betting also tends to be a solitary activity, so internet gamblers don’t have friends to intervene like they might in a casino.
+
The internet is everywhere but casinos are not, and that also elevates the risk for online gamblers.
+
Why betting online worsens your odds – Quartz
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2006/12/07
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Imagine if McDonald’s, rather than attempting to add chicken wings to their menu, instead tried to deal with their fast food competitors by trying to outlaw KFC. Who knows – maybe they’d try if they thought they could get away with it. They can’t, but casino magnate Sheldon Adelson believes he can use his fortune to keep Internet gambling from becoming legal. The Washington Post notes today the blatant, open corporate cronyism of a man trying to cast a sinister light on Internet gambling in order to protect himself from competition:
Billionaire casino magnate Shel******don Adelson, whose record-breaking campaign spending in 2012 made him an icon of the new super-donor era, is leveraging that newfound status in an escalating feud with industry rivals over the future of gambling.
Adelson, best known for building upscale casino resorts in Nevada and more recently in Asia, wants to persuade Congress to ban Internet betting. He says the practice is a danger to society and could tarnish the industry’s traditional business model.
Nearly all of his competitors, including Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts, disagree. They say regulated Internet gambling can be done safely and can boost the industry.
Really, imagine people online giving you money and you not needing to pay overhead for housekeepers and buffets and drink specials and the whole Las Vegas/Atlantic City “experience.”
But that’s not where Adelson is at. He’s going to launch an advocacy group, the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, and create an advertising campaign to paint Internet gambling as evil, using the same fears of online child predators that your local news station does, to try to lure in nannyish supporters. For the children, folks! We mustn't allow Internet casinos to take money out of Adelson's pocket for the sake of the children!
Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey have legalized online gambling to a certain degree, so Adelson may be trying to fight the tide. Those rival casinos who support Internet gambling point out that Adelson’s efforts would backfire, even if he succeeds, by entrenching an Internet gambling black market:
“Sheldon’s approach would endanger everything he professes he wanted to protect,” said Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president for government relations at Caesars Entertainment. Adelson argues that a strictly enforced federal ban would effectively shut down black-market gambling.
Sadly, The Washington Post neglects to press Adelson to give an example of a “strictly enforced federal ban” that had successfully shut down any black market, ever, in American history.
Casino Magnate Openly Wants to Use Feds to Destroy Internet Competition - Hit & Run : Reason-com
Billionaire casino magnate Shel******don Adelson, whose record-breaking campaign spending in 2012 made him an icon of the new super-donor era, is leveraging that newfound status in an escalating feud with industry rivals over the future of gambling.
Adelson, best known for building upscale casino resorts in Nevada and more recently in Asia, wants to persuade Congress to ban Internet betting. He says the practice is a danger to society and could tarnish the industry’s traditional business model.
Nearly all of his competitors, including Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts, disagree. They say regulated Internet gambling can be done safely and can boost the industry.
Really, imagine people online giving you money and you not needing to pay overhead for housekeepers and buffets and drink specials and the whole Las Vegas/Atlantic City “experience.”
But that’s not where Adelson is at. He’s going to launch an advocacy group, the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, and create an advertising campaign to paint Internet gambling as evil, using the same fears of online child predators that your local news station does, to try to lure in nannyish supporters. For the children, folks! We mustn't allow Internet casinos to take money out of Adelson's pocket for the sake of the children!
Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey have legalized online gambling to a certain degree, so Adelson may be trying to fight the tide. Those rival casinos who support Internet gambling point out that Adelson’s efforts would backfire, even if he succeeds, by entrenching an Internet gambling black market:
“Sheldon’s approach would endanger everything he professes he wanted to protect,” said Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president for government relations at Caesars Entertainment. Adelson argues that a strictly enforced federal ban would effectively shut down black-market gambling.
Sadly, The Washington Post neglects to press Adelson to give an example of a “strictly enforced federal ban” that had successfully shut down any black market, ever, in American history.
Casino Magnate Openly Wants to Use Feds to Destroy Internet Competition - Hit & Run : Reason-com
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Will online betting take off soon in the United States?
Some think it is bound to happen, sooner rather than later. Already, three states have moved to legalize such gaming, and more will likely follow. For the nation's banks and card issuers, this presents a bit of a dilemma. Many have long-standing bans on allowing credit cards to be used for online gaming. For now, they are sticking with that policy.
Bloomberg reports that the top card issuers, including the likes of Bank of America, American Express and Wells Fargo, have so far been denying such transactions, even though online gambling is legal in Nevada and Delaware and will be legal in New Jersey starting November 26.
The big card networks, notably Visa and MasterCard, allow such transactions, but they leave the final say up to issuers.
So how long will it be before the big banks change their policies?
All are in sore need of fee revenue, and more states will likely embrace online gambling over the next few years. Bank of America is already reviewing its policy, and it would be surprising if it didn't move to allow such transactions if they are legal locally.
A big issue for now is liability under federal law. "Banks programmed their card-payment systems to reject gambling transactions after Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006…" So in addition to potential legal issues, there may be some IT work to be done.
Banks are also worried that "they may be held liable for illegal bets placed with their credit cards, such as by underage gamblers or customers who may not be physically present in the states where online betting is legal."
All that said, the lure of additional revenue will prove powerful. Once these questions are answered, they will likely change their policies.
Read more: Banks will eventually embrace online gambling - FierceFinance Banks will eventually embrace online gambling - FierceFinance
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Some think it is bound to happen, sooner rather than later. Already, three states have moved to legalize such gaming, and more will likely follow. For the nation's banks and card issuers, this presents a bit of a dilemma. Many have long-standing bans on allowing credit cards to be used for online gaming. For now, they are sticking with that policy.
Bloomberg reports that the top card issuers, including the likes of Bank of America, American Express and Wells Fargo, have so far been denying such transactions, even though online gambling is legal in Nevada and Delaware and will be legal in New Jersey starting November 26.
The big card networks, notably Visa and MasterCard, allow such transactions, but they leave the final say up to issuers.
So how long will it be before the big banks change their policies?
All are in sore need of fee revenue, and more states will likely embrace online gambling over the next few years. Bank of America is already reviewing its policy, and it would be surprising if it didn't move to allow such transactions if they are legal locally.
A big issue for now is liability under federal law. "Banks programmed their card-payment systems to reject gambling transactions after Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006…" So in addition to potential legal issues, there may be some IT work to be done.
Banks are also worried that "they may be held liable for illegal bets placed with their credit cards, such as by underage gamblers or customers who may not be physically present in the states where online betting is legal."
All that said, the lure of additional revenue will prove powerful. Once these questions are answered, they will likely change their policies.
Read more: Banks will eventually embrace online gambling - FierceFinance Banks will eventually embrace online gambling - FierceFinance
Subscribe at FierceFinance
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The movie, TV and music operation plans to tell investors on Thursday that it has hired Bain & Co to find ways to cut $100M, a sum that “would almost assuredly result in layoffs,” The New York Times reports citing unnamed sources. “As part of a nearly four year process of increasing fiscal discipline, Sony Pictures is conducting a review of its business to identify further efficiencies,” says Sony Entertainment‘s Charles Sipkins. “Our objective is, and always has been, to operate an efficient studio that is uniquely positioned to capitalize on future growth opportunities.” Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton will lead the Culver City meeting this week, a follow-up to a promise that CEO Kazuo Hirai made in August to Third Point CEO Daniel Loeb: After rejecting the hedge fund owner’s proposal to create a new stock for entertainment and sell a minority stake to the public, Hirai said that he would ”increase disclosure regarding Sony’s entertainment businesses. We agree this can help market participants analyze their performance and monitor their success.” Loeb stung the company over the summer, charging that Sony “has plenty of reasons to worry about Entertainment,” which he said generated lower profit margins than its competitors. George Clooney came to Sony’s defense in a conversation with my colleague Mike Fleming Jr, calling Loeb a “carpetbagger.” Hirai said that the board “unanimously concluded that continuing to own 100% of our entertainment business is the best path forward and is integral to Sony’s strategy.” Loeb is an investor in Variety with Deadline’s parent company, PMC.
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The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) is setting strict guidelines to ensure online gambling stays within state lines. So strict, in fact, that residents located near the state's borders may be blocked from the action when the market launches next week.
Because New Jersey law requires verification that an Internet gaming customer is physically located in the state before they can play, technology companies working with casinos have installed "digital fences" on the state's borders to block outsiders from accessing New Jersey's online gambling services. This will result in several "no play zones" inside the Garden State, and the DGE has warned some New Jersey residents that they may need to move away from the border in order to participate in online gambling.
"Unfortunately for some people, there may not be sufficient verification that they are in New Jersey — even if they are — and they’ll be denied,” David Rebuck, director of the DGE, told the Associated Press. "It’s an unavoidable consequence."
New Jersey's real-money online gambling trial run will begin on Nov. 21, and a full launch is scheduled to roll out on Nov. 26. During the five-day trial period, operators will be watched closely as they test identity verification systems, geolocation systems, and transaction processing systems. Operators are in the process of selecting pre-registered players to participate in their real-money gaming trial period beginning Thursday.
We'll have much more on the iGaming launch in New Jersey this month. Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!
Some New Jersey Residents May Be Blocked from Online Gambling | PokerNews
Because New Jersey law requires verification that an Internet gaming customer is physically located in the state before they can play, technology companies working with casinos have installed "digital fences" on the state's borders to block outsiders from accessing New Jersey's online gambling services. This will result in several "no play zones" inside the Garden State, and the DGE has warned some New Jersey residents that they may need to move away from the border in order to participate in online gambling.
"Unfortunately for some people, there may not be sufficient verification that they are in New Jersey — even if they are — and they’ll be denied,” David Rebuck, director of the DGE, told the Associated Press. "It’s an unavoidable consequence."
New Jersey's real-money online gambling trial run will begin on Nov. 21, and a full launch is scheduled to roll out on Nov. 26. During the five-day trial period, operators will be watched closely as they test identity verification systems, geolocation systems, and transaction processing systems. Operators are in the process of selecting pre-registered players to participate in their real-money gaming trial period beginning Thursday.
We'll have much more on the iGaming launch in New Jersey this month. Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!
Some New Jersey Residents May Be Blocked from Online Gambling | PokerNews
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“Delaware is the only one that has gone live that would be a candidate,” Sandoval said as the New Jersey market won’t open until Nov. 26. The talks centered on Nevada offering their online poker games — such as WSOP-com and Ultimate Poker — in Delaware. However, state officials would like "time to see what their experience is going to be."
On Nov. 8, Delaware became the first U.S. state to launch a full-scale online gambling operation as three Delaware casinos — Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway — launched a wide range of real-money games including poker, blackjack, roulette, and slots. All of those games are being offered on an 888 Holdings platform under the jurisdiction of the Delaware state lottery.
In order to play, customers must be physically located in Delaware and provide a social security number. Players must also give consent to the use of location-based services to detect their geographic location. Similar requirements are in place in for players looking to play online poker in Nevada.
The talks between the two states were "positive," but a compact isn’t expected anytime soon. Nonetheless, it is the first step in exploring and establishing gaming compacts between states.
In Sept., PokerNews spoke with the WSOP's Ty Stewart and Seth Palansky about shared liquidity involving states with online poker. Many are on board that smaller states like Nevada and Delaware would highly benefit from shared player pools, and Stewart and Palansky both provided some very sound insight into the topic.
Nevada Talks to Delaware About Possibility of Online Gaming Compact | PokerNews