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2006/12/07
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Although it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that legalized online gambling in PA will generate significant revenue by way of virtual casino games and paid poker rake in 2016, the particulars of HB 649 permit license applicants to begin filing applications within 90 days of the bill’s passage.
Licensees under HB 649 will pay an $8 million licensing fee (this is a change from the initial bill, which called for a $5 million fee), while significant vendors pay $2 million (also up from the original bill, from $1 million).
On balance, we assume that between eight and eleven of the state’s 12 casinos will apply for licenses, resulting in $64-$88 million in revenue, and possibly more than $100 million depending on how much of the $2 million significant vendor fee goes to the state.
Already, some casinos have forged iGaming partnerships, while for others (Harrah’s Philadelphia, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs) it seems an inevitability.
The only casino that will definitely not participate in online gambling is the Sheldon Adelson owned Sands Bethlehem. Smaller casinos, such as Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin and Presque Isle Downs and Casino, may also choose to sit out, although representatives of both casinos have expressed keen interest in online gambling. :thumbsup
Read more: Measuring The Economic Impact Of Online Gambling In PA
Licensees under HB 649 will pay an $8 million licensing fee (this is a change from the initial bill, which called for a $5 million fee), while significant vendors pay $2 million (also up from the original bill, from $1 million).
On balance, we assume that between eight and eleven of the state’s 12 casinos will apply for licenses, resulting in $64-$88 million in revenue, and possibly more than $100 million depending on how much of the $2 million significant vendor fee goes to the state.
Already, some casinos have forged iGaming partnerships, while for others (Harrah’s Philadelphia, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs) it seems an inevitability.
The only casino that will definitely not participate in online gambling is the Sheldon Adelson owned Sands Bethlehem. Smaller casinos, such as Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin and Presque Isle Downs and Casino, may also choose to sit out, although representatives of both casinos have expressed keen interest in online gambling. :thumbsup
Read more: Measuring The Economic Impact Of Online Gambling In PA
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2006/12/07
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Rob Manfred, the new commissioner of Major League Baseball, has been making noises about rescinding Pete Rose’s lifetime ban and perhaps clearing the way for Rose to enter the Hall of Fame.
With all the time that has passed, a lot of fans say: Why not? Yes, he was caught gambling on baseball during both his playing and managing career. And yes, he bet on his own team, the Cincinnati Reds. But he was a 17-time all-star, a 3-time world champion and won three most valuable player awards. He holds all-time records for hits, games played, singles and outs. Besides, they say, others have done far worse.
So why does baseball keep Rose out? Because it knows, as does every other entity involved in sports or gambling, that if the game is not perceived as clean, the game will go broke.
Congress should keep this in mind as it weighs whether to let states continue to conduct online wagering.
It was widely assumed states were prohibited from allowing online gambling by the Wire Act, a 1961 law designed to stop bookmakers and loan sharks. But in 2011, citing details of the original Senate debate of the legislation, the Obama Justice Department said the law forbade only online sports betting.
Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada now allow online wagering, and several states allow online customers to play their lotteries. Despite the fact none of this has brought the Republic to its knees, there is a move afoot in Congress to make online gambling illegal “again.”
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, has introduced the Restoring America’s Wire Act, which he says would clarify existing law. What it would do is create an entirely new prohibition against online gambling when there is little evidence such a ban is needed and even less that the federal government needs to be meddling into what always has been considered state law.
His arguments will be on display soon as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which he chairs, will hold a hearing on the legislation. They are highlighted in two letters sent to members of Congress – one in 2009 and another in 2013. Neither reflects current realities in technology or conditions on the ground.
The argument is that online gambling could be gamed by teams of players working together to ensure they win and that players could thwart geolocation systems and play across state lines or before reaching adult age.
More significantly, there are concerns the games could be used to transfer illegally obtained money – Player A could make a payment to Player B by losing a hand on purpose, for instance.
Most chillingly, supporters claim online gambling could be used by terrorists to finance attacks in the United States.
But even in the most out-of-date letter – the 2009 missive to Rep. Spencer Baucus, R-Ala., the FBI admits the technology exists to thwart money laundering, collusion among players and even assuring players are of legal age. It just questions whether the gambling operations will go to the trouble.
Go to the trouble? Their businesses depend on it. The Poker Players Alliance points to a gambling website that came to be corrupted by players. A group of other regular players noticed and proved the fraud, and the website never recovered. It’s hard to go broke running a gambling operation, but this one did.
Moreover, laws in all three states require regular testing for fraud, money laundering and age and location verification. In the UK, online gambling concerns must maintain the same anti-fraud protection as banks, so security is available and scalable.
The criminal element generally does not prefer environments where everything is, by law, so carefully documented. Indeed, the Justice Department says it has never worked a case that linked Internet poker to money laundering or organized crime.
The excuses seem like weak tea because they are. This is a state-level decision if ever there was one. And it would be decided at the state level if casino magnate Sheldon Adelson hadn’t vowed to “spend whatever it takes” to wipe out the competition from online gambling.
Baseball has taken a lot of criticism for continuing to keep Pete Rose out. And gambling operations have made significant investments in making sure players perceive their operations as fair and honest. And they’ll continue to do so because they know their livelihoods depend on it. Congress should get out of the way and let them do so.
Online Gaming Falsely Blamed For Money Laundering | Human Events
With all the time that has passed, a lot of fans say: Why not? Yes, he was caught gambling on baseball during both his playing and managing career. And yes, he bet on his own team, the Cincinnati Reds. But he was a 17-time all-star, a 3-time world champion and won three most valuable player awards. He holds all-time records for hits, games played, singles and outs. Besides, they say, others have done far worse.
So why does baseball keep Rose out? Because it knows, as does every other entity involved in sports or gambling, that if the game is not perceived as clean, the game will go broke.
Congress should keep this in mind as it weighs whether to let states continue to conduct online wagering.
It was widely assumed states were prohibited from allowing online gambling by the Wire Act, a 1961 law designed to stop bookmakers and loan sharks. But in 2011, citing details of the original Senate debate of the legislation, the Obama Justice Department said the law forbade only online sports betting.
Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada now allow online wagering, and several states allow online customers to play their lotteries. Despite the fact none of this has brought the Republic to its knees, there is a move afoot in Congress to make online gambling illegal “again.”
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, has introduced the Restoring America’s Wire Act, which he says would clarify existing law. What it would do is create an entirely new prohibition against online gambling when there is little evidence such a ban is needed and even less that the federal government needs to be meddling into what always has been considered state law.
His arguments will be on display soon as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which he chairs, will hold a hearing on the legislation. They are highlighted in two letters sent to members of Congress – one in 2009 and another in 2013. Neither reflects current realities in technology or conditions on the ground.
The argument is that online gambling could be gamed by teams of players working together to ensure they win and that players could thwart geolocation systems and play across state lines or before reaching adult age.
More significantly, there are concerns the games could be used to transfer illegally obtained money – Player A could make a payment to Player B by losing a hand on purpose, for instance.
Most chillingly, supporters claim online gambling could be used by terrorists to finance attacks in the United States.
But even in the most out-of-date letter – the 2009 missive to Rep. Spencer Baucus, R-Ala., the FBI admits the technology exists to thwart money laundering, collusion among players and even assuring players are of legal age. It just questions whether the gambling operations will go to the trouble.
Go to the trouble? Their businesses depend on it. The Poker Players Alliance points to a gambling website that came to be corrupted by players. A group of other regular players noticed and proved the fraud, and the website never recovered. It’s hard to go broke running a gambling operation, but this one did.
Moreover, laws in all three states require regular testing for fraud, money laundering and age and location verification. In the UK, online gambling concerns must maintain the same anti-fraud protection as banks, so security is available and scalable.
The criminal element generally does not prefer environments where everything is, by law, so carefully documented. Indeed, the Justice Department says it has never worked a case that linked Internet poker to money laundering or organized crime.
The excuses seem like weak tea because they are. This is a state-level decision if ever there was one. And it would be decided at the state level if casino magnate Sheldon Adelson hadn’t vowed to “spend whatever it takes” to wipe out the competition from online gambling.
Baseball has taken a lot of criticism for continuing to keep Pete Rose out. And gambling operations have made significant investments in making sure players perceive their operations as fair and honest. And they’ll continue to do so because they know their livelihoods depend on it. Congress should get out of the way and let them do so.
Online Gaming Falsely Blamed For Money Laundering | Human Events
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2006/12/07
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29893
A new survey suggests the Netherlands online gambling market could be significantly larger than previous estimates.
The survey, which was conducted by Motivaction on behalf of state-owned brick-and-mortar casino operator Holland Casino, suggests that as many as 1.5m Dutch adults gamble online, spending an average of €26 per month for a total annual spend of around €500m. Previous studies had suggested the market was worth closer to €300m per year.
Motivaction said its survey numbers indicate that around 700k Dutch adults indulge in games like bingo, poker, roulette, blackjack or sports betting via online sites three times or less per year, while another 800k partake four times or more.
Holland Casino suggested Motivaction’s numbers might actually undervalue the Dutch online market. The operator pointed to Denmark, which has a population one-third the size of the Netherlands, yet Danish online gambling revenue totaled €338m in just the first nine months of 2015. Extrapolating those numbers, Holland Casino suggests the Netherlands’ online market could be worth over €1b per year.
The numbers are all the more impressive given that online gambling is currently illegal in the Netherlands. There’s no shortage of sites that continue to offer online services to Dutch punters in defiance of local authorities but the country’s new licensed online gambling regime isn’t expected to come into being until 2017.
Dutch gaming regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) isn’t wasting this calm before the storm, announcing this week that it was one of 20 European Economic Area gaming regulators to sign an agreement promising greater cooperation in exchanging information regarding cross-border aspects of gambling. The parties have agreed to help each other guard against harms like fraud, match-fixing and money laundering, while also pledging to “reduce unnecessary administrative burdens.”
Dutch Online Gambling Market Larger Than Expected | Online Gambling News : CalvinAyre-com
The survey, which was conducted by Motivaction on behalf of state-owned brick-and-mortar casino operator Holland Casino, suggests that as many as 1.5m Dutch adults gamble online, spending an average of €26 per month for a total annual spend of around €500m. Previous studies had suggested the market was worth closer to €300m per year.
Motivaction said its survey numbers indicate that around 700k Dutch adults indulge in games like bingo, poker, roulette, blackjack or sports betting via online sites three times or less per year, while another 800k partake four times or more.
Holland Casino suggested Motivaction’s numbers might actually undervalue the Dutch online market. The operator pointed to Denmark, which has a population one-third the size of the Netherlands, yet Danish online gambling revenue totaled €338m in just the first nine months of 2015. Extrapolating those numbers, Holland Casino suggests the Netherlands’ online market could be worth over €1b per year.
The numbers are all the more impressive given that online gambling is currently illegal in the Netherlands. There’s no shortage of sites that continue to offer online services to Dutch punters in defiance of local authorities but the country’s new licensed online gambling regime isn’t expected to come into being until 2017.
Dutch gaming regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) isn’t wasting this calm before the storm, announcing this week that it was one of 20 European Economic Area gaming regulators to sign an agreement promising greater cooperation in exchanging information regarding cross-border aspects of gambling. The parties have agreed to help each other guard against harms like fraud, match-fixing and money laundering, while also pledging to “reduce unnecessary administrative burdens.”
Dutch Online Gambling Market Larger Than Expected | Online Gambling News : CalvinAyre-com
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2006/12/07
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29893
N.J. — Internet gambling is slowly growing — but not expanding — after 2 1/2 years of online betting in the United States.
Online gambling revenue is increasing in at least two of the three states that currently offer it — New Jersey and Delaware. The third, Nevada, doesn't report Internet revenue separately.
But a hoped-for wave of expansion has not happened as many states sit on the sidelines and assess the costs and benefits of the nascent industry.
"Internet gambling revenue in Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey badly missed initial forecasts, which themselves were overly aggressive," said Chris Krafcik, research director for Gambling Compliance, which tracks gambling legislation nationwide.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration, for example, had initially estimated Internet gambling would bring in $1 billion in its first year. It did about 12 percent of that.
"The negative P.R. that resulted, fair or not, really took the wind out of the expansionary sails," Krafcik said.
San Francisco-based Gambling Compliance predicts either California or Pennsylvania will approve Internet gambling next year, followed by New York and Mississippi in subsequent years. In 2016, the group projects, nine states will consider legalizing it, though not necessarily act to approve it.
The industry still faces some nagging issues, as well as looming threats — including an effort in Congress to ban Internet gambling nationwide. The Restoration of America's Wire Act has been introduced in both chambers this year, backed by billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, and could come up for a hearing next month. Read more: Growth but no expansion in online gambling - Lockport Union-Sun & Journal: News
Online gambling revenue is increasing in at least two of the three states that currently offer it — New Jersey and Delaware. The third, Nevada, doesn't report Internet revenue separately.
But a hoped-for wave of expansion has not happened as many states sit on the sidelines and assess the costs and benefits of the nascent industry.
"Internet gambling revenue in Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey badly missed initial forecasts, which themselves were overly aggressive," said Chris Krafcik, research director for Gambling Compliance, which tracks gambling legislation nationwide.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration, for example, had initially estimated Internet gambling would bring in $1 billion in its first year. It did about 12 percent of that.
"The negative P.R. that resulted, fair or not, really took the wind out of the expansionary sails," Krafcik said.
San Francisco-based Gambling Compliance predicts either California or Pennsylvania will approve Internet gambling next year, followed by New York and Mississippi in subsequent years. In 2016, the group projects, nine states will consider legalizing it, though not necessarily act to approve it.
The industry still faces some nagging issues, as well as looming threats — including an effort in Congress to ban Internet gambling nationwide. The Restoration of America's Wire Act has been introduced in both chambers this year, backed by billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, and could come up for a hearing next month. Read more: Growth but no expansion in online gambling - Lockport Union-Sun & Journal: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Manne wrote:
N.J. — Internet gambling is slowly growing — but not expanding — after 2 1/2 years of online betting in the United States.
Online gambling revenue is increasing in at least two of the three states that currently offer it — New Jersey and Delaware. The third, Nevada, doesn't report Internet revenue separately.
But a hoped-for wave of expansion has not happened as many states sit on the sidelines and assess the costs and benefits of the nascent industry.
"Internet gambling revenue in Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey badly missed initial forecasts, which themselves were overly aggressive," said Chris Krafcik, research director for Gambling Compliance, which tracks gambling legislation nationwide.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration, for example, had initially estimated Internet gambling would bring in $1 billion in its first year. It did about 12 percent of that.
"The negative P.R. that resulted, fair or not, really took the wind out of the expansionary sails," Krafcik said.
San Francisco-based Gambling Compliance predicts either California or Pennsylvania will approve Internet gambling next year, followed by New York and Mississippi in subsequent years. In 2016, the group projects, nine states will consider legalizing it, though not necessarily act to approve it.
The industry still faces some nagging issues, as well as looming threats — including an effort in Congress to ban Internet gambling nationwide. The Restoration of America's Wire Act has been introduced in both chambers this year, backed by billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, and could come up for a hearing next month. Read more: Growth but no expansion in online gambling - Lockport Union-Sun & Journal: News
Let freedom win!
Join:
2007/02/24
Messages:
1205
If there is a first rule of the Internet in Canada, it is “thou shall not block.”
Canadian Internet service providers face a wide range of policies that have implications for accessing content, including net neutrality rules and the copyright notice-and-notice system. Yet in virtually all cases, blocking or removing content is simply not done. (The lone exception is a limited, private sector led initiative to block child pornography images.)
Unlike other countries which have dabbled in mandated takedowns or Internet filtering, Canada has largely defended an “open Internet.”
Canadian law does not mandate that Internet providers take down content due to unproven allegations of copyright infringement or allow them to alter or change content. In fact, the Telecommunications Act stipulates that “a Canadian carrier shall not control the content or influence the meaning or purpose of telecommunications carried by it for the public.”
Despite the clear legal mandate to avoid blocking, earlier this month the Quebec government introduced unprecedented legislation that would require Internet providers to engage in content blocking. The new bill targets unlicensed online gambling websites as part of the government’s efforts to increase revenues from its own online gambling service, which has thus far failed to meet expectations.
The provisions are contained in an omnibus bill implementing elements of the government’s spring budget, which included a promise to establish website blocking requirements.
The bill provides that “an Internet service provider may not give access to an online gambling site whose operation is not authorized under Quebec law.” The government’s lottery commission will establish the list of banned websites.
According to the law, Internet providers are required to block access to the banned sites within 30 days. Failure to comply with the law could lead to initial fines of up to $100,000 with higher penalties for repeat offenders.
The Quebec initiative seems certain to end up before the courts. First, the Canadian constitution grants exclusive jurisdiction over telecommunications to the federal government. The Quebec government has unsuccessfully challenged the jurisdictional issue in the past.
While it will likely argue that the website blocking is a matter of consumer protection, which falls to the provinces (the rules will be placed in the Quebec consumer protection law), its stated purpose has little to do with protecting consumers.
When the measure was first announced in the budget, the government noted that its own site was not meeting revenue targets and that it believed that website blocking would generate millions in additional revenue. In fact, the government’s own working group on online gambling recommended a licensing system for all sites over blocking as the best means of protecting consumers.
If the jurisdictional issues fail to convince the courts, a free speech challenge surely will. There is little doubt that the government-mandated blocking represents a limit on the fundamental freedoms found in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
While those rights are not absolute, Quebec will face a difficult time arguing that the blocking is a reasonable limitation given the availability of alternatives that do not limit speech and might be more effective in protecting the public.
The no-blocking approach has served Canadians well, ensuring universal access to the content of their choice. As Quebec seeks to undo the first law of the Canadian Internet, it opens the door to expanded content blocking initiatives, perhaps targeting websites that do not meet language requirements or are alleged to contain infringing content.
If the bill becomes law, a legal challenge that brings together Internet providers, civil liberties groups and consumer advocates is a must.
Quebec's online gambling law threatens Canada’s open Internet: Geist | Toronto Star
Canadian Internet service providers face a wide range of policies that have implications for accessing content, including net neutrality rules and the copyright notice-and-notice system. Yet in virtually all cases, blocking or removing content is simply not done. (The lone exception is a limited, private sector led initiative to block child pornography images.)
Unlike other countries which have dabbled in mandated takedowns or Internet filtering, Canada has largely defended an “open Internet.”
Canadian law does not mandate that Internet providers take down content due to unproven allegations of copyright infringement or allow them to alter or change content. In fact, the Telecommunications Act stipulates that “a Canadian carrier shall not control the content or influence the meaning or purpose of telecommunications carried by it for the public.”
Despite the clear legal mandate to avoid blocking, earlier this month the Quebec government introduced unprecedented legislation that would require Internet providers to engage in content blocking. The new bill targets unlicensed online gambling websites as part of the government’s efforts to increase revenues from its own online gambling service, which has thus far failed to meet expectations.
The provisions are contained in an omnibus bill implementing elements of the government’s spring budget, which included a promise to establish website blocking requirements.
The bill provides that “an Internet service provider may not give access to an online gambling site whose operation is not authorized under Quebec law.” The government’s lottery commission will establish the list of banned websites.
According to the law, Internet providers are required to block access to the banned sites within 30 days. Failure to comply with the law could lead to initial fines of up to $100,000 with higher penalties for repeat offenders.
The Quebec initiative seems certain to end up before the courts. First, the Canadian constitution grants exclusive jurisdiction over telecommunications to the federal government. The Quebec government has unsuccessfully challenged the jurisdictional issue in the past.
While it will likely argue that the website blocking is a matter of consumer protection, which falls to the provinces (the rules will be placed in the Quebec consumer protection law), its stated purpose has little to do with protecting consumers.
When the measure was first announced in the budget, the government noted that its own site was not meeting revenue targets and that it believed that website blocking would generate millions in additional revenue. In fact, the government’s own working group on online gambling recommended a licensing system for all sites over blocking as the best means of protecting consumers.
If the jurisdictional issues fail to convince the courts, a free speech challenge surely will. There is little doubt that the government-mandated blocking represents a limit on the fundamental freedoms found in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
While those rights are not absolute, Quebec will face a difficult time arguing that the blocking is a reasonable limitation given the availability of alternatives that do not limit speech and might be more effective in protecting the public.
The no-blocking approach has served Canadians well, ensuring universal access to the content of their choice. As Quebec seeks to undo the first law of the Canadian Internet, it opens the door to expanded content blocking initiatives, perhaps targeting websites that do not meet language requirements or are alleged to contain infringing content.
If the bill becomes law, a legal challenge that brings together Internet providers, civil liberties groups and consumer advocates is a must.
Quebec's online gambling law threatens Canada’s open Internet: Geist | Toronto Star
Join:
2006/12/07
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29893
Gaming regulators from 20 of the 28 member countries in the European Economic Zone (EEA) have united to sign a landmark agreement spearheaded by the European Commission (EC) for the purpose of working together on online gaming regulation and to combat unlicensed activity.
According to eGamingReview, the agreement was signed by some of the larger member states in the EEA including Great Britain, Italy, Spain, and France.
The main goals of the agreement are to develop a centralized organization for online gambling on the continent, establish stronger consumer protection procedures for the seven million European Union citizens gambling online, supervise the compliance of national gaming laws, prevent money laundering and fraud, cooperate on match-fixing in sports, assist the wide-variety of gaming authorities, and to share best practices.
In addition, the cooperation of member states in the EEA should, in the long-term, benefit gaming operators with reduced costs in complying with the differentiating gaming regulations in place.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), a body representing privately-owned European-licensed gaming operators, is enthusiastic about the new agreement.
"The signing of the cooperation agreements between the EU’s Gambling Authorities is a crucial step in building trust and confidence in this inherently cross-border sector," said EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer.
Furthermore, the EGBA hopes the new agreement will help combat the ever-growing unlicensed gaming sector in Europe.
"We encourage the authorities to address with priority unnecessary administrative costs that make the regulated offer less competitive than the unregulated offer," stated Haijer.
Individual gaming regulators are also hopeful the new agreement will lead to streamlined gaming regulation frameworks, which in turn would reduce costs for gaming operators.
MGA’s Executive Chairman Joseph Cuschieri elaborated on the authority's website that, "This agreement is a result of various discussions and debates between the various national gaming authorities and credit goes to the officials working in DG-GROW as well as to the representative officials of the various regulatory bodies who collectively worked towards this significant multilateral achievement."
Most European Gaming Regulators Unite to Tackle Online Gaming Challenges | PokerNews
According to eGamingReview, the agreement was signed by some of the larger member states in the EEA including Great Britain, Italy, Spain, and France.
The main goals of the agreement are to develop a centralized organization for online gambling on the continent, establish stronger consumer protection procedures for the seven million European Union citizens gambling online, supervise the compliance of national gaming laws, prevent money laundering and fraud, cooperate on match-fixing in sports, assist the wide-variety of gaming authorities, and to share best practices.
In addition, the cooperation of member states in the EEA should, in the long-term, benefit gaming operators with reduced costs in complying with the differentiating gaming regulations in place.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), a body representing privately-owned European-licensed gaming operators, is enthusiastic about the new agreement.
"The signing of the cooperation agreements between the EU’s Gambling Authorities is a crucial step in building trust and confidence in this inherently cross-border sector," said EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer.
Furthermore, the EGBA hopes the new agreement will help combat the ever-growing unlicensed gaming sector in Europe.
"We encourage the authorities to address with priority unnecessary administrative costs that make the regulated offer less competitive than the unregulated offer," stated Haijer.
Individual gaming regulators are also hopeful the new agreement will lead to streamlined gaming regulation frameworks, which in turn would reduce costs for gaming operators.
MGA’s Executive Chairman Joseph Cuschieri elaborated on the authority's website that, "This agreement is a result of various discussions and debates between the various national gaming authorities and credit goes to the officials working in DG-GROW as well as to the representative officials of the various regulatory bodies who collectively worked towards this significant multilateral achievement."
Most European Gaming Regulators Unite to Tackle Online Gaming Challenges | PokerNews
Join:
2006/12/07
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29893
On December 1, 2015, the Casino Association of South Africa (CASA) published the Survey of Casino Entertainment for the fiscal year 2014-2015. According to the figures, this year’s contribution to the South African economy recorded an increase of 4.5 percent from last year. In other words, the casino industry contributed R17.2 billion to the gross domestic product in SA.
The increase in numbers is believed to be a direct result of the anti-illegal gambling campaign launched by CASA. The educational campaign was designed to educate people about the consequences of illegal gambling on the web and warn operators that are illegally offering gambling products and services to SA people. According to the campaign, the consequences are a R10 million fine or 10 years in prison for both players and operators.
Politicians from the opposition have being trying to convince the government to legalize and regulate online gambling for a long time now, but the ruling party is entirely against it. The government even launched a multi-disciplinary task force to fight illegal gambling reportedly promoted by more than 2,000 websites.
Back to the figures from the CASA’s survey, the entire gambling industry in South Africa generated R24 billion in revenue for the fiscal year, up 9.6 percent year-on-year. From this number, the casino industry accounted for R17.2 billion. The casino business also contributed R5.7 billion in form of government taxes, a 3.6 percent year-on-year improvement.
The chief executive officer of CASA, Themba Ngobese, commented on the figures saying that they point to the important contribution land based SA casinos make towards the economy of the country.
Increase in South Africa casino revenue after campaign against illegal online gambling
The increase in numbers is believed to be a direct result of the anti-illegal gambling campaign launched by CASA. The educational campaign was designed to educate people about the consequences of illegal gambling on the web and warn operators that are illegally offering gambling products and services to SA people. According to the campaign, the consequences are a R10 million fine or 10 years in prison for both players and operators.
Politicians from the opposition have being trying to convince the government to legalize and regulate online gambling for a long time now, but the ruling party is entirely against it. The government even launched a multi-disciplinary task force to fight illegal gambling reportedly promoted by more than 2,000 websites.
Back to the figures from the CASA’s survey, the entire gambling industry in South Africa generated R24 billion in revenue for the fiscal year, up 9.6 percent year-on-year. From this number, the casino industry accounted for R17.2 billion. The casino business also contributed R5.7 billion in form of government taxes, a 3.6 percent year-on-year improvement.
The chief executive officer of CASA, Themba Ngobese, commented on the figures saying that they point to the important contribution land based SA casinos make towards the economy of the country.
Increase in South Africa casino revenue after campaign against illegal online gambling
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2006/12/07
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29893
A bill filed by a Republican leader in the Senate would allow casinos in Massachusetts, including Plainridge Park Casino, to expand into online gambling.
Only casinos licensed in the state would be allowed to take part in internet gambling per the bill filed by Senator Bruce Tarr, a Republican from Gloucester. The state Gaming Commission would determine the form of gambling that would be allowed. There are concerns that Massachusetts casino may be missing out and left at a competitive disadvantage due to the fact that some other states already allow Internet gambling.
Tarr said that Massachusetts has chosen to pursue casino gambling by licensing operators that are entering a fiercely competitive national market, and other states’ markets are more fully developed. He said, “Allowing those we are counting on to produce revenue for Massachusetts and our cities and towns to conduct online gaming will give them a competitive advantage, and increase their chances of success,” he added, “That success, in turn, can deliver substantial benefits through funding for our spending priorities and our budgets,” according to The Sun Chronical.
At the present time the state’s only operating gambling facility is Plainridge Park, off Route 1 in Plain iew. It opened in June of this year and has 1,250 slots machines as well as harness horse racing. Two other licenses for resort-style casinos have been issued by the state, one for the MGM Springfield, which isn’t scheduled to open until June 2018, and the Wynn Casino in Everett slated to open its doors January 1, 2017. Also in the works is a Taunton casino planned by the Mashpee Wampanoag, Project First Light Resort & Casino, as well as the pending application for Mass Gaming and Entertainment’s $677 million Brockton Fair Casino Resort.
There might be some interest in online gambling, according to the owners of Plainridge, Penn National Gaming. Penn National spokesman Eric Schippers said, “We support the authorization of Internet gaming to the extent it protects the economic investment the brick-and-mortar casinos have made in the state and the jobs we’ve created.” Schippers added, “Other states have addressed this through legislation that would restrict Internet gaming to only those existing licensed casino operators in the state.”
To date Tarr’s bill has received little attention and it is unknown whether or not it will advance in the Senate.
Massachusetts casinos could expand into online gambling
Only casinos licensed in the state would be allowed to take part in internet gambling per the bill filed by Senator Bruce Tarr, a Republican from Gloucester. The state Gaming Commission would determine the form of gambling that would be allowed. There are concerns that Massachusetts casino may be missing out and left at a competitive disadvantage due to the fact that some other states already allow Internet gambling.
Tarr said that Massachusetts has chosen to pursue casino gambling by licensing operators that are entering a fiercely competitive national market, and other states’ markets are more fully developed. He said, “Allowing those we are counting on to produce revenue for Massachusetts and our cities and towns to conduct online gaming will give them a competitive advantage, and increase their chances of success,” he added, “That success, in turn, can deliver substantial benefits through funding for our spending priorities and our budgets,” according to The Sun Chronical.
At the present time the state’s only operating gambling facility is Plainridge Park, off Route 1 in Plain iew. It opened in June of this year and has 1,250 slots machines as well as harness horse racing. Two other licenses for resort-style casinos have been issued by the state, one for the MGM Springfield, which isn’t scheduled to open until June 2018, and the Wynn Casino in Everett slated to open its doors January 1, 2017. Also in the works is a Taunton casino planned by the Mashpee Wampanoag, Project First Light Resort & Casino, as well as the pending application for Mass Gaming and Entertainment’s $677 million Brockton Fair Casino Resort.
There might be some interest in online gambling, according to the owners of Plainridge, Penn National Gaming. Penn National spokesman Eric Schippers said, “We support the authorization of Internet gaming to the extent it protects the economic investment the brick-and-mortar casinos have made in the state and the jobs we’ve created.” Schippers added, “Other states have addressed this through legislation that would restrict Internet gaming to only those existing licensed casino operators in the state.”
To date Tarr’s bill has received little attention and it is unknown whether or not it will advance in the Senate.
Massachusetts casinos could expand into online gambling
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According to figures released Monday by the Casino Association of South Africa (CASA) in the annual Survey of Casino Entertainment in South Africa, the online gambling industry contributed R17.2b (US $1.13b) to the country’s gross domestic product in the last fiscal year covering 2014-15 fiscal year, a 4.5% jump from the previous year.
The CASA figures for South Africa’s entire gambling industry generated revenue of R24b for the fiscal year, for a healthy 9.6% year-on-year improvement. The casino business further contributed R5.7b to the government in form of taxes, a jump of 3.6% year-on-year.
Growth in the Face of Recession
CASA CEO Themba Ngobese pointed out that in the face of a South African economic downturn overall, the figures represented an “important contribution casinos make towards the South African economy.” Ngobese said that the capital expenditures of CASA members totaled R2.3b, in a time in which consumers are specifically decreasing spending on non-essential items like gambling.
Calls for Regulation and Protection
Ngobese also called for the government to provide CASA members with more equitable conditions for operation, pointing out that the casino industry currently supports over 64,000 jobs earning a cumulative R3.2b in the year.
Ngobese also called for the government to “stamp out” widespread online gambling offered by foreign operators to local citizens, in a country where online casinos such as CrazyWinners Casino, Rich Casino and SlotsPlus Casino are already popular. To this end, CASA has been waging a campaign to educate the public on the alleged hazards of online gambling, including a snitch line for punters to report online marketing and pop-ups detected from unauthorized gambling sites.
Regulation Status in SA
As far as regulation efforts within South Africa, the current status is that it remains unregulated. There are politicians in the country's Parliament attempting to get the government to approve and tax online gambling but the ruling party has refused to this point.
Despite Economic Woes, Online Gambling and Casinos Grow in South Africa | Online Casino Reports
The CASA figures for South Africa’s entire gambling industry generated revenue of R24b for the fiscal year, for a healthy 9.6% year-on-year improvement. The casino business further contributed R5.7b to the government in form of taxes, a jump of 3.6% year-on-year.
Growth in the Face of Recession
CASA CEO Themba Ngobese pointed out that in the face of a South African economic downturn overall, the figures represented an “important contribution casinos make towards the South African economy.” Ngobese said that the capital expenditures of CASA members totaled R2.3b, in a time in which consumers are specifically decreasing spending on non-essential items like gambling.
Calls for Regulation and Protection
Ngobese also called for the government to provide CASA members with more equitable conditions for operation, pointing out that the casino industry currently supports over 64,000 jobs earning a cumulative R3.2b in the year.
Ngobese also called for the government to “stamp out” widespread online gambling offered by foreign operators to local citizens, in a country where online casinos such as CrazyWinners Casino, Rich Casino and SlotsPlus Casino are already popular. To this end, CASA has been waging a campaign to educate the public on the alleged hazards of online gambling, including a snitch line for punters to report online marketing and pop-ups detected from unauthorized gambling sites.
Regulation Status in SA
As far as regulation efforts within South Africa, the current status is that it remains unregulated. There are politicians in the country's Parliament attempting to get the government to approve and tax online gambling but the ruling party has refused to this point.
Despite Economic Woes, Online Gambling and Casinos Grow in South Africa | Online Casino Reports
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The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified 224 years ago — almost to the day — to ensure that the rights of the people would be protected from a government in Washington, D.C., eager to impose its will on them. Unless a power is specifically delegated to the federal government under the Constitution, it is “reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
The Framers called for this protection — and the American people ratified it as part of the Bill of Rights — because they did not want a national government hundreds of miles from their homes dictating how they lived their daily lives. Except to preserve our constitutionally guaranteed rights, that kind of authority must reside with the people and is shared only with their state legislatures.
Read more: Apply 10th Amendment to online gambling | TheHill
The Framers called for this protection — and the American people ratified it as part of the Bill of Rights — because they did not want a national government hundreds of miles from their homes dictating how they lived their daily lives. Except to preserve our constitutionally guaranteed rights, that kind of authority must reside with the people and is shared only with their state legislatures.
Read more: Apply 10th Amendment to online gambling | TheHill
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If Wednesday is anything like March 25th, poker fans will be facing palming over more than just Donald Trump’s latest insane ramblings. That’s because there is a high chance of more insane ramblings coming from the Rayburn House Office Building during the online gambling hearing in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
That committee is chaired by Cha-Ka in a suit Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R – Utah), who not at all coincidentally is also the Representative who introduced Sheldon Adelson’s Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA) in the House of Representatives. You see, Adelson is the CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and because he has never taken a moment to think seriously about online gambling, he believes that the more people participate in online gambling, the less people there will be who want to go to his casinos. Thus, he uses his extensive wealth to get people to craft and introduce legislation that he believes would help his personal business. And since he is a billionaire whose hobby is funding Republican politicians, there are always eager apprentices who want to learn the secrets of the Dark Side from Emperor Sheldon. Hence why RAWA even saw the time of day in Congress in the first place.
Now, the hearing isn’t specifically *supposed* to be about RAWA, but you know it’s going to be. First of all, the title of the hearing is the utterly unsubtle “A Casino in Every Smartphone – Law Enforcement Implications.” Second, check out the “Background” section of the hearing’s website:
Read more: Rep. Jason Chaffetz to Hold Online Gambling Hearing Wednesday -
That committee is chaired by Cha-Ka in a suit Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R – Utah), who not at all coincidentally is also the Representative who introduced Sheldon Adelson’s Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA) in the House of Representatives. You see, Adelson is the CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and because he has never taken a moment to think seriously about online gambling, he believes that the more people participate in online gambling, the less people there will be who want to go to his casinos. Thus, he uses his extensive wealth to get people to craft and introduce legislation that he believes would help his personal business. And since he is a billionaire whose hobby is funding Republican politicians, there are always eager apprentices who want to learn the secrets of the Dark Side from Emperor Sheldon. Hence why RAWA even saw the time of day in Congress in the first place.
Now, the hearing isn’t specifically *supposed* to be about RAWA, but you know it’s going to be. First of all, the title of the hearing is the utterly unsubtle “A Casino in Every Smartphone – Law Enforcement Implications.” Second, check out the “Background” section of the hearing’s website:
Read more: Rep. Jason Chaffetz to Hold Online Gambling Hearing Wednesday -
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A Brazilian senate committee has approved the latest legislative attempt to liberalize the country’s gambling market, including the authorization of online gambling.
On Wednesday, the Special Committee on National Development (CEDN) approved Bill 186 of 2014, which would authorize up to 35 casinos – one per state, up to three in larger states – while also authorizing video lottery and other electronic games, as well as online sports betting, casino and bingo games.
The only forms of gambling currently allowed in the country are lotteries, horseracing and live poker tournaments. If Bill 186 is approved, individual Brazilian states would have final say on what type of gambling was permissible within their borders.
Bill 186 was authored by Sen. Blairo Maggi as part of the Agenda Brazil, a package of legislative proposals intended to boost revenue for the government, which is trying to get a handle on a rapidly imploding economy. Bill 186 was approved on the same day that Moody’s Investors Service warned it was considering downgrading Brazil’s investment grade rating to junk status.
The bill now heads to the Comisión Especial de Marco Regulatorio de Juegos for analysis. Assuming the bill receives a favorable nod, it would then proceed to the full Senate for a vote before shifting to Brazil’s lower house for further consideration.
Only after a favorable nod in the lower house would President Dilma Rousseff – who vetoed recent efforts to liberalize the country’s sports betting market – be asked to sign the bill into law. Rousseff could be a little more motivated to approve a revenue-generating bill given that Congress just voted to impeach her for allegedly cooking the country’s financial books to disguise deficits and ensure her re-election last year.
Ciro Nogueira, who sponsored Bill 186, believes the new legal gambling framework could generate an annual $4b for the government while giving the economy a boost through job creation.
Brazil Senate Committee Okays Gambling Expansion Plan | Online Gambling News : CalvinAyre-com
On Wednesday, the Special Committee on National Development (CEDN) approved Bill 186 of 2014, which would authorize up to 35 casinos – one per state, up to three in larger states – while also authorizing video lottery and other electronic games, as well as online sports betting, casino and bingo games.
The only forms of gambling currently allowed in the country are lotteries, horseracing and live poker tournaments. If Bill 186 is approved, individual Brazilian states would have final say on what type of gambling was permissible within their borders.
Bill 186 was authored by Sen. Blairo Maggi as part of the Agenda Brazil, a package of legislative proposals intended to boost revenue for the government, which is trying to get a handle on a rapidly imploding economy. Bill 186 was approved on the same day that Moody’s Investors Service warned it was considering downgrading Brazil’s investment grade rating to junk status.
The bill now heads to the Comisión Especial de Marco Regulatorio de Juegos for analysis. Assuming the bill receives a favorable nod, it would then proceed to the full Senate for a vote before shifting to Brazil’s lower house for further consideration.
Only after a favorable nod in the lower house would President Dilma Rousseff – who vetoed recent efforts to liberalize the country’s sports betting market – be asked to sign the bill into law. Rousseff could be a little more motivated to approve a revenue-generating bill given that Congress just voted to impeach her for allegedly cooking the country’s financial books to disguise deficits and ensure her re-election last year.
Ciro Nogueira, who sponsored Bill 186, believes the new legal gambling framework could generate an annual $4b for the government while giving the economy a boost through job creation.
Brazil Senate Committee Okays Gambling Expansion Plan | Online Gambling News : CalvinAyre-com
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Local sports leagues in Victoria are at risk of match-fixing and corruption because of the rise of unregulated overseas online bookmakers, the Victorian government has warned.
In a submission to a federal review of the impact of illegal offshore bookmakers, the state government says "there is a lack of awareness of integrity risks amongst sub-elite and community-based sport in Victoria".
The submission said this ignorance was a "particular concern" given the number of betting markets offered by foreign bookies on Victorian sport.
During the past decade the amount wagered and lost in Victoria on sports betting has exploded.
In 2004-05 punters lost just $24 million from a turnover of $180 million. In 2013-14 this jumped to losses of $213 million from a turnover of $1.3 billion.
State regulations require bookmakers to strike agreements with sports controlling bodies to offer markets on their events. But there are only 10 sports controlling bodies registered in Victoria, and all are major organisations such as the AFL, NRL and Netball.
Some organisations, such as Football Federation Australia, have oversight over betting on Victorian leagues.
The Andrews government is pushing for the review, chaired by former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell, to consider how state and federal governments can develop integrity standards that can be applied to local sports.
In 2012 Fairfax Media revealed that foreign and local internet bookmakers were offering odds on suburban and country football and soccer matches, with some clubs and leagues admitting they had no betting policies.
And in 2013 a match-fixing ring in the Victorian Premier League was uncovered, with overseas syndicates betting and fixing games in Australia.
"We are asking the federal government to develop national standards so we can protect the integrity of local sporting clubs," Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Jane Garrett said.
The state argues the impact of illegal bookmakers is also economic. Major sports collect a license fee from allowing registered bookmakers to offer markets on their sports but this is not occurring with sub-elite and community sports.
"Unlike professional sports, sub-elite and community sorts are less likely to benefit from partnerships with authorised WSPs [Wagering Service Provider], the funding from which enables larger sports to fund integrity units/resources to address the risks that come with betting markets," the submission says,
The Andrews' government also calls for work to be done to see if it is possible for Australian internet service providers to block overseas gambling websites, as well as continuing the push for a national standard on gambling advertising.
The Coalition of Major Professional and Participating Sports has addressed the issue of integrity of professional leagues in its submission to the review.
COMPPS' submission backed legalising online in-play betting in Australia. It argued that because Australians were making in-play bets, placing a bet online once an event had already started, overseas it should be legalised in Australia so bets can be better tracked.
In this way any questionable bets and events in sports can monitored by the major sports integrity officials.
Read more: Local sports face integrity issues as online gambling grows
Follow us: @theage on Twitter | theageAustralia on Facebook
In a submission to a federal review of the impact of illegal offshore bookmakers, the state government says "there is a lack of awareness of integrity risks amongst sub-elite and community-based sport in Victoria".
The submission said this ignorance was a "particular concern" given the number of betting markets offered by foreign bookies on Victorian sport.
During the past decade the amount wagered and lost in Victoria on sports betting has exploded.
In 2004-05 punters lost just $24 million from a turnover of $180 million. In 2013-14 this jumped to losses of $213 million from a turnover of $1.3 billion.
State regulations require bookmakers to strike agreements with sports controlling bodies to offer markets on their events. But there are only 10 sports controlling bodies registered in Victoria, and all are major organisations such as the AFL, NRL and Netball.
Some organisations, such as Football Federation Australia, have oversight over betting on Victorian leagues.
The Andrews government is pushing for the review, chaired by former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell, to consider how state and federal governments can develop integrity standards that can be applied to local sports.
In 2012 Fairfax Media revealed that foreign and local internet bookmakers were offering odds on suburban and country football and soccer matches, with some clubs and leagues admitting they had no betting policies.
And in 2013 a match-fixing ring in the Victorian Premier League was uncovered, with overseas syndicates betting and fixing games in Australia.
"We are asking the federal government to develop national standards so we can protect the integrity of local sporting clubs," Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Jane Garrett said.
The state argues the impact of illegal bookmakers is also economic. Major sports collect a license fee from allowing registered bookmakers to offer markets on their sports but this is not occurring with sub-elite and community sports.
"Unlike professional sports, sub-elite and community sorts are less likely to benefit from partnerships with authorised WSPs [Wagering Service Provider], the funding from which enables larger sports to fund integrity units/resources to address the risks that come with betting markets," the submission says,
The Andrews' government also calls for work to be done to see if it is possible for Australian internet service providers to block overseas gambling websites, as well as continuing the push for a national standard on gambling advertising.
The Coalition of Major Professional and Participating Sports has addressed the issue of integrity of professional leagues in its submission to the review.
COMPPS' submission backed legalising online in-play betting in Australia. It argued that because Australians were making in-play bets, placing a bet online once an event had already started, overseas it should be legalised in Australia so bets can be better tracked.
In this way any questionable bets and events in sports can monitored by the major sports integrity officials.
Read more: Local sports face integrity issues as online gambling grows
Follow us: @theage on Twitter | theageAustralia on Facebook
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2006/12/07
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Online gambling bill in Pennsylvania will not pass, for now.
Rep. John Payne confirmed on Monday that Pennsylvania’s online gambling bill will not pass this year and will instead be pushed in the spring, reported Card Player.
In November, the House of Representatives Gaming Oversight Committee voted 18-8 in favor of Payne’s HB 649. Its next stop should have been a vote by the full House membership, however, disagreements between the Republican-controlled Senate and the House GOP majority have led to the budget deal failing within the state.
On Monday, the Senate GOP approved a $30.8 billion spending package for the state, which includes $350 million in additional aid for school systems and a $1.2 billion tax increase. The plan was rejected by the House Republicans, who introduced their own $30.3 billion spending bill.
Part of House Republicans’ strategy is to bring in revenue from online gambling—$120 million for tax revenue annually and as much as $10 million licensing fees for each operator. Based on Payne’s research, more than $120 million could be earned within the first year that online gambling is in operation. The online gambling industry is expected to help the state’s budget deficit, without raising taxes.
When state lawmakers added the online gambling bill to the state’s 2016 budget efforts, the poker community anticipated that it was moving forward. However, the vote, which was scheduled for December 8, was pushed to the next day and eventually delayed until next year.
The online gambling bill would authorize the state’s licensed casino operators to branch out into online poker and casino gambling. It would also allow the addition of slot machines at racetrack operators’ OTB venues and at the state’s six international airports.
Last week, the House controversially approved a number of amendments to HB 649, including a plan to allow each of the state’s 12,000 bars and pubs to host up to five video gaming terminals apiece. This plan was fiercely opposed by the state’s licensed casino operators, who largely supported the online gambling plans but were now expected to lobby hard against the amended HB 649’s passing.
Pennsylvania online gambling bill, not this year : CalvinAyre-com
Rep. John Payne confirmed on Monday that Pennsylvania’s online gambling bill will not pass this year and will instead be pushed in the spring, reported Card Player.
In November, the House of Representatives Gaming Oversight Committee voted 18-8 in favor of Payne’s HB 649. Its next stop should have been a vote by the full House membership, however, disagreements between the Republican-controlled Senate and the House GOP majority have led to the budget deal failing within the state.
On Monday, the Senate GOP approved a $30.8 billion spending package for the state, which includes $350 million in additional aid for school systems and a $1.2 billion tax increase. The plan was rejected by the House Republicans, who introduced their own $30.3 billion spending bill.
Part of House Republicans’ strategy is to bring in revenue from online gambling—$120 million for tax revenue annually and as much as $10 million licensing fees for each operator. Based on Payne’s research, more than $120 million could be earned within the first year that online gambling is in operation. The online gambling industry is expected to help the state’s budget deficit, without raising taxes.
When state lawmakers added the online gambling bill to the state’s 2016 budget efforts, the poker community anticipated that it was moving forward. However, the vote, which was scheduled for December 8, was pushed to the next day and eventually delayed until next year.
The online gambling bill would authorize the state’s licensed casino operators to branch out into online poker and casino gambling. It would also allow the addition of slot machines at racetrack operators’ OTB venues and at the state’s six international airports.
Last week, the House controversially approved a number of amendments to HB 649, including a plan to allow each of the state’s 12,000 bars and pubs to host up to five video gaming terminals apiece. This plan was fiercely opposed by the state’s licensed casino operators, who largely supported the online gambling plans but were now expected to lobby hard against the amended HB 649’s passing.
Pennsylvania online gambling bill, not this year : CalvinAyre-com
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The push in Pennsylvania for online gambling expansion and other gaming reforms that began back in February were never intended to fund the state’s 2016 budget. That’s according to the man who led some 25 hearings on a variety of gaming reforms over the course of 2015, House Gaming Oversight Committee Chairman, John Payne.
In a telephone interview with Online Poker Report on Wednesday, Payne made it clear that any revenue from proposed gaming reforms was always meant to fix the structural deficit in the state’s pension.
Since the legislature began looking at gaming reforms in February, “I was never given instructions by the leadership to hurry up and get this done so we would have it for June’s budget,” Payne stated. “We always planned on using any revenue from gaming for the structural deficit in our pension; that’s still the plan.”
How gaming became entangled in the state budget
According to Payne, the plan got a little off track in the last month when some members of his caucus looked at using the revenue from the gaming reform package (HB 649), earmarked for the pension, to end the state’s budget stalemate.
“[Gaming] was like plan 1,000,” for the budget, Payne quipped.
The problem, as Payne noted, is that if gaming was used as funding mechanism for the budget, the state would have to find a new way to fix the structural deficit in the pension next spring. This would create a classic robbing Peter to pay Paul scenario in Payne’s view.
“I know we’re desperate here,” Payne said, recounting a conversation with members of his caucus, “but if we do that then you must be voting next spring for a tax increase for the structural deficit on the pension plan.”
Payne said the plan to appropriate gaming revenue was quickly rejected.
What happens next?
Online gaming is most likely not going to pass in 2015. However, Payne was adamant in saying that the gaming bill is not dead. “We’re back to the original plan,” Payne said. And that plan according to Payne is to, “take gaming away from the budget process and put it on the shelf, and use it was originally intended for next spring.”
To highlight that the bill is not dead, Payne noted that it was recently brought up for second consideration on the house floor. “It’s physically alive and well and on the calendar for second consideration, so that literally within two days time we can run the bill,” Payne told OPR.
The path forward for the bill likely includes a bit more tweaking (Payne noted there were already over 100 amendments added to the bill), as different gaming reform proposals are likely to be added and subtracted before spring of 2016.
What will the 2016 version look like?
The proposal with the least amount of resistance appears to be gaming machines at airports. Payne noted that because they will be on the secured side of airports (for ticketed passengers) these machines will not compete with the casinos. According to Payne, the airports would use the revenue from these machines to lower gate costs to attract low-cost carriers.
Another proposal with widespread support is online gambling. Payne also told OPR that 11 of the 12 casinos in the state support online gambling expansion, “We’ve had one out of the twelve casinos push back against online,” Payne laughingly noted. That singular voice of opposition is of course the Sheldon Adelson-owned Sands Bethlehem Casino.
With almost across-the-board support, and considering the potential revenue it would generate, it’s hard to envision a gaming reform package sans online gambling being considered next spring.
Some other proposals are a bit more controversial.
One of the more controversial proposals is adding gaming terminals at off-track-betting parlors, since only Category 1 casinos (racinos) will benefit, and even though the legislature extended the required distance from land-based casinos from 35 to 50 miles, Payne still doesn’t expect the Category 2 and Category 3 casinos will support the amendment.
Payne also noted that there is a “clear issue” among the state’s casinos over the recent amendment that would allow VGT’s in virtually every tavern, restaurant and truck stop.
And then there is the issue of daily fantasy sports, which Payne said the legislature is trying to move along as quickly as it can. That being said, DFS will have to wait until a three-month study by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is completed.
“They’ll come back with their recommendations and how we can regulate it and make it part of our gaming oversight,” Payne said. “We’re really trying to push that and have it as part of the gaming package” in the spring.
PA House Chair: Bill Legalizing Online Gambling Is Alive
In a telephone interview with Online Poker Report on Wednesday, Payne made it clear that any revenue from proposed gaming reforms was always meant to fix the structural deficit in the state’s pension.
Since the legislature began looking at gaming reforms in February, “I was never given instructions by the leadership to hurry up and get this done so we would have it for June’s budget,” Payne stated. “We always planned on using any revenue from gaming for the structural deficit in our pension; that’s still the plan.”
How gaming became entangled in the state budget
According to Payne, the plan got a little off track in the last month when some members of his caucus looked at using the revenue from the gaming reform package (HB 649), earmarked for the pension, to end the state’s budget stalemate.
“[Gaming] was like plan 1,000,” for the budget, Payne quipped.
The problem, as Payne noted, is that if gaming was used as funding mechanism for the budget, the state would have to find a new way to fix the structural deficit in the pension next spring. This would create a classic robbing Peter to pay Paul scenario in Payne’s view.
“I know we’re desperate here,” Payne said, recounting a conversation with members of his caucus, “but if we do that then you must be voting next spring for a tax increase for the structural deficit on the pension plan.”
Payne said the plan to appropriate gaming revenue was quickly rejected.
What happens next?
Online gaming is most likely not going to pass in 2015. However, Payne was adamant in saying that the gaming bill is not dead. “We’re back to the original plan,” Payne said. And that plan according to Payne is to, “take gaming away from the budget process and put it on the shelf, and use it was originally intended for next spring.”
To highlight that the bill is not dead, Payne noted that it was recently brought up for second consideration on the house floor. “It’s physically alive and well and on the calendar for second consideration, so that literally within two days time we can run the bill,” Payne told OPR.
The path forward for the bill likely includes a bit more tweaking (Payne noted there were already over 100 amendments added to the bill), as different gaming reform proposals are likely to be added and subtracted before spring of 2016.
What will the 2016 version look like?
The proposal with the least amount of resistance appears to be gaming machines at airports. Payne noted that because they will be on the secured side of airports (for ticketed passengers) these machines will not compete with the casinos. According to Payne, the airports would use the revenue from these machines to lower gate costs to attract low-cost carriers.
Another proposal with widespread support is online gambling. Payne also told OPR that 11 of the 12 casinos in the state support online gambling expansion, “We’ve had one out of the twelve casinos push back against online,” Payne laughingly noted. That singular voice of opposition is of course the Sheldon Adelson-owned Sands Bethlehem Casino.
With almost across-the-board support, and considering the potential revenue it would generate, it’s hard to envision a gaming reform package sans online gambling being considered next spring.
Some other proposals are a bit more controversial.
One of the more controversial proposals is adding gaming terminals at off-track-betting parlors, since only Category 1 casinos (racinos) will benefit, and even though the legislature extended the required distance from land-based casinos from 35 to 50 miles, Payne still doesn’t expect the Category 2 and Category 3 casinos will support the amendment.
Payne also noted that there is a “clear issue” among the state’s casinos over the recent amendment that would allow VGT’s in virtually every tavern, restaurant and truck stop.
And then there is the issue of daily fantasy sports, which Payne said the legislature is trying to move along as quickly as it can. That being said, DFS will have to wait until a three-month study by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is completed.
“They’ll come back with their recommendations and how we can regulate it and make it part of our gaming oversight,” Payne said. “We’re really trying to push that and have it as part of the gaming package” in the spring.
PA House Chair: Bill Legalizing Online Gambling Is Alive
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Italy’s ministry of finance and the national chamber of commerce have pushed through a series of amendments for the Italian gambling sector.
The amendments set to be implemented in 2016, center on reforming gaming duties in order to improve industry commercial conditions.
Italy will drop its controversial online betting turnover tax, set between 2-5% for and adopt a 22% charge on fixed net betting revenue. The new online betting tax duty will be 2% higher than the current charges placed on online casino, games and poker services.
The changes outlined to the nation’s online betting duties, form part of Italian legislators bid to open the market to new enterprises in 2016.
Since implementing its online gambling framework in 2010, multiple European operators have criticised Italian gaming authority Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS) of implanting an unfair tax scheme for online betting services.
The new online betting tax policy will need to be cleared by the national Chamber Committee, in order to be passed into corporate law.
Further gambling amendments saw an increase in taxes on amusement with prizes (AWP) and video lottery terminal (VLT) operators. AWP tax is set to increase to 17.5% while minimum payout rate will be lowered to 70%. The increase for VLTs is up 0.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent.
www-sbcnews-co-uk/featurednews/2015/12/17/italy-reforms-online-betting-duty-to-22/
The amendments set to be implemented in 2016, center on reforming gaming duties in order to improve industry commercial conditions.
Italy will drop its controversial online betting turnover tax, set between 2-5% for and adopt a 22% charge on fixed net betting revenue. The new online betting tax duty will be 2% higher than the current charges placed on online casino, games and poker services.
The changes outlined to the nation’s online betting duties, form part of Italian legislators bid to open the market to new enterprises in 2016.
Since implementing its online gambling framework in 2010, multiple European operators have criticised Italian gaming authority Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS) of implanting an unfair tax scheme for online betting services.
The new online betting tax policy will need to be cleared by the national Chamber Committee, in order to be passed into corporate law.
Further gambling amendments saw an increase in taxes on amusement with prizes (AWP) and video lottery terminal (VLT) operators. AWP tax is set to increase to 17.5% while minimum payout rate will be lowered to 70%. The increase for VLTs is up 0.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent.
www-sbcnews-co-uk/featurednews/2015/12/17/italy-reforms-online-betting-duty-to-22/
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2006/12/07
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29893
Manne wrote:
The push in Pennsylvania for online gambling expansion and other gaming reforms that began back in February were never intended to fund the state’s 2016 budget. That’s according to the man who led some 25 hearings on a variety of gaming reforms over the course of 2015, House Gaming Oversight Committee Chairman, John Payne.
In a telephone interview with Online Poker Report on Wednesday, Payne made it clear that any revenue from proposed gaming reforms was always meant to fix the structural deficit in the state’s pension.
Since the legislature began looking at gaming reforms in February, “I was never given instructions by the leadership to hurry up and get this done so we would have it for June’s budget,” Payne stated. “We always planned on using any revenue from gaming for the structural deficit in our pension; that’s still the plan.”
How gaming became entangled in the state budget
According to Payne, the plan got a little off track in the last month when some members of his caucus looked at using the revenue from the gaming reform package (HB 649), earmarked for the pension, to end the state’s budget stalemate.
“[Gaming] was like plan 1,000,” for the budget, Payne quipped.
The problem, as Payne noted, is that if gaming was used as funding mechanism for the budget, the state would have to find a new way to fix the structural deficit in the pension next spring. This would create a classic robbing Peter to pay Paul scenario in Payne’s view.
“I know we’re desperate here,” Payne said, recounting a conversation with members of his caucus, “but if we do that then you must be voting next spring for a tax increase for the structural deficit on the pension plan.”
Payne said the plan to appropriate gaming revenue was quickly rejected.
What happens next?
Online gaming is most likely not going to pass in 2015. However, Payne was adamant in saying that the gaming bill is not dead. “We’re back to the original plan,” Payne said. And that plan according to Payne is to, “take gaming away from the budget process and put it on the shelf, and use it was originally intended for next spring.”
To highlight that the bill is not dead, Payne noted that it was recently brought up for second consideration on the house floor. “It’s physically alive and well and on the calendar for second consideration, so that literally within two days time we can run the bill,” Payne told OPR.
The path forward for the bill likely includes a bit more tweaking (Payne noted there were already over 100 amendments added to the bill), as different gaming reform proposals are likely to be added and subtracted before spring of 2016.
What will the 2016 version look like?
The proposal with the least amount of resistance appears to be gaming machines at airports. Payne noted that because they will be on the secured side of airports (for ticketed passengers) these machines will not compete with the casinos. According to Payne, the airports would use the revenue from these machines to lower gate costs to attract low-cost carriers.
Another proposal with widespread support is online gambling. Payne also told OPR that 11 of the 12 casinos in the state support online gambling expansion, “We’ve had one out of the twelve casinos push back against online,” Payne laughingly noted. That singular voice of opposition is of course the Sheldon Adelson-owned Sands Bethlehem Casino.
With almost across-the-board support, and considering the potential revenue it would generate, it’s hard to envision a gaming reform package sans online gambling being considered next spring.
Some other proposals are a bit more controversial.
One of the more controversial proposals is adding gaming terminals at off-track-betting parlors, since only Category 1 casinos (racinos) will benefit, and even though the legislature extended the required distance from land-based casinos from 35 to 50 miles, Payne still doesn’t expect the Category 2 and Category 3 casinos will support the amendment.
Payne also noted that there is a “clear issue” among the state’s casinos over the recent amendment that would allow VGT’s in virtually every tavern, restaurant and truck stop.
And then there is the issue of daily fantasy sports, which Payne said the legislature is trying to move along as quickly as it can. That being said, DFS will have to wait until a three-month study by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is completed.
“They’ll come back with their recommendations and how we can regulate it and make it part of our gaming oversight,” Payne said. “We’re really trying to push that and have it as part of the gaming package” in the spring.
PA House Chair: Bill Legalizing Online Gambling Is Alive
That's great news
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Manne wrote:
The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified 224 years ago — almost to the day — to ensure that the rights of the people would be protected from a government in Washington, D.C., eager to impose its will on them. Unless a power is specifically delegated to the federal government under the Constitution, it is “reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
The Framers called for this protection — and the American people ratified it as part of the Bill of Rights — because they did not want a national government hundreds of miles from their homes dictating how they lived their daily lives. Except to preserve our constitutionally guaranteed rights, that kind of authority must reside with the people and is shared only with their state legislatures.
Read more: Apply 10th Amendment to online gambling | TheHill
That would be a great idea.
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Mr. Yong Phat, whose LYP Group owns a TV station, sugar refinery, tobacco firm and property – as well as the casinos – was given approval to add online gambling at his casinos in Koh Kong and Oddar Meanchey provinces by the Council of Ministers in mid-September, according to the September 15 letter from the council to Interior Minister Sar Kheng.
His three casinos are located just inside the border with Thailand in Koh Kong, Oddar Meanchey and the border crossing of Poipet in Banteay Meanchey provinces. The letter from the council approves his request to add online gambling and expand the number of slot machines at Koh Kong Resort and O’Smach Casino in Oddar Meanchey province.
The letter had been endorsed by Prime Minister Hun Sen the day before.
It gave the casinos permission to add gambling on golf, horse races, football and cock fighting.
Mey Vann, director general of the financial industry unit at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, yesterday confirmed the casinos had received approval to add online gambling.
“I think his business is operating quite well because all of his customers are from Thailand,” Mr. Vann said. “Although the government allows more gambling products and services, we still do not allow local people to gamble,” he added, referring to the law that restricts gambling at casinos to those who hold foreign passports.
Koh Kong governor Bun Leut said yesterday that Koh Kong Resort is the only casino in his province and that it is operating quite well. “All the gamblers are from Thailand because we are close to each other. Once the casino provides more services and products, it will attract more Thais,” he added.
Ly Yong Phat could not be reached for comment yesterday.
In February 2009, the government terminated the sole license for a Chinese-owned Cambo Six, which had offered online and onsite football betting since 2002, citing moral decline in the Kingdom.
Ung Kong Vichet, Koh Kong provincial coordinator for rights group LICAHDO, said almost all the gamblers at the Senator’s casino are Thai. Some wealthy Cambodian residents of the area also gambled at the casino, he said, adding that there was little social impact or disorder linked to the casino.
“I have not seen much impact or disorder from the resort on society here because most of the gamblers are foreigners from Thailand. I think the casino benefits the economy here rather than having negative social impacts,” Mr. Vichet said.
By the end of September, Cambodia had 75 casinos. Ten new licenses were granted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in the third quarter alone. The government collected $28.8 million in revenue from the casinos in the first nine months of the year.
The National Bank of Cambodia announced in early October that it is making its first attempt to collect precise, industry-wide data from casinos. It estimates that income generated by casinos from non-residents represents about 40 percent of the total amount spent by foreign visitors last year – about $2 billion.
Tycoon Senator Gets Green Light for Online Gambling | Khmer Times | News Portal Cambodia |