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Canadian-poker, which is accessible at Canadian Online Poker has reported an Ultimate Bet (U😎 proposal of a plan to refund ex UB players who have been unable to access their UB poker funds ever since the Black Friday of online poker, the day on which the US federal government cracked down on major online poker sites including UB, seized their domain names, and booked their executive officers on multiple counts of money laundering, bank fraud, and illegal gambling. UB proposes to liquidate assets that belong to its parent company to raise the funds required to pay back ex US poker players who had made deposits just before the DoJ shut down the site. However, concerned American authorities need to approve this plan before it can be implemented.
Leon Daniels, the spokesperson for Canadian-poker, said: “Online poker players have learned to be skeptical since the events of Black Friday in April, and they have every right to be. Even if PokerStars had enough cash on hand to repay players, other shutdown sites such as Full Tilt Poker and Ultimate Bet have failed their players so far. PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Ultimate Bet still have serious legal issues to resolve and the FBI on their case, and as a result, our readers are looking for companies which they know they can trust, and highlight established institutes such as 888 Poker and Party Poker.”
According to Daniels and Canadian-poker, one of the most trustworthy and reliable online poker rooms in the US is 888 Poker, which Canadian online poker fans love and rate above all other online poker brands in Canada. Daniels said: “Players appreciate the transparency with which the company operates, its accountability to stockholders and the public, and the stability of their bankrolls — in addition to the newly updated platform and poker game selection.”
Canadian-poker also considers Party Poker as a top online poker site for Canadian poker players. Admitting that Party Poker is less innovative than other favorites, Daniels said that Party Poker has already established its share of the Canadian online poker market and has proved to be stable over the years. Since Party Poker has already established its ability to stay within the limits of the law, it is the best choice for Canadian players, opined Daniels.
Daniels also opined that UB is too late in developing a plan to refund its players, who have already migrated to other online poker rooms.
Leon Daniels, the spokesperson for Canadian-poker, said: “Online poker players have learned to be skeptical since the events of Black Friday in April, and they have every right to be. Even if PokerStars had enough cash on hand to repay players, other shutdown sites such as Full Tilt Poker and Ultimate Bet have failed their players so far. PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Ultimate Bet still have serious legal issues to resolve and the FBI on their case, and as a result, our readers are looking for companies which they know they can trust, and highlight established institutes such as 888 Poker and Party Poker.”
According to Daniels and Canadian-poker, one of the most trustworthy and reliable online poker rooms in the US is 888 Poker, which Canadian online poker fans love and rate above all other online poker brands in Canada. Daniels said: “Players appreciate the transparency with which the company operates, its accountability to stockholders and the public, and the stability of their bankrolls — in addition to the newly updated platform and poker game selection.”
Canadian-poker also considers Party Poker as a top online poker site for Canadian poker players. Admitting that Party Poker is less innovative than other favorites, Daniels said that Party Poker has already established its share of the Canadian online poker market and has proved to be stable over the years. Since Party Poker has already established its ability to stay within the limits of the law, it is the best choice for Canadian players, opined Daniels.
Daniels also opined that UB is too late in developing a plan to refund its players, who have already migrated to other online poker rooms.
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2006/12/07
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He got into the action for only $35 and walked out of the poker room at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana with over $82,000 added to his bankroll, so let's all give a hearty congratulations to Bodog poker player Evan Mauer! Bodog sent 32 players total to the event along with our three pros: Evelyn Ng, Tatjana Pasalic and Amanda Leatherman, but only Evan had the wherewithal, drive and luck to make it to the final two, playing against Demo Kirlopoulos.
Heads-up play between Mauer and Kirlopoulos lasted until almost one in the morning, when a preflop raise war pitted the two against each other in an all-in duel. Kirlopoulos had AT, Evan was holding KQ. The flop was TKT, leaving Kirlopoulos with a set and Evan with a pair of Kings. The turn didn't help either player and when the Jack of Spades hit the river, Evan lost to Kirlopoulos's three of a kind, but got $82,791 on a $35 sub-satellite tournament buy a few weeks ago, making him a winner in just about any poker player's book.
Heads-up play between Mauer and Kirlopoulos lasted until almost one in the morning, when a preflop raise war pitted the two against each other in an all-in duel. Kirlopoulos had AT, Evan was holding KQ. The flop was TKT, leaving Kirlopoulos with a set and Evan with a pair of Kings. The turn didn't help either player and when the Jack of Spades hit the river, Evan lost to Kirlopoulos's three of a kind, but got $82,791 on a $35 sub-satellite tournament buy a few weeks ago, making him a winner in just about any poker player's book.
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The online poker room belonging to Tower Gaming is now part of Cake Network. Tower Gaming, which was a partner of Ongame Network for a long time, does not accept US online poker players, but it offers a rakeback of 33 percent now that it is with Cake. Since no official statement is out yet, nobody knows the exact reasons for the move, but it is generally believed that Tower Gaming made the move because of Ongame Network’s method of rake calculation called the Essence method and its method of rewarding loyalty points. Ongame claimed yesterday that it has attracted 8 percent more recreational players after the introduction of the Essence method of rake calculation. The network claimed that the winnings of its regular players had increased, but did not specify the exact amount.
Fredrik Kjell, Ongame head of poker, stated: “We always knew Essence was revolutionary as a concept, but it is of course reassuring and great to see that it is working as intended. With Essence, we have turned the tide on poker’s aging business model. We now have it black on white that Essence helps create an ever healthier ecosystem, in a way that is unique for the entire poker industry.” On the other hand, Cake calculates rakeback with the dealt method.
Meanwhile, the Bwin-owned Ongame network is for sale. Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Plc stated that the sale procedures are already in place. This giant online gambling company, formed when Bwin merged with Party Gaming this year, labeled Ongame poker network as a “surplus asset.” Just before the sale, online poker players at Bwin will be shifted to Party Poker.
According to a Bwin.Party statement, “One area of our stated strategy was to recycle surplus assets. As part of this process and having taken some initial soundings from interested parties, we have commenced a formal process to sell Ongame’s Business-to-Business operation that is one of the world’s leading online poker networks with a state-of-the-art technology platform. We expect that any sale will be completed by the end of the year.”
Ongame network wants to walk in the footsteps of Entraction Network, which was sold to International Game Technology for €70 million last month.
Regarding Tower Gamings shift to Cake Poker, no official statement has been made as yet. But Tower Gaming has posted two tweets on its Twitter account, stating, “Cake Poke permits HUDs. Great news for Tower grinders.”
Fredrik Kjell, Ongame head of poker, stated: “We always knew Essence was revolutionary as a concept, but it is of course reassuring and great to see that it is working as intended. With Essence, we have turned the tide on poker’s aging business model. We now have it black on white that Essence helps create an ever healthier ecosystem, in a way that is unique for the entire poker industry.” On the other hand, Cake calculates rakeback with the dealt method.
Meanwhile, the Bwin-owned Ongame network is for sale. Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Plc stated that the sale procedures are already in place. This giant online gambling company, formed when Bwin merged with Party Gaming this year, labeled Ongame poker network as a “surplus asset.” Just before the sale, online poker players at Bwin will be shifted to Party Poker.
According to a Bwin.Party statement, “One area of our stated strategy was to recycle surplus assets. As part of this process and having taken some initial soundings from interested parties, we have commenced a formal process to sell Ongame’s Business-to-Business operation that is one of the world’s leading online poker networks with a state-of-the-art technology platform. We expect that any sale will be completed by the end of the year.”
Ongame network wants to walk in the footsteps of Entraction Network, which was sold to International Game Technology for €70 million last month.
Regarding Tower Gamings shift to Cake Poker, no official statement has been made as yet. But Tower Gaming has posted two tweets on its Twitter account, stating, “Cake Poke permits HUDs. Great news for Tower grinders.”
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In a two-day gaming conference held in Las Vegas last week that saw many leading gambling attorneys, regulators and legal experts in attendance, a foremost attorney on gaming said that online poker legislation will not be put in place by lawmakers anytime soon.
I. Nelson Rose, a senior professor from the Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif., is pessimistic about progress on internet poker regulations being made quickly because federal lawmakers have shown that they cannot agree on any such significant legislation. Although the demand for speedy online poker laws is there because of the much-needed tax revenue that internet poker would generate, many hurdles are still in the way that will take time to work out, Rose said.
One of the obstacles lawmakers face is deciding if online poker should be regulated on the state or federal level. Rose said that most U.S. gaming companies would like to see federal legislation in order to maintain consistent regulations across all states. Several states, Nevada included, are in development of their own internet regulatory rules in order to avoid falling behind the plans of other states.
Rose said that there are six states leading the way in capitalizing on internet poker once laws are approved. Nevada is said to be very close to approving online gambling regulations, perhaps as early as next month. The other states that have an inside track to licensing are New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts, Iowa and California. Iowa and New Jersey already have plans for regulations in place.
Although the “sin city” is home to the most land-based casinos, Rose sees a possible disadvantage for Nevada as being its small population if the federal government should enable each state to establish rules specifically for their own residents. But most of the states are assuming interstate poker play to eventuality be put in place.
Also discussed at the convention was what European poker room operators can expect when applying for licensing in the U.S. market. Many legal experts agree that foreign companies may be surprised at the amount of scrutiny they’ll get from U.S. gambling regulators.
Frank Schreck, a prominent Las Vegas gaming attorney with Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck, said he began closely watching internet gambling when his clients asked his advice on collaborating with foreign poker site operators in gaming ventures. He advised many clients to not get involved with foreign gaming companies because the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and the Department of Justice made it plainly clear that they would show no tolerance for poker sites that enable U.S. players to place wagers over the internet with overseas companies.
“I was one of the happiest guys on the face of the Earth when the indictments (against poker sites PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker in April) came down, not because I wanted to see them in trouble, but because of the advice I gave,” Schreck said.
Poker industry insiders believe that some regulators will disqualify gaming companies that continued allowing U.S. players to wager on their sites following the UIGEA’s passage in 2006. However, companies that enter into partnerships with established U.S. poker operators can possibly be allowed to get a piece of the U.S. market if the company they partner with has a solid record in the U.S.
I. Nelson Rose, a senior professor from the Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif., is pessimistic about progress on internet poker regulations being made quickly because federal lawmakers have shown that they cannot agree on any such significant legislation. Although the demand for speedy online poker laws is there because of the much-needed tax revenue that internet poker would generate, many hurdles are still in the way that will take time to work out, Rose said.
One of the obstacles lawmakers face is deciding if online poker should be regulated on the state or federal level. Rose said that most U.S. gaming companies would like to see federal legislation in order to maintain consistent regulations across all states. Several states, Nevada included, are in development of their own internet regulatory rules in order to avoid falling behind the plans of other states.
Rose said that there are six states leading the way in capitalizing on internet poker once laws are approved. Nevada is said to be very close to approving online gambling regulations, perhaps as early as next month. The other states that have an inside track to licensing are New Jersey, Florida, Massachusetts, Iowa and California. Iowa and New Jersey already have plans for regulations in place.
Although the “sin city” is home to the most land-based casinos, Rose sees a possible disadvantage for Nevada as being its small population if the federal government should enable each state to establish rules specifically for their own residents. But most of the states are assuming interstate poker play to eventuality be put in place.
Also discussed at the convention was what European poker room operators can expect when applying for licensing in the U.S. market. Many legal experts agree that foreign companies may be surprised at the amount of scrutiny they’ll get from U.S. gambling regulators.
Frank Schreck, a prominent Las Vegas gaming attorney with Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck, said he began closely watching internet gambling when his clients asked his advice on collaborating with foreign poker site operators in gaming ventures. He advised many clients to not get involved with foreign gaming companies because the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and the Department of Justice made it plainly clear that they would show no tolerance for poker sites that enable U.S. players to place wagers over the internet with overseas companies.
“I was one of the happiest guys on the face of the Earth when the indictments (against poker sites PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker in April) came down, not because I wanted to see them in trouble, but because of the advice I gave,” Schreck said.
Poker industry insiders believe that some regulators will disqualify gaming companies that continued allowing U.S. players to wager on their sites following the UIGEA’s passage in 2006. However, companies that enter into partnerships with established U.S. poker operators can possibly be allowed to get a piece of the U.S. market if the company they partner with has a solid record in the U.S.
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Gary Loveman, the chairperson of Caesars Entertainment, expects that his company will be able to establish a poker website after securing licensing – within a year or so. Loveman discussed the third quarter earnings of his company recently in a conference. He also talked about the proposed online poker legalization bill in the same conference.
Loveman not Keen on Signing Any More Deals
It has been stated by Loveman that his company already has quite a few deals in place. He doesn’t think signing any more deals is necessary at this point. By entering into further deals, the revenue that the company currently earns from online poker can reduce. One of the partnership relations that Gary Loveman signed is with 888 Holdings. 888 Poker is a UK based gambling company with which Caesars Entertainment partnered earlier this year. Through the partnership deal, Caesars Entertainment runs online gambling sites in the UK, Italy and France.
Caesars to be One of the First Few Companies to Support Online Poker Regulation
As claimed by its chairperson, Caesars is one of the initial few companies to embrace the legalization of online poker. In the race to being the first poker site to be licensed by the US, Caesars Entertainment is at par with Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts International which entered into a joint venture with Bwin.party Digital recently. Bwin.party is the parent company of the well-known poker site, Party Poker. However, the plans of the companies to offer online poker are subject to its legislation by US lawmakers. This will allow land based operators to enter the online gambling market.
Loveman stated that his company is ready to offer online poker to customers. He urged the Congress to pass the proposed online poker bill so that Caesars Entertainment is able to proceed with its plans. Analysts speculated that the potential revenue from online poker in the US is $5 billion a year. The estimated figure is considered to be a conservative one by Loveman.
Caesars Entertainment Operated WSOP Tournaments Paid Out Massively to Players
WSOP tournament is owned by Caesars Entertainment. The tournament concluded recently with a German player, Pius Heinz winning the Main Event. The player earned about $8.7 million on his win. Approximately $209 million has been paid out by the event to its top players. Loveman stated that the amount paid by WSOP is much more than what top sports teams get.
Loveman not Keen on Signing Any More Deals
It has been stated by Loveman that his company already has quite a few deals in place. He doesn’t think signing any more deals is necessary at this point. By entering into further deals, the revenue that the company currently earns from online poker can reduce. One of the partnership relations that Gary Loveman signed is with 888 Holdings. 888 Poker is a UK based gambling company with which Caesars Entertainment partnered earlier this year. Through the partnership deal, Caesars Entertainment runs online gambling sites in the UK, Italy and France.
Caesars to be One of the First Few Companies to Support Online Poker Regulation
As claimed by its chairperson, Caesars is one of the initial few companies to embrace the legalization of online poker. In the race to being the first poker site to be licensed by the US, Caesars Entertainment is at par with Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts International which entered into a joint venture with Bwin.party Digital recently. Bwin.party is the parent company of the well-known poker site, Party Poker. However, the plans of the companies to offer online poker are subject to its legislation by US lawmakers. This will allow land based operators to enter the online gambling market.
Loveman stated that his company is ready to offer online poker to customers. He urged the Congress to pass the proposed online poker bill so that Caesars Entertainment is able to proceed with its plans. Analysts speculated that the potential revenue from online poker in the US is $5 billion a year. The estimated figure is considered to be a conservative one by Loveman.
Caesars Entertainment Operated WSOP Tournaments Paid Out Massively to Players
WSOP tournament is owned by Caesars Entertainment. The tournament concluded recently with a German player, Pius Heinz winning the Main Event. The player earned about $8.7 million on his win. Approximately $209 million has been paid out by the event to its top players. Loveman stated that the amount paid by WSOP is much more than what top sports teams get.
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On Monday, VegasInc.com reported that Nevada’s Gaming Control Board will begin accepting applications in February from companies looking to obtain licenses to operate online poker sites.
At the U.S. Online Gaming Law conference at the Aria last Thursday, chairman of the Gaming Control Board, Mark Lipparelli, revealed that investigations could begin in February. He also revealed that companies t already holding a license in the state, for instance any land-based casino, should get through the application process fairly quickly.
To obtain a license, a company will have to “prove that their technology will be able to limit play to state residents of legal age.” If approved, these pre-licensed companies would simply have a new title attached to their licenses, while any new company seekking to obtain a license would be subject to a full investigation, which could take months to complete.
“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Lipparelli said. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
This is good news for online poker enthusiasts, but it is important to recognize such a license would be intrastate and not interstate, meaning a license would only allow a company to offer online poker in Nevada, meaning play would be unavailable to those outside the state’s borders.
If you’re wondering how this is legal in the United States, the answer is simple. As VegasInc explains: “The federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act prohibits companies from accepting payments related to online wagering, but allows several exceptions, including intrastate and intratribal wagering and fantasy sports.”
At the U.S. Online Gaming Law conference at the Aria last Thursday, chairman of the Gaming Control Board, Mark Lipparelli, revealed that investigations could begin in February. He also revealed that companies t already holding a license in the state, for instance any land-based casino, should get through the application process fairly quickly.
To obtain a license, a company will have to “prove that their technology will be able to limit play to state residents of legal age.” If approved, these pre-licensed companies would simply have a new title attached to their licenses, while any new company seekking to obtain a license would be subject to a full investigation, which could take months to complete.
“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Lipparelli said. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
This is good news for online poker enthusiasts, but it is important to recognize such a license would be intrastate and not interstate, meaning a license would only allow a company to offer online poker in Nevada, meaning play would be unavailable to those outside the state’s borders.
If you’re wondering how this is legal in the United States, the answer is simple. As VegasInc explains: “The federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act prohibits companies from accepting payments related to online wagering, but allows several exceptions, including intrastate and intratribal wagering and fantasy sports.”
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The ex-wife of poker icon Phil Ivey has officially upped the ante in their legal beetle after asking the Nevada Supreme Court to disqualify the judge who's going to be overseeing the high-profile divorce case. Luciaetta Ivey, who married Phil in May of 2002, filed a petition with the high court that raises questions about her ex-husband (and his lawyers) and their contributions made to Family Court Judge Bill Gonzalez. The Ivey divorce was granted December 2009 and contributions to the judge's election funds were made in early 2010.
While the divorce case's paperwork was sealed, Luciaetta Ivey states that she was blindsided and disgusted when the matter was brought up by her attorney, Bruce Shapiro. While she was aware that Ivey had donated to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, she was completely unaware of his judicial donation. In June, she had filed a motion in Clark County Family Court that raised some new issues in the divorce case and Gonzalez was to hear it, but she filed an "affidavit of implied bias or prejudice" based on the campaign contributions.
Gonzalez, in turn, filed an affidavit in which he stated his belief that he is "capable of rendering judgment in this matter in a fair and just manner."
The petition alleges that attorney David Chesnoff, who represents Phil Ivey in the divorce case, was active in the judge's campaign and contributed $1,000 on Feb. 9, 2010; that Chesnoff's wife contributed $2,500 on April 21, 2010; that Chesnoff's partner contributed $1,000 on April 21, 2010; that Chesnoff made an in-kind contribution of $3,500 on April 8, 2010; and that the law firm of John Spilotro, whom Phil Ivey had "hand-picked" to represent Luciaetta Ivey in the divorce, contributed $500 on April 20, 2011.
The document, which isn't sealed, is another reminder about the possible conflicts of interest that take place when judicial candidates receive campaign contributions from people or attorneys that have appeared before their bench.
While the divorce case's paperwork was sealed, Luciaetta Ivey states that she was blindsided and disgusted when the matter was brought up by her attorney, Bruce Shapiro. While she was aware that Ivey had donated to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, she was completely unaware of his judicial donation. In June, she had filed a motion in Clark County Family Court that raised some new issues in the divorce case and Gonzalez was to hear it, but she filed an "affidavit of implied bias or prejudice" based on the campaign contributions.
Gonzalez, in turn, filed an affidavit in which he stated his belief that he is "capable of rendering judgment in this matter in a fair and just manner."
The petition alleges that attorney David Chesnoff, who represents Phil Ivey in the divorce case, was active in the judge's campaign and contributed $1,000 on Feb. 9, 2010; that Chesnoff's wife contributed $2,500 on April 21, 2010; that Chesnoff's partner contributed $1,000 on April 21, 2010; that Chesnoff made an in-kind contribution of $3,500 on April 8, 2010; and that the law firm of John Spilotro, whom Phil Ivey had "hand-picked" to represent Luciaetta Ivey in the divorce, contributed $500 on April 20, 2011.
The document, which isn't sealed, is another reminder about the possible conflicts of interest that take place when judicial candidates receive campaign contributions from people or attorneys that have appeared before their bench.
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The Nevada Gaming Control Board has announced that in February it will start accepting license applications for companies to run online poker sites in the state.
Mark Lipparelli, Control Board chairman, told gaming industry professionals who were attending a conference on U.S. internet gaming laws at Aria Resort and Casino hotel last week that the board would be set to begin investigations of any and all applicants that month.
The process of obtaining a license is expected to proceed faster for companies who already hold gaming licenses in brick-and-mortar casinos in Nevada. Those who are approved and receive full licensing to offer internet poker play would be restricted to providing services to players within the boundaries of the state. Players in other states and overseas would not be able to access the Nevada poker sites, Lipparelli said. However, industry experts believe that intrastate online wagering will be just the first step in the regulating process and that interstate poker will eventually be allowed as well.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) strictly prohibits gaming companies from processing payments in conjunction with online betting, but does allow several exceptions, including fantasy sports and intratribal and intrastate wagering.
Companies with existing Nevada gaming licenses would have attachments to their current licenses detailing the new online services offered intrastate, while companies applying for new licensing would undergo rigorous licensing investigations, believed to take months to complete. Existing licensees will be required to show that their software can limit online players to Nevada residents as well as ensure that its players are not minors.
“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Lipparelli said. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
Several laws were passed by Nevada’s legislature earlier in 2011 that prompted the Nevada Gaming Commission and Control Board to begin drafting online poker regulations over the summer. The new legislation is nearly ready for approval and is expected to be ratified sometime in December. Lipparelli said that since online gaming in the U.S. is new ground for lawmakers, it’s very possible that regulatory amendments or revisions may need to be considered following initial enactment of any new laws.
Approximately 75 legal experts and regulators from around the world attended the gaming conference. Although I. Nelson Rose, an expert on gaming and a law professor at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif. was pessimistic about online poker regulations being passed anytime soon, other poker industry insiders saw things differently.
“I think legalization is closer now than ever before,” said Jon Porter, a former Nevada congressman who served in the House of Representatives for three terms and now advises the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).
Porter said that since tax revenue is needed so badly and the U.S. government faces automatic cuts of various worthwhile programs if some type of tax legislation isn’t approved soon that lawmakers will find a way to approve the obvious source of additional revenue that online poker would provide. But he stressed that gaming industry leaders need to voice their positions by lobbying and putting pressure on lawmakers.
“It’s not going to happen if you’re waiting for Caesars or state lotteries or the Poker Players Alliance to carry the ball,” said Porter, adding that the online gaming industry needs to consistently get its message across to lawmakers in order to move the legislation forward. “Sometimes the industry is its own worst enemy.”
Porter said that online gambling regulations may eventually be attached to another crucial bill towards the end of the legislative session, as was the case with the UIGEA’s passage in 2006. That bill rode the tails of the SAFE Port Act.
Porter also said that he gets the impression that one of online gambling’s leading opponents, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., may be softening his stance on the issue. But other conference attendees said that Kyl would like to see tribal casinos in his home state of Arizona receive online poker licensing and economic benefits before he will support online poker legislation.
Mark Lipparelli, Control Board chairman, told gaming industry professionals who were attending a conference on U.S. internet gaming laws at Aria Resort and Casino hotel last week that the board would be set to begin investigations of any and all applicants that month.
The process of obtaining a license is expected to proceed faster for companies who already hold gaming licenses in brick-and-mortar casinos in Nevada. Those who are approved and receive full licensing to offer internet poker play would be restricted to providing services to players within the boundaries of the state. Players in other states and overseas would not be able to access the Nevada poker sites, Lipparelli said. However, industry experts believe that intrastate online wagering will be just the first step in the regulating process and that interstate poker will eventually be allowed as well.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) strictly prohibits gaming companies from processing payments in conjunction with online betting, but does allow several exceptions, including fantasy sports and intratribal and intrastate wagering.
Companies with existing Nevada gaming licenses would have attachments to their current licenses detailing the new online services offered intrastate, while companies applying for new licensing would undergo rigorous licensing investigations, believed to take months to complete. Existing licensees will be required to show that their software can limit online players to Nevada residents as well as ensure that its players are not minors.
“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Lipparelli said. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
Several laws were passed by Nevada’s legislature earlier in 2011 that prompted the Nevada Gaming Commission and Control Board to begin drafting online poker regulations over the summer. The new legislation is nearly ready for approval and is expected to be ratified sometime in December. Lipparelli said that since online gaming in the U.S. is new ground for lawmakers, it’s very possible that regulatory amendments or revisions may need to be considered following initial enactment of any new laws.
Approximately 75 legal experts and regulators from around the world attended the gaming conference. Although I. Nelson Rose, an expert on gaming and a law professor at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif. was pessimistic about online poker regulations being passed anytime soon, other poker industry insiders saw things differently.
“I think legalization is closer now than ever before,” said Jon Porter, a former Nevada congressman who served in the House of Representatives for three terms and now advises the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).
Porter said that since tax revenue is needed so badly and the U.S. government faces automatic cuts of various worthwhile programs if some type of tax legislation isn’t approved soon that lawmakers will find a way to approve the obvious source of additional revenue that online poker would provide. But he stressed that gaming industry leaders need to voice their positions by lobbying and putting pressure on lawmakers.
“It’s not going to happen if you’re waiting for Caesars or state lotteries or the Poker Players Alliance to carry the ball,” said Porter, adding that the online gaming industry needs to consistently get its message across to lawmakers in order to move the legislation forward. “Sometimes the industry is its own worst enemy.”
Porter said that online gambling regulations may eventually be attached to another crucial bill towards the end of the legislative session, as was the case with the UIGEA’s passage in 2006. That bill rode the tails of the SAFE Port Act.
Porter also said that he gets the impression that one of online gambling’s leading opponents, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., may be softening his stance on the issue. But other conference attendees said that Kyl would like to see tribal casinos in his home state of Arizona receive online poker licensing and economic benefits before he will support online poker legislation.
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2006/12/07
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Aaron Kanter took fourth place in the 2005 WSOP Main Event. What has he been up to lately? We caught up with Kanter to find out in the latest edition of Where Are They Now.
How did Team PokerStars Pro member Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier become the player he is today? Find out in the latest edition of the Seat Open With series.
How did the Sunday Majors play out on PokerStars? Who took home the biggest win? Find out in the Sunday Briefing.
We all know what poker players do on the felt, but what about "normal" life? In the latest from the Off the Felt series, we talk to Joe Sebok about prop bets, his charity work, and more.
No Tax on Heinz
Pius Heinz collected $8.7 million for winning the World Series of Poker Main Event last week. How much of that will be taxed by his native country of Germany? None, according to Russ Fox of Clayton Financial and Tax.
CNBC sports analyst Darren Rovell tweeted a story by Fox that breaks down the tax situation for each of the 2011 November Niners. Fox says that Heinz benefits from the U.S.-Germany Tax Treaty, under which gambling income earned is "exempt from U.S. taxation." And, since Germany considers gambling to be a use of after-tax money, Heinz will keep all of his $8,715,638 in winnings.
Not a bad deal, considering 2008 champ Peter Eastgate handed over a reported 73 percent of his winnings to his native Denmark. Of his $9.1 million score, Eastgate took home less than $3 million.
A chart by Fox shows that $5.4 million of the $28.2 million awarded at the 2011 Main Event final table is considered taxable income. That's a total tax bite of 18.91 percent. Last year, the total tax bite at the final table was nearly 43 percent, but Fox notes that every player at the 2010 final table was subject to taxation.
For a closer look at the tax hits for each of the November Niners, check out taxabletalk.com.
Sam Trickett Wins Again
Move over Devilfish. There's a new king of poker in the United Kingdom.
Sam Trickett became Britain's all-time tournament money leader after winning the 2011 Partouche Poker Tour Main Event on Sunday. The 25-year-old pro collected €1,000,000 for the victory, moving him past Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott as the biggest winner in the country's history.
Trickett entered the final table as the chip leader and fought his way through a tough lineup that included Mads Wissing, Roger Hairabedian and WSOP bracelet winner Oleksii Kovalchuk. Trickett found himself heads-up with American Salman Behbehani for the title and overcame a two-to-one chip disadvantage to claim his second title of 2011. In January, Trickett won a High Roller Event at the Aussie Millions, and took second place in a Super High Roller event just five days later. His career earnings have now eclipsed $6 million, with more than $4.6 million coming this year alone.
Here's a look at the final results of the 2011 Partouche Poker Tour Main Event:
Place Player Prize
1 Sam Trickett €1,000,000
2 Salman Behbehani €600,000
3 Oleksii Kovalchuk €379,760
4 Ilan Boujenah €300,000
5 Roger Hairabedian €230,000
6 Mustapha Kanit €190,000
7 Alexander Dovzhenko €160,000
8 Alexander Coussy €130,000
9 Mads Wissing €100,000
Read UK.PokerNews.com for more on Trickett's win.
Feldman, Dempsey Lead PartyPoker Premier League
It turned out to be a great weekend at the tables for the U.K. The PartyPoker Premier League Mixed Game Championships kicked off Sunday at the Playboy Club London and a pair of British pros all but secured spots in the final after victories in their first heat.
James Dempsey and Andrew Feldman earned 16 points by winning their first tables as both players used their "double up" card, which doubles a player's points and can be used once during the three heats. Tony G, Luke Schwartz, Ben Carpenter and Sorel Mizzi also used their double up cards in the first heat, but none were able to place in the top two at their respective tables.
Matt Giannetti and Andy Frankenberger collected six points each for their runner-up finishes in Heat 1. Schwartz collected four points and sits in third behind Dempsey and Giannetti in Group A, and Carpenter is third in Group B with four points of his own. The top three in each group will reach the final for a shot at the $100,000 top prize.
Jennifer Tilly, playing in her first PartyPoker Premier League, scored zero points in Heat 1. Tilly told Craig Ferguson last week that she wants to quit playing poker, but she spoke with the PartyPoker Blog about those comments during a break in play on Sunday:
How did Team PokerStars Pro member Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier become the player he is today? Find out in the latest edition of the Seat Open With series.
How did the Sunday Majors play out on PokerStars? Who took home the biggest win? Find out in the Sunday Briefing.
We all know what poker players do on the felt, but what about "normal" life? In the latest from the Off the Felt series, we talk to Joe Sebok about prop bets, his charity work, and more.
No Tax on Heinz
Pius Heinz collected $8.7 million for winning the World Series of Poker Main Event last week. How much of that will be taxed by his native country of Germany? None, according to Russ Fox of Clayton Financial and Tax.
CNBC sports analyst Darren Rovell tweeted a story by Fox that breaks down the tax situation for each of the 2011 November Niners. Fox says that Heinz benefits from the U.S.-Germany Tax Treaty, under which gambling income earned is "exempt from U.S. taxation." And, since Germany considers gambling to be a use of after-tax money, Heinz will keep all of his $8,715,638 in winnings.
Not a bad deal, considering 2008 champ Peter Eastgate handed over a reported 73 percent of his winnings to his native Denmark. Of his $9.1 million score, Eastgate took home less than $3 million.
A chart by Fox shows that $5.4 million of the $28.2 million awarded at the 2011 Main Event final table is considered taxable income. That's a total tax bite of 18.91 percent. Last year, the total tax bite at the final table was nearly 43 percent, but Fox notes that every player at the 2010 final table was subject to taxation.
For a closer look at the tax hits for each of the November Niners, check out taxabletalk.com.
Sam Trickett Wins Again
Move over Devilfish. There's a new king of poker in the United Kingdom.
Sam Trickett became Britain's all-time tournament money leader after winning the 2011 Partouche Poker Tour Main Event on Sunday. The 25-year-old pro collected €1,000,000 for the victory, moving him past Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott as the biggest winner in the country's history.
Trickett entered the final table as the chip leader and fought his way through a tough lineup that included Mads Wissing, Roger Hairabedian and WSOP bracelet winner Oleksii Kovalchuk. Trickett found himself heads-up with American Salman Behbehani for the title and overcame a two-to-one chip disadvantage to claim his second title of 2011. In January, Trickett won a High Roller Event at the Aussie Millions, and took second place in a Super High Roller event just five days later. His career earnings have now eclipsed $6 million, with more than $4.6 million coming this year alone.
Here's a look at the final results of the 2011 Partouche Poker Tour Main Event:
Place Player Prize
1 Sam Trickett €1,000,000
2 Salman Behbehani €600,000
3 Oleksii Kovalchuk €379,760
4 Ilan Boujenah €300,000
5 Roger Hairabedian €230,000
6 Mustapha Kanit €190,000
7 Alexander Dovzhenko €160,000
8 Alexander Coussy €130,000
9 Mads Wissing €100,000
Read UK.PokerNews.com for more on Trickett's win.
Feldman, Dempsey Lead PartyPoker Premier League
It turned out to be a great weekend at the tables for the U.K. The PartyPoker Premier League Mixed Game Championships kicked off Sunday at the Playboy Club London and a pair of British pros all but secured spots in the final after victories in their first heat.
James Dempsey and Andrew Feldman earned 16 points by winning their first tables as both players used their "double up" card, which doubles a player's points and can be used once during the three heats. Tony G, Luke Schwartz, Ben Carpenter and Sorel Mizzi also used their double up cards in the first heat, but none were able to place in the top two at their respective tables.
Matt Giannetti and Andy Frankenberger collected six points each for their runner-up finishes in Heat 1. Schwartz collected four points and sits in third behind Dempsey and Giannetti in Group A, and Carpenter is third in Group B with four points of his own. The top three in each group will reach the final for a shot at the $100,000 top prize.
Jennifer Tilly, playing in her first PartyPoker Premier League, scored zero points in Heat 1. Tilly told Craig Ferguson last week that she wants to quit playing poker, but she spoke with the PartyPoker Blog about those comments during a break in play on Sunday:
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2006/12/07
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A recent press release from the European Parliament is calling on a more concerted effort by the European Commission to bring in new rules to govern the way online gambling is regulated in the Euro Zone. Members say the need for protection of consumers from illegal internet wagering and real guidelines for operators to ensure underage gambling is not permitted is paramount.
The issue is a double edged sword that is full of implementation difficulties. The Members of the E.U. parliament are saying that EU Member States should be free to maintain their own rules on online gambling. Yet to ensure safe play and services for the social issues that do arise, a total European Union coordinated approach is necessary. The Commission Green Paper that came out in March of 2011 and the non-legislative resolution by Jürgen Creutzmann (ALDE, DE) sets up the Commission’s position.
It was noted prior to the debate on a resolution to move forward that, "Member States must work must closer together on this issue. However, this will not suffice to solve the problems outlined. In the future, the EU will also have to play a stronger role,"
The MEPs also were looking for ways to combat illegal gambling and said blacklisted gambling providers should have all financial transactions blocked by payment processors and the banks.
To combat the proliferation of illegal online gambling operators MEPs suggested a licensing model with enforceable requirements.
Also the MEPs are calling for the Commission to set up common standards for operators or a framework directive and a European code of conduct for online gambling should be established to protect those vulnerable to gambling addiction. The resolution also asks for controls such as age verification and restrictions for electronic payment which the Parliamentary officials say need to be in place before any gambling begins.
The issue is a double edged sword that is full of implementation difficulties. The Members of the E.U. parliament are saying that EU Member States should be free to maintain their own rules on online gambling. Yet to ensure safe play and services for the social issues that do arise, a total European Union coordinated approach is necessary. The Commission Green Paper that came out in March of 2011 and the non-legislative resolution by Jürgen Creutzmann (ALDE, DE) sets up the Commission’s position.
It was noted prior to the debate on a resolution to move forward that, "Member States must work must closer together on this issue. However, this will not suffice to solve the problems outlined. In the future, the EU will also have to play a stronger role,"
The MEPs also were looking for ways to combat illegal gambling and said blacklisted gambling providers should have all financial transactions blocked by payment processors and the banks.
To combat the proliferation of illegal online gambling operators MEPs suggested a licensing model with enforceable requirements.
Also the MEPs are calling for the Commission to set up common standards for operators or a framework directive and a European code of conduct for online gambling should be established to protect those vulnerable to gambling addiction. The resolution also asks for controls such as age verification and restrictions for electronic payment which the Parliamentary officials say need to be in place before any gambling begins.
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2006/12/07
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29893
The website VegasInc.com reported yesterday that the Nevada State Gaming Control Board (GC😎 will begin accepting online poker licensing applications in February. The announcement was made by GCB Chairman Mark Lipparelli at the U.S. Online Gaming Law conference last week at the Aria casino in Las Vegas.
Any licenses issued would permit operators to only offer internet games to residents of Nevada. Because the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) is still in place, interstate online poker is not allowed. Intrastate online poker, or online poker within state borders, is explicitly permitted. Of course, proponents of legalization and regulation on the federal level argue that the intrastate game would not be able to achieve the critical mass needed to make it viable in most states, but that is besides the point.
For operators who are already licensed for brick and mortar gambling in Nevada, the process should go fairly quickly, according to Lipparelli. It won’t be as simple as stamping “APPROVED” on an application – operators will still have to show that they have the technology to keep underage players and those from outside Nevada off their site – but it should be relatively smooth. New operators, however, will be subjected to extensive licensing investigations, which could take several months.
“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Lipparelli said. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
Online gambling regulations are almost in place in Nevada. In September, the GCB held a public regulatory workshop to field questions and discuss possible revisions to Regulation 5A, the regulation that lays out the framework for online gambling in Nevada. Very few concerns were raised and everything seems on track for final approval in December.
Some of the highlights of the regulations include:
• Legal online gambling age will be 21.
• Licensees will be required to maintain a revolving fund of $20,000 to pay for compliance investigations.
• Players may only have one account at a given operator and may not use fake names.
• Credit cards are allowed as a means to deposit player funds.
• Inter-account transfers between players are not permitted.
• Hand histories must be kept by the operator for five years.
• Operators must take proactive steps to prevent bot use.
While the regulations would govern intrastate poker, they are also designed to have everything set to go so that Nevada can issue licenses for interstate internet poker if one of two things happen: a) the federal government formally legalizes online gambling, or b) the U.S. Department of Justice tells the Nevada Gaming Commission or the Gaming Control Board that interactive gaming is allowed by federal law. Nevada aims to be the state that prospective operators go to for online gambling licensing in the United States. It wants to be the capital for not just brick and mortar gaming, but online gaming, as well. Should online poker eventually become legalized and regulated nationwide, Nevada would see a revenue boost from licensing fees and new jobs would be created as poker operators set up shop in the state.
Any licenses issued would permit operators to only offer internet games to residents of Nevada. Because the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) is still in place, interstate online poker is not allowed. Intrastate online poker, or online poker within state borders, is explicitly permitted. Of course, proponents of legalization and regulation on the federal level argue that the intrastate game would not be able to achieve the critical mass needed to make it viable in most states, but that is besides the point.
For operators who are already licensed for brick and mortar gambling in Nevada, the process should go fairly quickly, according to Lipparelli. It won’t be as simple as stamping “APPROVED” on an application – operators will still have to show that they have the technology to keep underage players and those from outside Nevada off their site – but it should be relatively smooth. New operators, however, will be subjected to extensive licensing investigations, which could take several months.
“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Lipparelli said. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
Online gambling regulations are almost in place in Nevada. In September, the GCB held a public regulatory workshop to field questions and discuss possible revisions to Regulation 5A, the regulation that lays out the framework for online gambling in Nevada. Very few concerns were raised and everything seems on track for final approval in December.
Some of the highlights of the regulations include:
• Legal online gambling age will be 21.
• Licensees will be required to maintain a revolving fund of $20,000 to pay for compliance investigations.
• Players may only have one account at a given operator and may not use fake names.
• Credit cards are allowed as a means to deposit player funds.
• Inter-account transfers between players are not permitted.
• Hand histories must be kept by the operator for five years.
• Operators must take proactive steps to prevent bot use.
While the regulations would govern intrastate poker, they are also designed to have everything set to go so that Nevada can issue licenses for interstate internet poker if one of two things happen: a) the federal government formally legalizes online gambling, or b) the U.S. Department of Justice tells the Nevada Gaming Commission or the Gaming Control Board that interactive gaming is allowed by federal law. Nevada aims to be the state that prospective operators go to for online gambling licensing in the United States. It wants to be the capital for not just brick and mortar gaming, but online gaming, as well. Should online poker eventually become legalized and regulated nationwide, Nevada would see a revenue boost from licensing fees and new jobs would be created as poker operators set up shop in the state.
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2006/12/07
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29893
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has announced that in February it will start accepting license applications for companies to run online poker sites in the state.
Mark Lipparelli, Control Board chairman, told gaming industry professionals who were attending a conference on U.S. internet gaming laws at Aria Resort and Casino hotel last week that the board would be set to begin investigations of any and all applicants that month.
The process of obtaining a license is expected to proceed faster for companies who already hold gaming licenses in brick-and-mortar casinos in Nevada. Those who are approved and receive full licensing to offer internet poker play would be restricted to providing services to players within the boundaries of the state. Players in other states and overseas would not be able to access the Nevada poker sites, Lipparelli said. However, industry experts believe that intrastate online wagering will be just the first step in the regulating process and that interstate poker will eventually be allowed as well.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) strictly prohibits gaming companies from processing payments in conjunction with online betting, but does allow several exceptions, including fantasy sports and intratribal and intrastate wagering.
Companies with existing Nevada gaming licenses would have attachments to their current licenses detailing the new online services offered intrastate, while companies applying for new licensing would undergo rigorous licensing investigations, believed to take months to complete. Existing licensees will be required to show that their software can limit online players to Nevada residents as well as ensure that its players are not minors.
“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Lipparelli said. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
Several laws were passed by Nevada’s legislature earlier in 2011 that prompted the Nevada Gaming Commission and Control Board to begin drafting online poker regulations over the summer. The new legislation is nearly ready for approval and is expected to be ratified sometime in December. Lipparelli said that since online gaming in the U.S. is new ground for lawmakers, it’s very possible that regulatory amendments or revisions may need to be considered following initial enactment of any new laws.
Approximately 75 legal experts and regulators from around the world attended the gaming conference. Although I. Nelson Rose, an expert on gaming and a law professor at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif. was pessimistic about online poker regulations being passed anytime soon, other poker industry insiders saw things differently.
“I think legalization is closer now than ever before,” said Jon Porter, a former Nevada congressman who served in the House of Representatives for three terms and now advises the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).
Porter said that since tax revenue is needed so badly and the U.S. government faces automatic cuts of various worthwhile programs if some type of tax legislation isn’t approved soon that lawmakers will find a way to approve the obvious source of additional revenue that online poker would provide. But he stressed that gaming industry leaders need to voice their positions by lobbying and putting pressure on lawmakers.
“It’s not going to happen if you’re waiting for Caesars or state lotteries or the Poker Players Alliance to carry the ball,” said Porter, adding that the online gaming industry needs to consistently get its message across to lawmakers in order to move the legislation forward. “Sometimes the industry is its own worst enemy.”
Porter said that online gambling regulations may eventually be attached to another crucial bill towards the end of the legislative session, as was the case with the UIGEA’s passage in 2006. That bill rode the tails of the SAFE Port Act.
Porter also said that he gets the impression that one of online gambling’s leading opponents, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., may be softening his stance on the issue. But other conference attendees said that Kyl would like to see tribal casinos in his home state of Arizona receive online poker licensing and economic benefits before he will support online poker legislation.
Mark Lipparelli, Control Board chairman, told gaming industry professionals who were attending a conference on U.S. internet gaming laws at Aria Resort and Casino hotel last week that the board would be set to begin investigations of any and all applicants that month.
The process of obtaining a license is expected to proceed faster for companies who already hold gaming licenses in brick-and-mortar casinos in Nevada. Those who are approved and receive full licensing to offer internet poker play would be restricted to providing services to players within the boundaries of the state. Players in other states and overseas would not be able to access the Nevada poker sites, Lipparelli said. However, industry experts believe that intrastate online wagering will be just the first step in the regulating process and that interstate poker will eventually be allowed as well.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) strictly prohibits gaming companies from processing payments in conjunction with online betting, but does allow several exceptions, including fantasy sports and intratribal and intrastate wagering.
Companies with existing Nevada gaming licenses would have attachments to their current licenses detailing the new online services offered intrastate, while companies applying for new licensing would undergo rigorous licensing investigations, believed to take months to complete. Existing licensees will be required to show that their software can limit online players to Nevada residents as well as ensure that its players are not minors.
“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Lipparelli said. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
Several laws were passed by Nevada’s legislature earlier in 2011 that prompted the Nevada Gaming Commission and Control Board to begin drafting online poker regulations over the summer. The new legislation is nearly ready for approval and is expected to be ratified sometime in December. Lipparelli said that since online gaming in the U.S. is new ground for lawmakers, it’s very possible that regulatory amendments or revisions may need to be considered following initial enactment of any new laws.
Approximately 75 legal experts and regulators from around the world attended the gaming conference. Although I. Nelson Rose, an expert on gaming and a law professor at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif. was pessimistic about online poker regulations being passed anytime soon, other poker industry insiders saw things differently.
“I think legalization is closer now than ever before,” said Jon Porter, a former Nevada congressman who served in the House of Representatives for three terms and now advises the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).
Porter said that since tax revenue is needed so badly and the U.S. government faces automatic cuts of various worthwhile programs if some type of tax legislation isn’t approved soon that lawmakers will find a way to approve the obvious source of additional revenue that online poker would provide. But he stressed that gaming industry leaders need to voice their positions by lobbying and putting pressure on lawmakers.
“It’s not going to happen if you’re waiting for Caesars or state lotteries or the Poker Players Alliance to carry the ball,” said Porter, adding that the online gaming industry needs to consistently get its message across to lawmakers in order to move the legislation forward. “Sometimes the industry is its own worst enemy.”
Porter said that online gambling regulations may eventually be attached to another crucial bill towards the end of the legislative session, as was the case with the UIGEA’s passage in 2006. That bill rode the tails of the SAFE Port Act.
Porter also said that he gets the impression that one of online gambling’s leading opponents, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., may be softening his stance on the issue. But other conference attendees said that Kyl would like to see tribal casinos in his home state of Arizona receive online poker licensing and economic benefits before he will support online poker legislation.
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2006/12/07
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Late this week, two prominent members of the gaming community – one of the top gaming lawyers in the United States and the CEO of one of the major players in the worldwide casino industry – offered differing opinions on the future of legislation that would bring a regulated online poker industry to American players.
At a two day conference on online gaming law at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas on Thursday, the highly respected attorney I. Nelson Rose offered his opinions on the immediate future of potential legislation of the industry. According to an article on the website VegasInc.com and writer Richard Velotta, Rose has said that he doesn’t expect an online poker bill to make its way through the U. S. Congress “anytime soon,” despite requests for such legislation from players and gaming companies and the revenues that such regulation would bring.
In the article, Velotta says that Rose, who is the senior professor at the Whittier Law School in California, is “pessimistic” about the passage of legislation because the current Congress has “demonstrated they can’t come to an agreement on any significant legislation.” With the Congress unable to pass significant legislation, Rose cites six states – New Jersey, Iowa, California, Florida, Massachusetts and Nevada – that have demonstrated the potential to pass intrastate poker legislation.
Other states, such as Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, have the potential to break into the intrastate gaming market as they are driven by tribal gaming or other casino activity, Rose said in the VegasInc.com article.
A potential issue that Rose sees for any intrastate poker operation is the size of the state. He cites Nevada’s small population base (something that could be said for several other locations) as a potential disadvantage. Most gaming companies, Rose believes, would prefer federal legislation so that there are uniform laws on the industry.
While the online gaming conference was going on down the Strip, the Chief Executive Officer of Caesars Entertainment, Gary Loveman, talked a little more optimistically about the possibilities of regulation of the industry. Speaking during a conference call with investors on Thursday, Loveman estimated that Caesars would need approximately “twelve to fourteen months” to have an online poker operation up and running for U. S. customers.
In an article on Poker News Daily back in August, Loveman stated, “I do believe there’s a will in Congress to correct this,” he said. “There’s a sense of inevitability that this ought to be something people should do and that we ought to clean up the regulatory and policing environment for it and that’s what we’re seeking.” During the conference call, Loveman stated that the potential American online poker industry could “conservatively” generate up to $5 billion in yearly revenues.
Loveman has recently been one of the most outspoken proponents of online poker legislation in the United States, stating that Caesars is ready to enter into any potential U. S. online poker industry but is waiting for Congress to act. Part of the reason Caesars is ready is due to a deal signed earlier this year which set the foundation for the company’s entry into the American online gaming scene.
Back in March, Caesars Entertainment and 888 Holdings PLC entered into a partnership for the online gaming company to provide a branded “World Series of Poker” (owned by Caesars) online poker site to poker players outside the United States. If legislation is passed in the U. S. that opened up the online poker market, it is thought that the Caesars/888 partnership would open up some form of a WSOP-branded site for Americans.
Additionally, Caesars Entertainment has arguably made inroads into online gaming and poker that put it ahead of its competitors. Caesars Interactive Entertainment, led by former PartyGaming CEO Mitch Garber, has been in business since 2009 and it is thought that this arm of the Caesars Entertainment empire would take command of any potential online poker offering in the United States.
Although there has been plenty of talk in the halls of power in Washington, DC regarding online gaming, there has been little action. It remains to be seen which of these two gentlemen has their finger on the pulse of Congress and the federal government the best.
At a two day conference on online gaming law at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas on Thursday, the highly respected attorney I. Nelson Rose offered his opinions on the immediate future of potential legislation of the industry. According to an article on the website VegasInc.com and writer Richard Velotta, Rose has said that he doesn’t expect an online poker bill to make its way through the U. S. Congress “anytime soon,” despite requests for such legislation from players and gaming companies and the revenues that such regulation would bring.
In the article, Velotta says that Rose, who is the senior professor at the Whittier Law School in California, is “pessimistic” about the passage of legislation because the current Congress has “demonstrated they can’t come to an agreement on any significant legislation.” With the Congress unable to pass significant legislation, Rose cites six states – New Jersey, Iowa, California, Florida, Massachusetts and Nevada – that have demonstrated the potential to pass intrastate poker legislation.
Other states, such as Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, have the potential to break into the intrastate gaming market as they are driven by tribal gaming or other casino activity, Rose said in the VegasInc.com article.
A potential issue that Rose sees for any intrastate poker operation is the size of the state. He cites Nevada’s small population base (something that could be said for several other locations) as a potential disadvantage. Most gaming companies, Rose believes, would prefer federal legislation so that there are uniform laws on the industry.
While the online gaming conference was going on down the Strip, the Chief Executive Officer of Caesars Entertainment, Gary Loveman, talked a little more optimistically about the possibilities of regulation of the industry. Speaking during a conference call with investors on Thursday, Loveman estimated that Caesars would need approximately “twelve to fourteen months” to have an online poker operation up and running for U. S. customers.
In an article on Poker News Daily back in August, Loveman stated, “I do believe there’s a will in Congress to correct this,” he said. “There’s a sense of inevitability that this ought to be something people should do and that we ought to clean up the regulatory and policing environment for it and that’s what we’re seeking.” During the conference call, Loveman stated that the potential American online poker industry could “conservatively” generate up to $5 billion in yearly revenues.
Loveman has recently been one of the most outspoken proponents of online poker legislation in the United States, stating that Caesars is ready to enter into any potential U. S. online poker industry but is waiting for Congress to act. Part of the reason Caesars is ready is due to a deal signed earlier this year which set the foundation for the company’s entry into the American online gaming scene.
Back in March, Caesars Entertainment and 888 Holdings PLC entered into a partnership for the online gaming company to provide a branded “World Series of Poker” (owned by Caesars) online poker site to poker players outside the United States. If legislation is passed in the U. S. that opened up the online poker market, it is thought that the Caesars/888 partnership would open up some form of a WSOP-branded site for Americans.
Additionally, Caesars Entertainment has arguably made inroads into online gaming and poker that put it ahead of its competitors. Caesars Interactive Entertainment, led by former PartyGaming CEO Mitch Garber, has been in business since 2009 and it is thought that this arm of the Caesars Entertainment empire would take command of any potential online poker offering in the United States.
Although there has been plenty of talk in the halls of power in Washington, DC regarding online gaming, there has been little action. It remains to be seen which of these two gentlemen has their finger on the pulse of Congress and the federal government the best.
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2006/12/07
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29893
Every week, Bodog hosts thousands of poker tournaments, ranging from single table events to our massive $100,000 guaranteed tournaments. There's no way we can cover all of them, but we want to make sure you keep up with who won the biggest of the big games.
Who took the top spot in the $100,000 guaranteed online poker tournament held this past Sunday, November 13? RoLLiNonXtC took first place this week, earning $25,027.80. They were followed by MIGLAA ($14,422.80) and bucksly , who rounded out the top trifecta while earning $9,650. Here's the rest of the final table results: lechaim18 ($7,423.50); Enigma800 ($6,044.84); _STUMPY_ ($4,772.25); Tarzan11 ($3,499.65); elena_m ($2,333.10) and acewild82 ($1,378.64).
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Bodog's guaranteed tournaments mean that there's always a big cash pool and with more players getting in on the action every week, that means there's more to be won Play poker online at Bodog and get your share!
Who took the top spot in the $100,000 guaranteed online poker tournament held this past Sunday, November 13? RoLLiNonXtC took first place this week, earning $25,027.80. They were followed by MIGLAA ($14,422.80) and bucksly , who rounded out the top trifecta while earning $9,650. Here's the rest of the final table results: lechaim18 ($7,423.50); Enigma800 ($6,044.84); _STUMPY_ ($4,772.25); Tarzan11 ($3,499.65); elena_m ($2,333.10) and acewild82 ($1,378.64).
In addition to our show-stopping Sunday events, Bodog hosts its regular weekly tournaments for players, and here's the winners of last week's events!
November 7 • $10k Guaranteed Double-Stack: antithos ($3,905.00)
November 8 • $10k Guaranteed Double-Stack: tony5151 ($3,905.00)
November 9 • $10k Guaranteed Double-Stack: funkygroove ($3,918.75)
November 10 • $10k Guaranteed Double-Stack: pato22 ($3,)
November 13 • $10k Guaranteed Double-Stack: Observer1 ($4,303.75)
November 13 • $10k Guaranteed Turbo Double-Stack UrDoUghIsMiNe ($5,830.00)
Bodog's guaranteed tournaments mean that there's always a big cash pool and with more players getting in on the action every week, that means there's more to be won Play poker online at Bodog and get your share!
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2006/12/07
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Sam Trickett has proven to be pretty close to unbeatable in 2011 with a victory in the Partouche Poker Tour this past Sunday. Sam Trickett won the €1m first prize; amazingly this is his third seven-figure score in 2011 and they year's not over yet. This victory means he's now at the top of England's all-time tournament money list, firmly ahead of Devilfish.
Trickett took home over $2,400,000 for his wins at the Aussie Millions in January. He took down first and second place in super high-roller events and in the finale of the Partouche Poker Tour, he beat Salman Behbehani in heads-up play after overcoming a 2-1 chip deficit with some careful grinding that got him back in the chip lead he'd had at the start of the final table.
In the final hand, Trickett called Behbahni’s pre-flop 5-bet with T-T, essentially flipping a coin against A-J. The flop went blank for both and the neither the turn nor river helped the other player at all on the hand that meant a €400,000 difference.
The final table placing and payouts were as follows:
Sam Trickett €1,000,000
Salman Behbehani €600,000
Oleksii Kovalchuk €379,760
Ilan Boujenah €300,000
Roger Hairabedian €230,000
Alexander Dovzhenko €190,000
Mustapha Kanit €160,000
Alexandre Cousy €130,000
Mads Wissing €100,000
Trickett took home over $2,400,000 for his wins at the Aussie Millions in January. He took down first and second place in super high-roller events and in the finale of the Partouche Poker Tour, he beat Salman Behbehani in heads-up play after overcoming a 2-1 chip deficit with some careful grinding that got him back in the chip lead he'd had at the start of the final table.
In the final hand, Trickett called Behbahni’s pre-flop 5-bet with T-T, essentially flipping a coin against A-J. The flop went blank for both and the neither the turn nor river helped the other player at all on the hand that meant a €400,000 difference.
The final table placing and payouts were as follows:
Sam Trickett €1,000,000
Salman Behbehani €600,000
Oleksii Kovalchuk €379,760
Ilan Boujenah €300,000
Roger Hairabedian €230,000
Alexander Dovzhenko €190,000
Mustapha Kanit €160,000
Alexandre Cousy €130,000
Mads Wissing €100,000
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2006/12/07
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According to Mark Lipparelli, the Nevada Gaming Control Board chairman, the state of Nevada will soon begin accepting license applications for online poker sites to run their operations through the state.
During a conference on US Internet gaming law in November of 2011, Lipparelli made the announcement that the Gaming Control Board would start investigating applicants starting immediately. Naturally, casino operations that already hold some form of gaming license in Nevada will take precedent over new applications. Before poker players worldwide get too excited, the new licenses would not allow poker players outside Nevada to access the sites. Many in the industry believe this is a first step toward allowing interstate poker in the coming years.
The news comes after new legislation in Nevada opened the door for changes to existing Nevada online gaming laws. Lipparelli says we should expect more regulatory laws to appear after the new legislation to further define the legality of intrastate online poker play.
What prompted the change in direction? Nevada, like other states and territories worldwide, is in big need of new sources of tax revenue. The added revenue from online poker would give the state a much-needed boost.
In a strange twist, the new gaming regulations in Nevada are being added to other legislation, much like the anti-online gambling UIGEA in 2006. The difference is that this new legislation paves the way for less regulation of online gaming, not more.
This relaxation of state gaming law comes on the heels of rumors about Sen. Jon Kyl changing his mind about online gaming. Kyl, the main opponent of online gaming in America, is said to be loosening up his once hard-line position on gaming laws, in no small part due to the worldwide economic downturn.
During a conference on US Internet gaming law in November of 2011, Lipparelli made the announcement that the Gaming Control Board would start investigating applicants starting immediately. Naturally, casino operations that already hold some form of gaming license in Nevada will take precedent over new applications. Before poker players worldwide get too excited, the new licenses would not allow poker players outside Nevada to access the sites. Many in the industry believe this is a first step toward allowing interstate poker in the coming years.
The news comes after new legislation in Nevada opened the door for changes to existing Nevada online gaming laws. Lipparelli says we should expect more regulatory laws to appear after the new legislation to further define the legality of intrastate online poker play.
What prompted the change in direction? Nevada, like other states and territories worldwide, is in big need of new sources of tax revenue. The added revenue from online poker would give the state a much-needed boost.
In a strange twist, the new gaming regulations in Nevada are being added to other legislation, much like the anti-online gambling UIGEA in 2006. The difference is that this new legislation paves the way for less regulation of online gaming, not more.
This relaxation of state gaming law comes on the heels of rumors about Sen. Jon Kyl changing his mind about online gaming. Kyl, the main opponent of online gaming in America, is said to be loosening up his once hard-line position on gaming laws, in no small part due to the worldwide economic downturn.
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2006/12/07
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According to Gary Loveman, the CEO of Caesars Entertainment, the casino entertainment company can set up an online poker room in the US within just 12 to 14 months provided the Congress passes the required online poker bills. Loveman was addressing analysts and investors at a conference held to discuss the company’s third-quarter revenue, during which he spoke at length on the online poker legislation in the US. Loveman stated: “Because of the relationships we have in place already, I don’t think we would have to sign any more deals that would dilute our earnings from Internet poker.
One of the relationships the CEO is referring to is a partnership established with 888 Holdings, an online gambling company based in the UK, which is famous for its online poker brand. Thanks to this partnership, Caesars has online casinos in France, the UK, and Italy.
Loveman claims that Caesars was the first casino in the US to advocate the regulation and legalization of US online poker and is now being supported by Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts International, which recently signed a partnership agreement with Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Plc, the operator of the Party Poker brand. The deal was struck in a bid to facilitate the companies to grab a share of the US online poker market once the federal government legalizes the industry.
Loveman says that Caesars Entertainment is ready to grab a share of the market as soon as the Congress passes the bill. Disagreeing with analysts who state that the US online poker industry is worth an annual $5 billion, Loveman said: “I consider $5 billion to be a conservative figure.”
Caesars Entertainment is the owner of World Series of Poker (WSOP), which recently concluded its 2011 series at the Rio. Pius Heinz, a 22-year-old college student from Germany, emerged as the WSOP champion, collecting a breathtakingly huge sum of $8.7 million. According to Loveman, WSOP tournaments gave away $209 million to players who made cash finishes this year. He commented: “That’s about $10 million more than the payroll of the New York Yankees, and a much better bang for the buck.” The payroll of the Yankees is the biggest in the baseball industry.
Although Caesars Entertainment is a private company, it has debt that is owned by the public. The company runs a number of casinos in Las Vegas, chief of which are the Rio, Caesars Palace, Bally’s, and Harrah’s.
One of the relationships the CEO is referring to is a partnership established with 888 Holdings, an online gambling company based in the UK, which is famous for its online poker brand. Thanks to this partnership, Caesars has online casinos in France, the UK, and Italy.
Loveman claims that Caesars was the first casino in the US to advocate the regulation and legalization of US online poker and is now being supported by Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts International, which recently signed a partnership agreement with Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Plc, the operator of the Party Poker brand. The deal was struck in a bid to facilitate the companies to grab a share of the US online poker market once the federal government legalizes the industry.
Loveman says that Caesars Entertainment is ready to grab a share of the market as soon as the Congress passes the bill. Disagreeing with analysts who state that the US online poker industry is worth an annual $5 billion, Loveman said: “I consider $5 billion to be a conservative figure.”
Caesars Entertainment is the owner of World Series of Poker (WSOP), which recently concluded its 2011 series at the Rio. Pius Heinz, a 22-year-old college student from Germany, emerged as the WSOP champion, collecting a breathtakingly huge sum of $8.7 million. According to Loveman, WSOP tournaments gave away $209 million to players who made cash finishes this year. He commented: “That’s about $10 million more than the payroll of the New York Yankees, and a much better bang for the buck.” The payroll of the Yankees is the biggest in the baseball industry.
Although Caesars Entertainment is a private company, it has debt that is owned by the public. The company runs a number of casinos in Las Vegas, chief of which are the Rio, Caesars Palace, Bally’s, and Harrah’s.
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2006/12/07
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Congressional hearings are set to examine online poker, and updates from the European Poker Tour. It’s all in today’s edition of the PTP Hit and Run.
Two Congressional hearings on tap: Over the next couple of days, the U.S. Congress will listen to a lot of testimony as two key committees tackle the issue of regulation of online gaming and poker. Get the details on the hearings here.
Meanwhile, Nevada isn’t waiting for the federal government to get its act together; more on their efforts to regulate online gaming here.
And outside of the United States, a trade group called the Remote Gambling Association welcomed the news that the European Union is trying to get all its member states on the same page when it comes to online gaming. Read more here.
EPT: The European Poker Tour stop in Loutraki, Greece, is heading into day two. Get the latest from PokerStars’ blog here. Kevin MacPhee is the most recognizable name near the top of the chip counts, which you can check out here. And here’s a report from the scene: HNR 11/16: Congressional Hearings on Online Poker; EPT Greece
Two Congressional hearings on tap: Over the next couple of days, the U.S. Congress will listen to a lot of testimony as two key committees tackle the issue of regulation of online gaming and poker. Get the details on the hearings here.
Meanwhile, Nevada isn’t waiting for the federal government to get its act together; more on their efforts to regulate online gaming here.
And outside of the United States, a trade group called the Remote Gambling Association welcomed the news that the European Union is trying to get all its member states on the same page when it comes to online gaming. Read more here.
EPT: The European Poker Tour stop in Loutraki, Greece, is heading into day two. Get the latest from PokerStars’ blog here. Kevin MacPhee is the most recognizable name near the top of the chip counts, which you can check out here. And here’s a report from the scene: HNR 11/16: Congressional Hearings on Online Poker; EPT Greece
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2006/12/07
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Mark Lipparelli, Chairman of Nevada State Gaming Control Board (GC😎, proclaimed last week that they online poker officials can submit their applications of license from February, next year. Online poker is allowed to be officially played within the states in America but it is completely unlawful to contest any kind of tournaments amongst different states participants.
Obviously, it is very uneconomical for the poker officials to conduct tournaments within a state as there are not many players available to make it a feasible option but at the moment that aspect is being neglected and Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) clause of no interstate poker still prevails.
The whole procedure of licensing won’t be straight forward and licensers don’t think it to be a simple stamping process. Applicants that already own licenses for and mortar gambling in Nevada will be done with the procedure relatively quickly but other applicants will have to portray that they contain the technology to prevent any minor’s participation in the tournament.
The process of license issuing might take several months as it will require in-depth analysis of the feasibility report provided by the applicants and their technology inspection. Lipparelli said “We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level. We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
Rules and regulation for online poker is already in place in Nevada, there is just a need of refining few clauses and the framework will be ready. GCB conducted a workshop in September to finalize the legislation for online poker and there were very minor changes being suggested that will be completed by December.
Gambling will be legal only for the people aging 21 and above. Players can use their credit cards for financial transactions but no transaction should take place amongst players directly. Five years tournament history of each player will be kept by the operators and only one account for every player will be maintained with their original name.
There are several advancements towards interstate poker allowance as well but currently the stipulation of UIGEA still exists at the moment. The regulations are made with utmost care and interstate poker consideration is kept in mind so there is no need to make any more amendments when interstate poker is legalized.
It’s a positive step to enhance online gambling but it requires excessive security to prevent misuse or underage access.
Obviously, it is very uneconomical for the poker officials to conduct tournaments within a state as there are not many players available to make it a feasible option but at the moment that aspect is being neglected and Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) clause of no interstate poker still prevails.
The whole procedure of licensing won’t be straight forward and licensers don’t think it to be a simple stamping process. Applicants that already own licenses for and mortar gambling in Nevada will be done with the procedure relatively quickly but other applicants will have to portray that they contain the technology to prevent any minor’s participation in the tournament.
The process of license issuing might take several months as it will require in-depth analysis of the feasibility report provided by the applicants and their technology inspection. Lipparelli said “We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level. We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”
Rules and regulation for online poker is already in place in Nevada, there is just a need of refining few clauses and the framework will be ready. GCB conducted a workshop in September to finalize the legislation for online poker and there were very minor changes being suggested that will be completed by December.
Gambling will be legal only for the people aging 21 and above. Players can use their credit cards for financial transactions but no transaction should take place amongst players directly. Five years tournament history of each player will be kept by the operators and only one account for every player will be maintained with their original name.
There are several advancements towards interstate poker allowance as well but currently the stipulation of UIGEA still exists at the moment. The regulations are made with utmost care and interstate poker consideration is kept in mind so there is no need to make any more amendments when interstate poker is legalized.
It’s a positive step to enhance online gambling but it requires excessive security to prevent misuse or underage access.
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2006/12/07
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At a two day conference on online gaming law at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas on Thursday, the highly respected attorney I. Nelson Rose offered his opinions on the immediate future of potential legislation of the industry. According to an article on the website VegasInc.com and writer Richard Velotta, Rose has said that he doesn’t expect an online poker bill to make its way through the U. S. Congress “anytime soon,” despite requests for such legislation from players and gaming companies and the revenues that such regulation would bring.
In the article, Velotta says that Rose, who is the senior professor at the Whittier Law School in California, is “pessimistic” about the passage of legislation because the current Congress has “demonstrated they can’t come to an agreement on any significant legislation.” With the Congress unable to pass significant legislation, Rose cites six states – New Jersey, Iowa, California, Florida, Massachusetts and Nevada – that have demonstrated the potential to pass intrastate poker legislation.
Other states, such as Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, have the potential to break into the intrastate gaming market as they are driven by tribal gaming or other casino activity, Rose said in the VegasInc.com article.
A potential issue that Rose sees for any intrastate poker operation is the size of the state. He cites Nevada’s small population base (something that could be said for several other locations) as a potential disadvantage. Most gaming companies, Rose believes, would prefer federal legislation so that there are uniform laws on the industry.
While the online gaming conference was going on down the Strip, the Chief Executive Officer of Caesars Entertainment, Gary Loveman, talked a little more optimistically about the possibilities of regulation of the industry. Speaking during a conference call with investors on Thursday, Loveman estimated that Caesars would need approximately “twelve to fourteen months” to have an online poker operation up and running for U. S. customers.
In an article on Poker News Daily back in August, Loveman stated, “I do believe there’s a will in Congress to correct this,” he said. “There’s a sense of inevitability that this ought to be something people should do and that we ought to clean up the regulatory and policing environment for it and that’s what we’re seeking.” During the conference call, Loveman stated that the potential American online poker industry could “conservatively” generate up to $5 billion in yearly revenues.
Loveman has recently been one of the most outspoken proponents of online poker legislation in the United States, stating that Caesars is ready to enter into any potential U. S. online poker industry but is waiting for Congress to act. Part of the reason Caesars is ready is due to a deal signed earlier this year which set the foundation for the company’s entry into the American online gaming scene.
Back in March, Caesars Entertainment and 888 Holdings PLC entered into a partnership for the online gaming company to provide a branded “World Series of Poker” (owned by Caesars) online poker site to poker players outside the United States. If legislation is passed in the U. S. that opened up the online poker market, it is thought that the Caesars/888 partnership would open up some form of a WSOP-branded site for Americans.
Additionally, Caesars Entertainment has arguably made inroads into online gaming and poker that put it ahead of its competitors. Caesars Interactive Entertainment, led by former PartyGaming CEO Mitch Garber, has been in business since 2009 and it is thought that this arm of the Caesars Entertainment empire would take command of any potential online poker offering in the United States.
Although there has been plenty of talk in the halls of power in Washington, DC regarding online gaming, there has been little action. It remains to be seen which of these two gentlemen has their finger on the pulse of Congress and the federal government the best.