It has been a major question for nearly a decade in the state of Texas. The proliferation of poker “clubs” – which circumvent the state’s archaic anti-gambling laws – has simultaneously flourished while local law enforcement tries to curb their growth. A hearing held on Wednesday examined two bills that would attempt to put some… Read more »
Poker Legislation
Poker Legislation News
No Online Poker or Casino Gaming in New York in 2023
At the start of the year, there were hopes that the state of New York would be joining those states who have passed online casino and poker legislation. After the introductory period for the current year’s budgets in the New York State Legislature concluded, however, that did not come to pass. That means that, for… Read more »
Who Might Be the Next Entry into Online Gaming? Would You Believe Rhode Island?
One of the parlor games that the gaming industry likes to play is “Which state will be the next to pass online gaming regulations?” Of course, there are the usual suspects – California, Texas, and Florida, to name a few – but there is one state lurking out there that has escaped notice…that is until… Read more »
Atlantic City Casinos Buck Court Ruling, Continue to Ban Guns on Property
Casino association asserts its rights If you’re the type of person who takes the poker term “under the gun” literally, you might want to leave your weapons safely locked up at home before your next jaunt to Atlantic City. On Monday, the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) said that, despite a US District Court… Read more »
Bill to Legalize Online Poker Introduced in New York
Skill game, not luck If nothing else, you’ve got to commend New York State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow for his persistence. On Tuesday, Pretlow introduced a bill that would legalize online poker something, he has tried nearly every year for about a decade. Pretlow’s tactic is to classify poker as a game of skill, therefore… Read more »
Courts to Hear Arguments on Florida Sports Betting on Wednesday
It’s only taken a little longer than a year but, come Wednesday, Floridians might get some idea if they can bet on sports in the state or not. After final briefs were filed by both the federal government and Florida officials, the D. C. Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments as to whether the… Read more »
Belgium Shuts Down Sports Betting Advertising During World Cup; Texas Pols Argue Over Just Allowing Sports Betting
It’s no secret that there are different views on sports betting between Europe and the States of America. In one of the locales in the States, the pols can’t seem to get on the same page, with one former leader of the state advocating for sports betting. Meanwhile, in a major football (soccer) power’s home… Read more »
Virginia General Assembly Clouds the Waters on Charitable Gaming
For some states that do NOT have casinos and gambling, the way around the gambling laws has been through charitable gaming. Charitable gaming in some cases can mean a “Casino Night” fundraiser, but in other areas, it can mean a poker room. The Commonwealth of Virginia is one such state that has charitable poker rooms… Read more »
Texas Bill Presented to Shut Down Membership Poker Clubs
Previously we have reported on moves in the Texas Legislature to create the Texas Gaming Commission, which would have the regulatory authority over the creation of casino gaming and sports betting in the Lone Star State. Now, the other side of the equation is sounding its opinion. In a House bill introduced last week, the… Read more »
Texas Legislator Looks to Push for Sports Betting in 2023
Considering it is the birthplace of the most popular form of poker in the world, Texas’ record on gambling is quite convoluted. Currently, the state does not allow for any type of gambling – officially – although there has been an influx of poker “clubs” throughout the Lone Star State. Looking forward to 2023, a… Read more »
California Sports Betting Propositions Fail Miserably
Most of the focus of Tuesday’s US elections was on the balance of power in the House of Representatives and Senate, but there were loads of contests up and down every state’s ballot, including two Propositions in California related to sports betting. Let’s just say I hope you didn’t bet on sports betting becoming legal… Read more »
New Potential Gaming Avenues in Illinois, West Virginia
Since the U. S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), there has been a rush by many states to enact new gaming avenues and venues for their citizens. Sometimes those venues also call for expansion on their own. In two states, Illinois and West Virginia, new gaming avenues are potentially… Read more »
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Softening on Gambling Expansion Amidst Re-Election Campaign
Mixed message In a political campaign, candidates will often say anything to get votes. Who knows if that is the case in the Texas gubernatorial race, but Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who has historically been staunchly against gambling, has indicated that he would be open gambling expansion should he win his bid for re-election. “We… Read more »
Sports Betting Going in Different Directions in California, Missouri
Since 2018, sports betting has taken off across the States of America. The ability to bet on sports, either online or live, has energized fans of all sports and helped the coffers of different states. Two states, however, are heading in two completely different directions regarding the dicey subject. California Maybe… The state of California… Read more »
Stacey Abrams Has Gambling Expansion in Her Economic Plan in Georgia Should She Become Governor
Attempt to bolster scholarship programs Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams recently unveiled her economic plan, should she become the state’s chief executive. Included in that plan: substantial gambling expansion. Abrams said she is in favor of legislation that legalize both casino gambling and sports betting. Currently, the only legal gambling in Georgia is the… Read more »
American Gaming Association Calls for Feds to Go After “Unregulated” Operations
Online gaming has been a part of the lexicon for the past 25 years. The American Gaming Association (AGA), the lobbying group for the American casino market, has had several different stances regarding online gaming over that time span. In a letter to the U. S. Department of Justice last week, the AGA has once… Read more »
New Ontario Online Gaming Laws Take Effect Monday
Beginning Monday, the online gaming world will be set to change in the Canadian province of Ontario. While the rest of the country will be able to partake of various offshore online gaming offerings, Ontarians will be reckoning with new laws intended to rein in the online gaming industry in the province. The initial result… Read more »
Dallas City Attorney Makes Mistake in Pushing for Shutdown of City Poker Rooms
This last week, the city of Dallas, TX, made a decision regarding the poker “clubs” that have sprung up around the city. The City Attorney for Dallas, Gary Powell, had been pushing for the closure of these rooms. But the attorney forgot one thing – he would have to provide evidence as to a reason… Read more »
Connecticut Open for Online Poker – And Business is…Slow
There are now seven players in the state-by-state online poker industry in the States of America. Connecticut became the seventh state to open the doors for online poker inside its borders earlier this month. However, there has also been molasses-slow response to this new development as there have been no operators stepping up to offer… Read more »
Decision on Florida/Seminole Gaming Compact Won’t Be Settled Soon
For those who were expecting a quick decision on the legality of the gaming compact between the Seminole Indians and the Florida gubernatorial leadership, you might be waiting much longer. A decision in the U. S. Court of Appeals has set back even further any consideration for the case. At this time, there is no… Read more »
Ontario Legal Privatized Online Gambling to Launch April 4
Not totally privatized, actually The long road to legal, privatized online gambling in Ontario is about to end. On Friday, iGaming Ontario (iGO) announced the launch date for operators to start offering games is April 4. There was hope that this would have already happened near the end of 2021, but this is government and… Read more »
“Grassroots” PAC Against Gaming Amendments in Florida Actual Front Group for Seminole Tribe
The battle is beginning to heat up in Florida regarding sports betting and it seems that neither side is playing fair. Allegations of improper petition collections and outright fraud have been claimed by one side. But that organization making the accusations has not disclosed that the “grassroots” effort that people assume it is representing is… Read more »
Missouri Lawmakers Moving to Ban “Pre-Reveal” Machines
Peer into the future When we fantasize about having poker superpowers, one that is usually at the top of people’s lists is the ability to see what cards are coming next. This power could be extremely useful in other forms of casino gambling, as well, and guess what? It exists in some cases. There are… Read more »
Former Senator Harry Reid, Online Poker Political Champion-Turned-Opponent, Dies at 82
The leading online poker proponent in the Senate Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D – Nev.) passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82. Reid underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2018 and said in early 2019 that he was in remission. According to his wife, it does appear that his death was… Read more »
Florida Seminoles Shut Down Sports Betting Operation After Court Decisions
When the gaming compact between the Seminole Indians of Florida and the state of Florida was signed in April many, including the governor of Florida Ron DeSantis, expected challenges to the compact. DeSantis and others felt, however, that gaming would be allowed to continue unabated. That ended last week as the Seminoles decided to shut… Read more »