Poker Legislation News
A bill which would legalize internet gambling in New Jersey passed through the state Senate’s State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee Tuesday. Senate Bill 1565, sponsored by State Senators Raymond Lesniak (D – Union) and James Whelan (D – Atlantic), “…authorizes Internet wagering at Atlantic City casinos to enable New Jersey residents to… Read more »
With several states at least considering the option of intrastate online poker and the federal government still seemingly entertaining the idea of licensing and regulating the industry, the state of Utah has decided to head in the other direction. Earlier this last week, Governor Gary Herbert signed into law a bill that makes online poker… Read more »
A popular California newspaper has published an op-ed piece that comes out against any proposals by the state’s political or business factions to bring online poker to the state. In an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, writer James B. Butler pens an op-ed entitled, “Worth A Gamble? Legislation Is Losing Bet For State.” He… Read more »
The Australian payment processor who may have been the U.S. government’s key to the Black Friday indictments is set to become the prosecution’s star witness against two of the men named in those indictments, according to the Australian Associated Press. Daniel Tzvetkoff, former owner of Intabill, will appear in a New York courtroom on April… Read more »
A series of bills that would have legalized gambling, including online poker, in the state of Hawaii have all been stopped dead in their tracks. Hawaii is one of two states, along with Utah, that has no forms of legalized gambling. It is not for a lack of trying, however, as around 150 attempts have… Read more »
Reports indicate that the Iowa House of Representatives, after receiving potential legislation that would have added the Hawkeye State to the roster of potential states offering online poker, has shot down the proposed regulatory action, effectively ending online poker’s possibilities in the state. According to KCRG-TV, the Iowa House received Senate File 2257 yesterday after… Read more »
Legalized online poker is one step closer to a reality in Iowa. Senate File 2275, an “Act authorizing licensees… to operate internet wagering on poker,” passed the state Senate Tuesday by a vote of 29 to 20. The bill was introduced by State Senator Jeff Danielson (D – Cedar Falls) on February 27th, nearly a… Read more »
A bill which would have legalized and regulated internet gambling in the state of Mississippi has died in committee. House Bill 1373, the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2012, was introduced by State Representative Bobby Moak to the Mississippi House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee on February 20, 2012 and unfortunately died a… Read more »
Reports out of Iowa this morning are confirming that a bill that would legalize and regulate online poker in the state has passed through a Senate subcommittee. On Wednesday night, the Senate State Government Committee met to discuss the issue of online poker, both on the internet and through smartphones. There was a good deal… Read more »
According to one of the most respected gaming reporters in the business, federal legislation that would regulate and legalize the online poker industry in the United States is more than likely shut down until 2013 at the earliest. On his Twitter account Friday afternoon, Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Howard Stutz chirped to his readers, “One… Read more »
After several months of analysis and debate, a bill that would legalize and regulate online poker in the state of Iowa could come to the General Assembly as soon as this month, but the battle may just be starting in the Hawkeye State. An article on IowaPolitics.com written by Lynn Campbell points out the two… Read more »
The New York Times is reporting that some states, while willing to open the doors for online gaming and poker within their borders, will not see the windfall revenues that would be necessary to solve critical budget issues. The article, written by New York Times writer Michael Cooper, examines the profits that states that are… Read more »
The state of Iowa has long been one of the states included in the discussion of those that could possibly legalize and regulate online poker within its own borders. There was some activity on that front last spring, but nothing materialized. Now, with the recent Department of Justice (DoJ) reversal on the Wire Act, it… Read more »
Eight professional poker players filed a lawsuit against Excapsa Software, Inc., the former controlling company of online poker room UltimateBet, seeking damages for Excapsa’s role in the cheating scandal that was uncovered in 2008. The plaintiffs in the case are, in alphabetical order, Daniel “Ashman” Ashman, Brad “Yukon” Booth, Thomas “tommyboy83” Koral, Greg “Captain Zeebo”… Read more »
Ira Rubin, one of the 11 men indicted by the United States Department of Justice on Black Friday, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy charges in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Sentencing has been set for May 17th. Rubin admitted to working with online poker rooms PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker as a payment processor. He… Read more »
According to reports, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has apparently changed his mind regarding the regulation and licensing of online gaming, including poker, in the state. On NorthJersey.com, writer John Brennan’s “Meadowlands Matters” blog reported Wednesday afternoon that the discussions regarding the regulation of online gaming are ramping up, although a bill that was on… Read more »
According to an Associated Press report, there is currently an eleventh hour effort in the works to legalize intrastate online gambling in New Jersey. State Senator Raymond Lesniak is attempting to push an online gambling bill through the state legislature and the hopefully get it signed by Governor Chris Christie by the end of the… Read more »
Following the announcement of the decision last week by the U. S. Department of Justice that the Wire Act of 1961 did not apply to online gaming and poker, many in the poker community trumpeted the clarification of policy. That initial positive response, however, has been tempered over the past week as some of the… Read more »
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the million member poker advocacy non-profit organization known for its lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, released a statement late last week applauding the U.S. Department of Justice’s ruling that online poker does not violate the Wire Act of 1961. While the Fifth District Court determined that the Wire Act only… Read more »
It was expected to be a formality, and it was. In a unanimous 4-0 vote Thursday, the Nevada Gaming Commission approved Regulation 5A, which sets the rules for intrastate online poker, including operator licensing requirements. As it stands now, any operator who obtains an online poker license will be restricted to offering games to customers… Read more »
In a surprise move by the federal government, the U. S. Department of Justice has clarified its stance on internet gaming that could open the doors for intrastate poker to become a reality in the United States. The legal opinion was issued by the DoJ on Friday, but the original decision was made back in… Read more »
According to a report by the Associated Press, Brent Beckley, co-founder of the online poker room Absolute Poker, pleaded guilty Tuesday to the criminal charge of Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud. The charge was one of nine listed in the indictment of a total of eleven principals and financial intermediaries of Absolute Poker,… Read more »
According to a highly respected financial magazine, there is a battle brewing in Europe between one of the member European Union countries and a top player in the online gaming and poker industries regarding proposed regulations for the nation. In an article on the Financial Times website written by James Wilson on November 30, the… Read more »
Online poker’s top ally in the halls of Congress, Representative Barney Frank (D – Mass.) announced Monday that he will not seek re-election in 2012. He has served the people of the Massachusetts 4th Congressional District since 1981 and was the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee from 2007 through 2011, a committee on… Read more »
The website VegasInc.com reported yesterday that the Nevada State Gaming Control Board (GCB) 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… Read more »
