Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) has introduced an updated version of HR 2268 dubbed the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act. HR 2268 was introduced last May and the new bill is numbered HR 4976. Read more »
Poker Legislation
Poker Legislation News
True Poker Domain Owners File Affidavit in Kentucky Internet Gambling Case
In breaking news from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the owners of TruePoker.com have filed an affidavit pledging that the company is a member of the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA). Read more »
New Jersey Introduces Internet Gaming Bill
A newly proposed law in New Jersey could allow the state's licensed casinos in Atlantic City to offer internet gambling to residents within state lines. New Jersey House Bill 2570, introduced into by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak this month, would enable New Jersey residents to place wagers on casino games, including poker, via the internet. Read more »
Kentucky Supreme Court Sides with State in Internet Gambling Case
In breaking news from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the state's Supreme Court has ruled against the owners of 141 internet gambling domain names, charging that the principal parties involved do not have standing. Read more »
Kentucky Internet Gambling Decision May Be Rendered Thursday
Thursday marks a possible release date of a decision in the case involving the seizure of 141 internet gambling domain names. The URLs at risk belong to some of the industry's marquee sites like PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. Read more »
Poker Players Alliance Focusing Efforts on State Level
To open the 2010 calendar year, officials from the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) have largely focused their energies on the state level, including Florida, California, Alaska, and Delaware. Read more »
Poker Industry Reacts to Senate Internet Gambling Legislation S 3018
Last month, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) introduced the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act. The measure includes language legalizing and regulating internet gambling in the United States. Now, the industry has had a chance to react. Read more »
Barney Frank’s Internet Gambling Bill Gains 66th Co-Sponsor
Last week, Congressman Barney Frank (D–MA) garnered another co-sponsor to his internet gambling bill, bringing the total number of co-sponsors, including Frank himself, to 66. Read more »
Kentucky House Passes Bill Taxing Online and Phone Horse Racing Wagers
Despite an ongoing court battle to rid the state of 141 internet gambling sites, Kentucky's House passed a bill taxing online and phone "advanced deposit wagers" on horse racing by an 85-8 margin. Now, the measure will be discussed in the Kentucky Senate. Read more »
Ontario Follows Quebec in Potential Bid to Enact Provincial Online Gaming and Poker
Following the lead of the province of Quebec, the leaders of the province of Ontario are now examining the possibility of starting their own provincial online gaming and poker outlets. Facing a deficit of $24.7 billion this fiscal year, the government of Ontario, headed by Premier Dalton McGuinty, is attempting to find ways to make up that shortfall. Read more »
Senators Ron Wyden and Judd Gregg Introduce Internet Gambling Legislation
On Tuesday, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) introduced S 3018, the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act. Among other topics, the bill establishes a framework to tax and regulate internet gambling in the United States. Read more »
European Court of Justice Opinions Question National Monopolies On Online Poker
The landscape of the European online poker and casino gaming world continues to get murkier as two recent opinions from the European Court of Justice question the legalities of the Austrian and Swedish gaming laws. Read more »
GPSTS Backing Massachusetts Poker Bill
On Tuesday, a hearing in Massachusetts will feature a discussion of whether poker should legally be considered a game of skill. Supporting the measure is the Harvard-based Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society (GPSTS). Read more »
UIGEA Proponent Jon Kyl Drops Blockage of Obama Treasury Nominees
Recently, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, a Republican who has been a longtime proponent of making online gaming and poker illegal and a staunch supporter of the UIGEA, dropped his opposition to several of President Barack Obama's nominees to the Treasury Department. Read more »
European Internal Market Commissioner Comments on bwin/Santa Casa Case
European gambling companies received some positive comments from the new European Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier this week. Speaking for the first time since taking over the role in January, Barnier told the European Parliament Thursday that last year's bwin/Santa Casa ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has little bearing on the Commission's approach to infringement procedures against member states. Read more »
New Jersey Committee Approves Sports Betting, Internet Gambling May Be Next
A New Jersey State Senate Committee approved a bill calling for a referendum on sports wagering by a 4-0 margin on Monday. A measure authorizing intrastate internet gambling may be next on the docket. Read more »
New Jersey Internet Gambling Hearing Features iMEGA Testimony
On Monday, officials from the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) participated in a hearing of the New Jersey Senate Gaming and Tourism Committee. Taking center stage was whether to legalize online sports betting and internet gambling. Read more »
Morongo Indian Tribe Calling for Online Poker in California
The battle over whether California Indian tribes can provide online poker may soon come to a head. Many in the industry are anticipating a hearing on the issue next month, as the tribe behind an effort to create a state-sanctioned online poker site last year has apparently renewed its efforts to push a bill. Read more »
ECJ Upholds EU Law Over State Regulations in Online Gaming Case
A recent decision by the European Union's Court of Justice (ECJ) offered clarification as to how EU law affects online gaming regulations in individual states within the Union. Read more »
No Decision Handed Down in Kentucky Internet Gambling Case
The Kentucky Supreme Court failed to hand down a decision on Thursday in the case involving the seizure and potential forfeiture of 141 internet gambling domain names. Read more »
Poker Players Alliance Pushing for February Markup of HR 2267
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the industry's one-million member strong lobbying organization, is ramping up for what could be a monumental 2010 legislative year. At stake is the future of online poker in the United States. Read more »
Internet Gambling Bill Introduced in New Jersey
Legalized internet gambling and online poker may be coming to New Jersey. State Senator Raymond Lesniak introduced S 3167, which specifically legalizes the internet version of popular brick and mortar games like poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, the big six wheel, slot machines, mini baccarat, red dog, pai gow, and sic bo. Read more »
Kentucky Internet Gambling Decision May Come January 21st
It's been 16 months since 141 internet gambling domain names belonging to some of the world's largest online poker sites were seized in Kentucky. As their assets face potential forfeiture, the owners of the domain names may learn their fate as soon as January 21st. Read more »
Senator Jon Kyl Blocks US Treasury Nominations Due to UIGEA Delays
Many political bloggers are criticizing Senator Jon Kyl's recent tactic of stalling Treasury appointments in response to delays in the implementation of his Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Read more »
United Kingdom Poker Tax Laws Changing
Online gaming operators such as Ladbrokes and William Hill fled to Gibraltar last year in order to escape U.K. government gambling taxes and become more competitive with overseas operators. Now, it appears the relocation could be all for naught. Read more »