Sometimes I just don’t understand the offline casino world. Another casino executive is saying publicly that they do not support online gambling legislation. Anthony Marnell of the M Resort in Vegas feels legalizing online poker won’t provide structure to the industry it will increase the number of underage gamblers.
Marnell explained that with “real” casinos it is much easier to regulate play than you can online. Legal online gambling will produce more gambling addictions according to Marnell. The logic is hard to determine in Marnell’s case. Addicts don’t need help feeding an addiction and to presume anyone under age will succumb to a problem simply because of their age is silly. Perhaps instead of focusing on what can’t be controlled (and currently isn’t controlled) Marnell and people like him should use their press time to promote gambler education and addiction assistance. Online poker did not invent gambling addiction.
As the push for online gaming legislation and intrastate [...]
For a long time it seemed as if New Jersey would be the first state to pass online intrastate gambling laws. Last year there was quite a push for the legislation that would create thousands of jobs and thousands of dollars in tax money for the beleaguered state. Even though the bill passed through the house without a problem, Governor Bill Christie vetoed it at the last minute. Once more Sen. Raymond Lesniak is trying to get the bill approved. He has until the session ends on January 9th.
Since the last time Lesniak tried to get the bill passed there have been a number of key changes that may make it easier for Governor Christie to consent to the new set of regulations. On December 22, 2011 the state of Nevada working with the Nevada Gaming Commission legally began the application process for intrastate online poker licenses. Already a half dozen gaming companies have applied [...]
Yes its that time of year when everyone likes to predict what is going to happen in the coming months. 2011 was quite a year full of scandal, gossip, unexpected wins and newly created poker tournaments. If you were paying attention last year to the poker news then the predictions below make sense. I’m just not sure if I want to be proved right in every case.
Predictions
The Black Friday saga will continue to fill up poker chat forums for most of the year.
The increased pressure for federal online poker registration will get some preliminary ideas passed through the house. More governors will get on board as the national economy struggles to get back on its feet.
There will be an explosion of new online sites to play poker including sister sites to some of the physical casinos in Vegas and New Jersey.
At least five more states will pass some form of intrastate gambling law to increase [...]
Pokerstars has been in the spotlight lately because of some of their choices in regards to the Black Friday affair but this week Pokerstars has a bit of positive spin to share. The online poker giant is one of only three sites that will offer real money gambling in Belgium. Belgium, like the United States, is attempting to crack down on illegal websites. Their new Gambling Act has enough stipulations to keep casinos kosher.
Pokerstars established a relationship with a Belgium gaming group almost two years ago possibly in preparation for this new legislation. The Pokerstars.be site will be blocked to any player who is not authorized to play real money poker in their physical location.
Pokerstars is Belgium’s largest poker site. It provides the country and surrounding area with the majority of its poker tournaments. Having a recognizable name on the books is always good for business.
As Pokerstars.be gets underway John Duthie, an established member of [...]
That time has come again when we all start scribbling in our journals or tapping out lists on our keyboards. Yes poker fans its resolution time. The year is over and what a year it has been for poker, poker players and the world of online poker. We all need to try and do better in the coming year so what about some poker related New Year’s resolutions?
I resolve…
To be a better poker player. More practice, more skill learning, more vocab learning and basically a better poker game all over. Well I think we all resolve this one right?
To try and avoid any references to Black Friday if at all possible. Time to move onto a new subject I think.
To try out new poker apps and see how I can incorporate them into my poker game.
To visit the poker forums more often and chat with other players still learning the game. Its always nice to [...]
Last week the poker forums were buzzing with the news of the break in at former WSOP champion Jonathan Duhamel’s residence. His WSOP gold bracelet, a WSOP watch and a large sum of cash were taken. Duhamel suffered a physical attack during the break in. Authorities acted quickly and now PokerNews.com is reporting that four suspects are being held in custody in connection with the home invasion.
In his first statement to the press Duhamel offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of his attackers. Calls to the local police in Quebec, Canada (where Duhamel resides) ended in the arrest of Bianca Rojas-Latraverse last Saturday. She has been charged with conspiracy to commit a criminal act. After being questioned by police Rojas-Latraverse offered up two more names: John Stephan Clark Lemay and Andre Robert Perron. The suspects ages are 20, 22 and 26 respectively. A fourth individual went into custody Friday morning although police [...]
In 2006 the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed through Congress on the back of another bill. Its goal was to stop banks from processing monies earned through online gambling sites. Of course with the Black Friday affair we know this wasn’t very successful. Online casinos found other ways to get around the process or blatantly broke the law hoping they wouldn’t get caught. This week the 1961 Wire Act was reinterpreted and many think the UIGEA is next.
After the UIGEA the number of violations actually increased rather than decreased showing the law was in effective. With the new clarification of the Wire Act it no longer appears to apply in the Black Friday cases. Prosecutors are holding on to the violation of the UIGEA not to mention money laundering and fraud. But do they have the right?
The UIGEA is an American law applying to businesses operated in America. The Big Three poker sites [...]
Pokernewsreport.com is reporting that Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, two of the casualties of Black Friday, are now in a position to pay back their players. The money was frozen when the websites were seized by the Justice Department. The problem is that not only are the refunds late in arriving they will not compare to the actual money lost.
The rumor is that the poker giants will be paying back as little as 25 cents on the dollar. Other rumors have suggested that folks that want to receive their payment may have to go through quite a process. As the Department of Justice will be facilitating refunds to the Full Tilt customers we can expect something similar with Absolute and UB. Becoming a part of the federal record for illegal gambling is probably not going to be a popular choice.
Its hard to believe that so many months have passed and the players of the Big [...]
Well we mentioned briefly the other day that the Wire Act had been officially reinterpreted to specifically relate to sports betting online and not game playing. After a few years of political pressure combined with a dire need for money across the states, it seems baby step one for a federally organized online gaming industry has been taken.
Since the economy took a plunge back in 2008 states have been scrambling to save money. There have been rolling black outs,canceling public programs and funding and basically looking to cut corners across the board. A state based online gambling system, eventually back by federal mandate, could ostensibly boost a state economy and provide sustainable new growth.
Besides the fact that online casinos will provide a place for state residents to spend their money it will provide a number of new jobs in related industries. If new websites are about to spring up across the country those new sites [...]
Yes its more Black Friday news to report. A quick recap? On April 15 of this year the three major online poker sites operating in the U.S. were shut down by the Depart of Justice pending an investigation. The sites were accused of operating illegally, breaking the Wire Act and money laundering. In court this week Brent Beckley, the co founder of Absolute Poker website plead guilty to charges.
Beckley admitted before the court that he knowingly filtered American player funds through cover companies so their payment could be processed by American banks. In American online gambling is illegal and most banks will automatically stop any payment to a known poker website. Because Absolute Poker laundered the money through shell companies they manage to process millions of dollars within American borders.
Beckley was facing a thirty year plus jail sentence before he plead guilty to fraud and money laundering charges. According to news sources he has [...]
