At the end of last month a big date for the battle to legalize online poker happened, as the House Financial Services Committee passed Barney Frank’s Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act vote of 41-22-1. This is the first time that they bill that regulates and licenses the Internet gambling industry in the United States received a positive vote on the federal level.
Just because the bill passed it does not mean Internet poker will be legalized. However, it does show that the views towards online poker are changing. Only 4 years ago Congress voted 6-1 against online gambling, as there was a lot of support for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. In last month’s vote online poker received a positive vote by almost 2-1.
Former Senator Alfonse DíAmato, chairman of the Poker Players Alliance recently stated, “The fact is, online poker is not going away. Congress has a choice — it can license and regulate it to provide government oversight and consumer protections, or our lawmakers can stick their heads in the sand, ignore it, and leave consumers to play on non-U.S. regulated websites in all 50 states. I’m glad the Financial Services Committee today overwhelmingly chose to act and protect Americans as well as preserve the fundamental freedoms of adults and the Internet.”
Frank’s bill got major support from the Democrats, who voted 34-4 in support, and they also received some bi-partisan support from the Republican Party as well. The Republicans had 18 votes against the bill 7 for it.
There were 14 amendments made to Frank’s legislation, most of which were supported by the Poker Players Alliance.
The controversial additions to the bill for poker players were a couple or amendments that would keep websites that have been seen to be in violation of international gaming laws from getting licensed in the U.S. This deals with such websites like PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, which are a couple of the bigger poker websites the world over. The federal law is in a gray area in terms of online gambling.
Pappas stated the PPA would support the legislation as long as these current website operators are given the chance to apply for a license. Pappas believes the websites would have the chance to make their case before regulators under the current laws that may soon take effect in regulating online poker in the U.S. He also believes the poker sites of PokerStars and Full Tilt will continue to support the legislation as well as the effort of the PPA’s efforts. Pappas stated, “It’s not our job to guarantee a license. It’s our job to guarantee an open market where everyone can apply for one.”
August 17th, 2010 | Posted in Gambling Thoughts, News, Poker | No Comments
In the last couple of years there have been 2 big issues that lawmakers have been divided on. One is the issue of same sex marriage and the other is Internet gambling. Recently a federal judge gave those who favored same sex marriage hope and now online gambling being legalized may be next.
In California Proposition 8 banned same sex couples from getting marries, which irked many in the liberal community of the state. However, Judge Vaughn R. Walker recently overturned Prop 8, as he claimed that the law was one that was unconstitutional. The ruling garnered praise across the United States.
Internet gambling may be the next issue on the agenda and there is a good chance it may be legal soon. Washington lawmakers have already begun writing a bill that would not only make online gambling legal, but it would also regulate the industry and that would reap the US government billions of dollars.
Recently Representative Barney Frank, who has been at the forefront of making online gambling legal, passed the legislation through the House Financial Services Committee. Taking the legislation to the House is the next step and that may not happen until next year since the legislative session will be in a recess soon. After the session break is over the focus will then shift to the mid-term elections, which are slated to take place in November of this year.
The issues of same sex marriage and online gambling have had lawmakers in the U.S. in a heated debate for some time. Earlier this year legislators in California have talked about regulating the Internet gambling industry. Millions of residents in the United States already play poker online and online poker has become a billion dollar industry.
The state of California is known as a very liberal state, which is why it is a tad surprising that they banned same sex marriage from the get go. For the Internet gambling issue the Govenator Arnold Schwarzenegger has been in favor of gambling expansion for most of his time as the Governor.
Other states in the U.S. have already considered regulating the Internet gambling industry. A couple that have been aggressive in passing the regulation are Florida and New Jersey, but neither of the states have passed any laws making online gambling legal. New Jersey would like to make Internet gambling legal so it can help the struggling land based casinos in Atlantic City.
August 7th, 2010 | Posted in Gambling Thoughts, News, Poker | No Comments
It has almost been month since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) went into effect and things seem to be going well. The law was supposed to halt gambling online by US residents by stopping the source of funding for websites, but it has not done much to slow down Internet poker gambling.
John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, recently stated, “I think we’ve seen very little impact on the ability of Americans to play poker on the Internet. For many Internet poker sites and players, the ill effects of the UIGEA were felt several months ago if not several years. Most sites migrated to other responsible payment systems and the players migrated to that as well.”
The Poker Players Alliance asked for its members to contact the organization if they were coming across problems withdrawing winnings because of the UIGEA, which was to only have an impact on financial transactions of Internet poker websites. Papas stated that the organization has not received a lot of complaints on the matter.
Papas said, “We’re kind of the front line. If our members have problems they e-mail us, and we haven’t really seen an uptick of complaints from our membership.”
The UIGEA has stopped any chance of credit card deposits, but Internet poker websites have changed to work around the laws. It is interesting that the websites that are having problems are ones like Internet horse ranking sites that were exempt from the UIGEA laws, but are still being overlooked by credit card companies and they did not have any other options prepared to take money from customers.
There have been meetings with representatives of the House of Financial services committee and the PPA to resolve the issue. The committee is expected to look over the Frank’s Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, authored by Barney Frank, in July to see why the UIGEA is not properly working.
Even though no date has been set for the markup of the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, which Frank stated should have been done in may, a hearing will take place in July or August.
To make preparations for the vote the PPA is having a promotion to raise money. They are asking for donations, which began July 1st, and can be made at the website of the PPA. Pappas stated, “This is a historic vote and the PPA needs everything in place to do what is necessary. We’re hoping the poker community steps up and donates to the PPA to get us the funds we need to carry out a successful month of July.”
June 28th, 2010 | Posted in Gambling Thoughts, News, Poker | No Comments
Even though it looks unlikely that there will be no legislation on the federal level to regulate Internet poker in the United States there is a politician that thinks the next 8 months will have the first state to legalize online gambling.
New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak recently stated in a phone interview, “I believe we will have established Internet gaming with poker-type games by the end of the year. It means a lot to New Jersey because we have a wealthy state and a densely populated state. It will be a big boost to the economy if we are able to get it going.”
Legislation was introduced by Lesniak in the New Jersey state senate in January of last year, which would allow casinos in Atlantic City to run online gambling websites that would have poker games and casino games for New Jersey state residents. A bill similar to this one was already introduced in the state assembly of New Jersey. There has also been a hearing on that bill in the New Jersey senate and Lesniak is planning another hearing later this spring and then there will be a vote this fall.
There is talk on the federal level that Senate Majority Leader and Nevada state senator Harry Reid could introduce another similar bill regarding online gambling regulation. A Reid backed bill may gain momentum even though it is not clear how much a bill from Reid would be endorsed by the poker community after he will not be looking out for his constituent casinos in his home state of Nevada.
Since it is already May there is no movement on the online gambling bill by Barney Frank on the federal level so it looks unlikely a bill would pass this year. The best thing that can happen is a talk about the issue on Capital Hill.
If New Jersey if online poker would become legal it may have a domino effect that may pressure the federal government to get the ball rolling on the issue.
Earlier this year Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association chairman Joe Brennan Jr. said, “If it looks like the states are going to start moving on this one by one, the federal officials might realize they have to start some sort of federal license tax or the states are going to take over and they will be cut out.”
Also, Lesniak has introduced New Jersey state legislation that would offer betting on sports and he filed a federal lawsuit that challenged the law that makes it illegal to bet on sports in every state except Montana, Oregon, Delaware, and Nevada. Lesniak has stated that he would like to get a decision on this by the end of this year so New Jersey could look further into that bill.
May 9th, 2010 | Posted in Gambling Thoughts, News, Poker, Rumors | No Comments
Full Tilt Poker and Party Poker are two of the biggest poker sites on the New today and each has recently unveiled a couple of great new promotions.
Steps Tournaments Launched at Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker is happy to announce that they have launched a new Steps Tournament promotion for its players that give them a chance to win entrance into bigger buy-in poker tournaments. This allows players to win bigger prize money, as they will have to work their up the steps of various progressive poker tournaments.
The buy ins for the Steps Tournaments will be for as little as $3.30 and they are set up like regular poker tournaments, but players will be battling it out to make it to the next step of the series. If the players do not finish high enough to advance to the next step Full Tilt Poker will still be giving away seats to other tournaments. Players at Full Tilt also have the choice to buy directly into any step the want to or buy Step Tournament tickets.
The Tournament Tickets are another way that players will be able to buy into the tournament they want to play in, which will feature many options as well as a range in monetary denominations. Every Tournament Ticket is worth a pre-determined buy-in amount and then can be used to get into any poker tournament for the value of the ticket bought.
Full Tilt players can also win the tickets in the Steps Tournaments, which are satellite poker tourneys, which include the Full Tilt Steps Main Event ones, that give their players the opportunity to win an awesome $12,000 World Series of Poker Main Event Package. All this for a buy-in of only $3.30!
Party Poker to Give $1 Million for Royal Flush
OK, so a Royal Flush is not easy to get, but if you do get one while playing at Party Poker from May 4th to May 23rd and you will get a cool million. This promotion is called the Million Dollar Hand and you never know if Lady Luck will be smiling at you and deal you the lucrative hand.
The premise is simple: you will get a card for every 15 points that you get at Party Poker from May 4th to May 23rd and if you get a pair or better you will win cash. If you get a Royal Flush you will be awarded one million bucks.
There is not a limit to the amount of Royal Flushes you can get. Also, the chances are even better for you to come out on top, as the first Million Dollar Hand card that you receive will come free of charge.
April 30th, 2010 | Posted in News, Poker, Promotions | No Comments
House Speaker Robert DeLeo is not hurting for any supporters in his aim to try to bring land-based casinos to the state of Massachusetts. One of his biggest and most influential supporters is state Governor Duval Patrick. However, the governor is not in favor of the latest effort from DeLeo.
Recently DeLeo introduced a bill that would bring 2 brand new casinos to Massachusetts. The racing industry in the state, which is really going through major financial problems, may get a huge economic boost, as, in the bill, they would be allowed to have slot machines installed at the racetrack. However, that is where the support for the bill ends. Patrick is not a happy camper, to say the least, since there will not be any hearings in the public where the bill will be discussed. In the bill there is also wording that would make it illegal for residents of the state of Massachusetts to play poker for money over the Internet.
Massachusetts’s lawmakers have been discussing the expansion of gambling in the state for several months. Recently there has been quite a stir about the kind of legislation that DeLeo would be introducing. Unfortunately for him it does not look like the bill will get much backing from other politicians.
Governor Patrick has been trying to bring land-based casinos in Massachusetts since he became elected. His first try was blocked Salvatore DiMasi, who was the House Speaker in the state before DeLeo. DeMesi did everything in his power to block gambling in the state, as he was firmly against it. At the time he convinced other lawmakers in Massachusetts to vote in opposition of the proposal Patrick brought forth.
There looked as if there would be some momentum this year towards having gambling expanded in the state. DeLeo, Patrick, and Senate President Therese Murray are all for gambling expansion. However, all three do not see eye-to-eye as how the expansion in the state should occur.
The Internet gambling industry will keep a close eye on the bill in Massachusetts that is up for debate. There are many states in America that are looking into regulating and legalizing the online gambling industry. If DeLeo’s bill would pass it will be interesting to see how governments of other states look upon it and if they will follow the New England states’ lead.
The more states that regulate and legalize online gambling the more likely it is that it will happen on the national level.
April 10th, 2010 | Posted in Casinos, Gambling Thoughts, News, Poker | No Comments
Even though it is the case that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) will go into effect until June of this year there are already big credit card companies that have already halted the process of Internet gambling transactions. Visa, which is the biggest credit card supplier in the United States, has recently stopped the transactions, but they are not the only major card company to do so.
The first big credit card company to stop online gambling transactions was MasterCard. However, that, obviously, did not have an effect on people that use Visa. Now there are millions of Internet gamblers in the United States that will not be able to gamble online using their Visa cards.
U.S. Representative Barney Frank, who has been on the forefront of legalizing and regulating Internet gambling, has one goal, which is to repeal the UIGEA. He has already got the support of many US lawmakers and he has also been successful in lobbying the US Treasury Department in December of last year in order to delay the publishing of the unclear rules of the UIGEA until this June.
The main focus of Barney Frank’s Financial Committee has been the slumping economy, the Massachusetts representative has not had the time in order to talk about the online gambling legislation he will propose. June is not far off so he will have to get on the ball in order to get the Bill passed. He does have a lot of support in Congress to get the UIGEA overturned and there was a study done that showed that if the UIGEA were repealed and the online gambling industry was regulated that it would reap the US government billions of dollars.
It may be the case that frank asks the Treasury Department for another delay. If that delay were to be granted frank would likely have until the end of this year in order to pass his, yet to be proposed, legislation.
In the meantime major credit card companies have decided to abide by the current laws of the UIGEA. The decision by MasterCard to halt online gambling transactions was a bit of a surprise. Now Visa and MasterCard are taking risks in their resent stance.
Internet gamblers will still find a way to play, but they will have to find another way to fund their Internet casino accounts. One of the most popular methods is e-wallet accounts. However, the credit card companies may lose millions of dollars with their recent decision.
March 24th, 2010 | Posted in Gambling Thoughts, News, Poker | No Comments
There have been rumors that Florida may be one of the first states that would regulate Internet gambling. Recently, state Representative Joseph Abruzzo filed the Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010.
The legislation shows a regulated system of Internet gambling in the state of Florida. If the legislation is approved the state would be the first to use the rules of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in order to aid in regulating online gambling. The UIGEA was passed to get rid of online gambling in the United States, but in the last few years online gambling has grown and not shrunk.
There is a clause in the UIGEA that lets states regulate and conduct intra-state online gambling by law. The legislation of Abruzzo takes advantage of the clause. The bill that was recently filed would let operators of Internet hubs to run Internet poker websites. To get a license operators of the hubs would have to be hand picked by Florida and there are strict guidelines in the bill that would have to be adhered to.
First, the hub operator must have a business license in the state of Florida. Second, the operator must be licensed in more than one state. Third, the operator has to be licensed to offer Internet poker in a country outside of the United States.
If these guidelines were met there would then be a $500,000 application fee that must be paid to the Pari-Mutuel Wagering Trust Fund of the Department of Business and Professional Regulations. If the application is approved the operator would have to pay an annual license fee of $1,000.
When the Internet poker website is set up there are stringent rules in the proposal of Abruzzo. The minimum gambling age would be 21 and this safeguards against both underage gambling as well as money laundering. The online hub operators also have to fully insure all of the software that is being used on the site.
Safeguards for the online players have been a main reason that US Representative Barney Frank has proposed legislation to overturn the UIGEA. There are currently millions of Americans that are gambling over the Internet at websites that are not regulated by the American government.
In the state of Florida and person attempting to get a license has to make sure that the player online is protected against fraud. One of the big problems for lawmakers that are looking to legalize online gambling is addiction to gambling and Abruzzo has that taken care of in his recent proposed Bill.
The Internet hubs have to have limits on the amount of deposits and how much money a player is allowed to deposit daily. Also, a limit has to be placed on how much money a player online can lose in a certain amount of time. There will also be a time limit placed on how long a player can gamble.
Another issue that lawmakers are dealing with is the percentage of taxes on the winnings. In the Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010, Abruzzo has set a plan for 20% of the winnings every month that will go to paying taxes.
If the recent legislation will be passed remains to be seen, but it will depend on the ability of the lawmakers to foresee the financial potential and to come to a middle ground on the differences they have on the issue of online gambling.
Abruzzo has laid out a good Bill that covers all the aspects that makes most bills get thrown out, which may make Florida the first state in the United States where online gambling would be regulated and legal.
March 4th, 2010 | Posted in Gambling Thoughts, News, Poker, Rumors | No Comments
Many states have been discussing making online gambling, especially online poker, legal in their states. However, they keep running into federal laws that make gambling over the Internet illegal. However, the state of Iowa has come up with an idea that may make it legal to gambling online in the state. Iowa is also looking into making sports gambling legal is the state.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 has really hindered plans of lawmakers in the United States that want to not only legalize, but regulate the Internet gambling industry in their state. They may want to take a close look at the Iowa plan that would go around the federal laws that are currently on the books.
U.S. Representative is one of group of 7 people that is trying to expand gambling in the state of Iowa. He knows, and has stated as such, that gambling is going to stay in Iowa and he is under the belief that the state should be the leader when it comes to the online gambling industry in the United States.
When he recently talked about the proposal that may come out of the 7-member group that will be discussed next week in a House State Government Committee hearing Quirk stated, “Look, either we’re a gambling state, or we’re not, and with seventeen casinos I’d say we’re a gambling state.”
One of the ideas that the group, and other, is how to work their way around the laws of the UIGEA, which makes it an illegal act for financial institutions from taking part in any Internet gambling transactions. It looks as if the group Quirk is working with and other lawmakers may have now come up with a plan that might just work.
Gamblers would be able to go into casinos in the state where they reside to open up an account and then deposit money into. They would then be allowed to bet over the Internet with the money that is in the casino account. This would skirt the law, as obviously casinos are not financial institutions.
The one main catch with this plan is how the person would get paid and how would they be able to withdraw their funds. Under the current plan, which is still being worked on, a player would go back to the casino to deposit more funds into their account or collect what they have won being paid from their accounts.
Making sports betting legal in the state of Iowa may be harder within the government of the state. There are a lot of lawmakers that are very opposed to any type of sports gambling being legal. Mary Mascher, who is the Chair of the Government Committee, has already made the threat to remove any sports wagering language in any gambling bill that is presented to the committee.
February 21st, 2010 | Posted in Gambling Thoughts, News, Poker, Rumors | No Comments
A letter from a FBI top official to U.S. Representative Spencer Bachus stated that cheating while playing poker over the Internet can happen in several ways. The Bachus, who is a leader in the anti-gambling political community, is gathering all the evidence he can find in order to try to attempt to slow down the momentum that is coming together for the legalization and regulation of Internet gambling. Bachus recently revealed the letter at the hearing on Internet gaming held by the House Financial Services Committee.
FBI Assistant Director penned the letter back on November 13th of last year in charge of the cyber division Shawn Henry. He has stated that players that play poker online can work together as well as exploit technology in order to artificially affect the results when playing over the Internet.
Henry wrote in his letter, “There are several ways to cheat at online poker, none of which are legal. The online poker vendors could detect this activity and put in place safeguards to discourage cheating, although it is unclear what the incentive would be for the vendor.”
Regulation of Internet gambling may require a gambling websites, which are licensed, to use some type of cyber-technology that would guard against fraud. This is expected to be done by gambling websites, if online gambling were to become legal, so that money laundering would be thwarted and persons that are underage would not be able to gamble.
Cheating while playing Internet poker on two of the leading poker websites, Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, was brought to light by players that observed some irregularities. These players documented the unlikely play and the results and eventually showed that there was corrupted software was used by the gambling websites.
Obviously, it is the case that operators that have websites that are protected well against cheating, as well as money laundering and underage gambling, would be able to draw more business to their sites as opposed to sites that could not have verification that their games are honest ones.
January 25th, 2010 | Posted in News, Poker | No Comments
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