Poker Legislation News
Need a license to get in the game The Netherlands is cleaning its online gambling house, ready to start fresh in October. After Dutch lawmakers passed the Remote Gambling Act in April, internet gambling became legal, but operators must be licensed to offer their games. As such, Dutch regulator De Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has set a… Read more »
Stars had already paid $100 million Flutter Entertainment, parent company of online poker giant PokerStars, has settled its legal battle with the state of Kentucky, agreeing to pay $300 million in fines. It is a healthy chunk of change, but a far cry from the $1.3 billion Flutter was starting at in case that dates… Read more »
2020 saw the casino industry worldwide suffer at the hands of the COVID pandemic. For several months in 2020 and 2021, casinos were shuttered around the world and poker rooms have been the ones that have suffered the most. In Massachusetts, these poker rooms have remained in a state of limbo, but that could change… Read more »
After a long wait, the Florida Legislature, the office of Governor Ron DeSantis and the office of Seminole Tribe chair Marcellus Osceola, Jr., got the answer they were waiting for. The U. S. Department of the Interior, by taking no action against the compact signed in April, has given their consent to said compact. That… Read more »
Because of the ease and speed of deposits, some jurisdictions place legal limits on how much one can deposit on an online gambling site in a day, week, or month. Belgium is one such place, which currently has a €500 weekly cap on igaming deposits per person. It looks like that may soon change, however,… Read more »
When the Florida General Assembly met in May, it seemed it was just a “rubber stamp” session of the body. Pulled together for a “special session” to consider the new compact signed by Governor Ron DeSantis and Seminole Tribe leader Marcellus Osceola regarding gaming in the state. While the General Assembly did eventually put their… Read more »
The ability of states to pass regulations regarding online gaming, especially online poker, have been in existence since 2011. In 2013, three states rapidly passed online poker into law. But it has taken almost eight years for that number to double, with the state of Connecticut becoming the seventh state to pass legislation authorizing online… Read more »
For a long time, many online casinos, poker rooms and sports books have operated in the realm of “gray” legality. They are not necessarily against the law, but many states (and countries, for that matter) are not rushing to lock people out of the sites or prosecute the principals. That will be changing in the… Read more »
State and tribes amended their compacts It appears that online casino and sports betting are closer to becoming a reality in Connecticut. On Thursday, the state House of Representatives passed HB06451 easily by a 34-6 vote, sending the bill over to the Senate. On Thursday, Governor Ned Lamont tweeted his thanks to the House for… Read more »
After more debate than was originally thought, legislators in the state of Florida have ratified the compact between the state and the Seminole Indian tribe of the state. The ratification alone does not mean that the 30-year deal is effective immediately, however. There are still several challenges that loom ahead, including federal approval and an… Read more »
In what would be the largest expansion of gaming in the state in over a decade, the Florida legislature will debate changes to their laws on gaming in the state. Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new compact with Chairman Marcellus Osceola, Jr., and the Seminole Indians of Florida at the end of April, forcing the… Read more »
After extensive debate, Germany is looking to increase the taxes on internet gaming, in particular slots and poker. The discussion over the increases is not over quite yet, but time is running out to stop the proposed increases. If nothing is done to prevent it, implementation of the new taxes will begin July 1. All… Read more »
After five years of debate over the subject, the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida have come to an agreement over gambling rights in the Sunshine State. It will allow for the Seminoles to build three more casinos, but perhaps more important is that it will open the state for sports betting.… Read more »
There are two things that I have learned about time: it is undefeated when it comes to a human’s lifespan and opinions and it continually marches forward. Ten years ago, the poker world was tossed into turmoil by what became known as “Black Friday,” or the shutdown of the most powerful poker rooms on the… Read more »
In a decision rendered by the Oregon Court of Appeals, Portland poker rooms that are operating outside of traditional Indian casinos may soon become a thing of the past. The decision on whether the “membership” version of poker rooms violated gaming laws was deemed a violation of the law by the Court of Appeals, a… Read more »
Just when you think a case is over, it comes roaring back to life. This time, however, we are not talking about the Mike Postle situation. The Kentucky Supreme Court denied a motion on Thursday from Flutter Entertainment regarding their court case that dates to 2015. The motion would have opened the case for reexamination… Read more »
Legislators in the state of Texas, long known as the home of Texas Hold’em, have filed paperwork in the state capitol of Austin that would open the state for casino gaming and sports betting. This move comes directly on the heels of surveys that say the people are wanting such options, but there are concerns… Read more »
Bill constructed to launch sites quickly Illinois State Representatives Robert Rita and Jonathan Carroll introduced a bill on Friday that would legalize online gambling, including online poker, in the state. HB 3142 would create the Internet Gaming Act (IGA) and, dare we say, it is actually a pretty reasonable piece of legislation. The state already… Read more »
Usually when someone asks if gambling will ever be legalized across the States of America, there has always been two holdouts that would prevent it. Utah, being the home of the Mormon Church, has banned any type of gambling inside the state’s borders, even lotteries. Hawaii used to be the other state in that answer,… Read more »
With the complete changeover in the federal government in Washington, D. C., many have begun to float the trial balloon that there could be changes in the way online gaming and poker are viewed by the government. Added into this fact is the recent passing of one of online gaming’s most vocal opponents, the late… Read more »
When it comes to online gaming, the state of Kentucky is one of the most oxymoronic states in the country. Despite being the hub of horse racing in the U. S. and profiting tremendously from betting on those races, the state’s leadership has prevented online casino gaming, sports betting and online poker from being opened… Read more »
Efforts to expand sports gambling in the United States are picking up right where they left off last year. Indiana State Senator Jon Ford has introduced a bill to legalize both online poker and online casino games in the Hoosier State. SB 417 would permit Indiana’s 14 casinos (including racinos) to operate internet gambling sites… Read more »
If at first you don’t succeed…. Kentucky State Representative Adam Koenig is giving his online sports betting bill another go. He was unable to get anywhere with it in 2020, but over the weekend, Koenig introduced HB 241 in the House, where it was subsequently assigned to the Committee on Committees (yes, that’s a real… Read more »
Built a fortune from scratch Sheldon Adelson, the founder of Las Vegas Sands Corporation and online poker’s top villain, died Monday at the age of 87. Adelson had been battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, since 2018. Just a few days ago, Las Vegas Sands announced that he was taking a leave of… Read more »
Good news, but don’t get too excited One day, some indeterminate time well into the future, people in Michigan will be able to play online poker against players from other states. Granted, online poker has yet to launch in the state and nobody knows how long it will be before it happens, but because Governor… Read more »
