Poker Legislation News
This has certainly been an interesting week for intrastate poker. Phil Hellmuth has commented on Washington D.C.’s plans for district-only online gaming, California shelved its intrastate bill until early next year, and now the Nevada Gaming Control Board has released its first draft of regulations for intrastate “interactive gaming.” New Regulation 5A lays out the… Read more »
Despite widespread support, it appears that intrastate online poker will not be legalized and regulated in California this year. It still seems, however, that it is a matter or “when” and not “if” for online poker in the Golden State. In a letter to stakeholders, including Native American tribes and card rooms, California Senate President… Read more »
In an interview with the Washington Post, Phil Hellmuth expressed the cynicism that many other poker players share about intrastate online poker. Specifically discussing the District of Columbia’s plans for legal online poker, Hellmuth said he just does not see it working. In late 2010, the Washington, D.C. city council approved a budget which would… Read more »
Last week, Congressman Joe Barton’s (R – Texas) online poker bill, H.R. 2366, gained five more co-sponsors. The haul upped the number of co-sponsors 25 percent to, coincidentally, a total of 25, and included Representatives from both sides of the aisle. Representative Howard Berman (D – Calif.), sometimes referred to as “the representative from Hollywood”… Read more »
With the storm winds of the United States’ financial mess swirling through Washington, D.C. the last few weeks, it would seem that poker would be the last thing on elected officials’ minds, but online poker did receive a public word of support Monday from a member of Congress, the same day the House passed the… Read more »
The United Kingdom’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced plans for a major change to its online gambling regulations. Under the new plan, any remote gambling operator that wants to offer its services to customers in the UK, must obtain a license from the UK’s Gambling Commission, regardless of where that operator… Read more »
As some federal legislators are fighting to get online poker legalized and regulated across the United States, some lawmakers in North Carolina are trying to give gamblers more options in their state. While nothing official was presented in writing, there were some discussions in the legislature during the final week of the legislative session earlier… Read more »
In late June, Congressman Joe Barton (R – Texas) introduced a new bill in the United States House of Representatives aimed at legalizing and regulating online poker. The bill, the Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2011, was well received by the poker community and co-sponsored by, amongst others, Rep.… Read more »
Representative Joe Barton of Texas introduced a bill Friday that would allow for the legalization of online poker in the United States. The bill, named the “Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2011,” would allow individual states to choose whether they want to allow residents access to online poker rooms.… Read more »
According to the Washington, D.C. Insider website TheHill.com, Rep. Joe Barton (R – Texas) could introduce his new online poker bill as early as this week. The bill will start in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, of which Barton is the chariman emeritus and senior ranking Republican. It is thought that it will be… Read more »
We are not going to tell you to get your hopes up because, as we all know by now, lawmakers have a knack for inflicting soul crushing blows upon the poker community, but it looks like there may be a glimmer of light on the online poker legalization front. A glimmer. Nobody overreact, please. As… Read more »
While the U.S. Department of Justice continues its effort to weed out online poker in the States, many countries in the European Union are opening their doors to online gambling operators with new regulation systems in place. According to a report by eGaming Review, Casino Gran Madrid, which hosted this year’s European Poker Tour (EPT)… Read more »
While the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Internal Revenue Service are running around seizing online gambling domain names, freezing player funds, and otherwise doing whatever they can to stop Americans from playing internet poker at home, the state of Nevada is looking to do the opposite. On Tuesday, Nevada’s Senate… Read more »
As he prepares to leave his position in the United States Senate, Republican Arizona Senator Jon Kyl has potentially softened his stance when it comes to legislation regarding online poker and internet gambling. On his website, Kyl spells out his viewpoints on several different subjects that he will face over the coming 18 months. Under… Read more »
Despite moves by the U.S. Government to crack down on the online poker industry, two states continue to move forward with legislation. In Iowa, the State Senate passed a measure that requires the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to study internet poker and its effects. The vote on the study, which passed by a 38-12… Read more »
Weighing in on the mess that is the fallout from Black Friday was U.S. Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), who gave his two cents on the indictments of the founders of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker. In an interview with The Hill, Frank labeled the actions by the Department of Justice “an incredible waste… Read more »
The past 72 hours have featured an upheaval of the online poker community, as the founders of PokerStars, Absolute Poker, and Full Tilt Poker were all indicted on charges that included violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and money laundering. Among the various organizations weighing in was the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), whose… Read more »
The day just keeps getting worse for online poker players in the United States. Full Tilt Poker announced via a press release obtained by Poker News Daily that it will no longer accept real money action from U.S. players. The statement from Full Tilt read in part, “Unfortunately, as a result of this action, Full… Read more »
According to Business Insider, indicted Aussie payment processor Daniel Tzvetkoff may be the engine behind today’s online poker site seizures and Federal indictment. Tzvetkoff was arrested a year ago in Las Vegas and released on bail in September. His business reportedly consisted of payments for “repayments of short-term loans, transfer of funds to prepaid debit… Read more »
In what has been a lively afternoon in the online poker world, the Federal Government has seized the domain names belonging to PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, UB.com, and Absolute Poker. Poker News Daily has learned that PokerStars, the world’s largest site, has ceased taking action from the United States. According to a statement from the… Read more »
This week, a Nevada Assembly panel passed an amended version of AB 258, which was introduced by Nevada Assembly Majority Whip William Horne and discussed in the Nevada Assembly Committee on Judiciary in late March. According to the Associated Press, the amendments will put Nevada’s intrastate internet gaming interests on the sideline until the Federal… Read more »
After a “waiting period” for objections passed without comment, the District of Columbia will become the first jurisdiction in the United States to offer intrastate online poker. In a story from the Associated Press by Eric Tucker, District of Columbia Council Member Michael A. Brown lauded the new intrastate gaming law, which was a part… Read more »
A controversial ruling by the Swedish Supreme Court regarding the “skill versus luck” argument in poker has given advocates on both sides some ammunition. Last week, the Swedish Supreme Court determined that poker is both a skill game and a game of “random chance.” In its decision, the Supreme Court determined that the deciding factor… Read more »
In breaking news from Washington, DC, the nation’s capital has apparently become the first jurisdiction to legalize intrastate online poker. According to a Wall Street Journal article published on Friday, “The city council approved a budget last year allowing the district’s lottery to operate a poker website accessible only inside district boundaries. City officials say… Read more »
In recent weeks, it was revealed that if the online poker industry were to be legalized and regulated in the United States, then PokerStars and Wynn Resorts would team up to launch PokerStarsWynn.com. On Thursday, a Forbes article contained additional details about the joint venture and recapped how it came to fruition. PokerStarsWynn.com is a… Read more »
