Poker Legislation News
Full Tilt Poker has been in the news for all of the wrong reasons this week. On April 5th, the world's second-largest poker site became the subject of a grand jury investigation for money laundering. One day later, Kentucky filed suit against its owners. Read more »
With the state budget stretched and deficits building, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch is looking for ways to provide a much needed revenue injection for the Granite State. One way avenue he is considering is legalizing internet gambling. Read more »
A bill introduced last week by Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo would license two land-based casinos and criminalize internet gambling and online poker. Since then, the poker community has fired back, outraged over the language's inclusion. Read more »
For Full Tilt Poker, when it rains, it pours. One day after word leaked that the industry's second largest online poker site was the subject of a grand jury investigation for money laundering, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has filed suit against its owners in the Franklin Circuit Court. Read more »
Attorneys for the Commonwealth of Kentucky have fired back in the case involving the seizure and potential forfeiture of 141 internet gambling domain names. Kentucky counsel declared that the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) "cannot establish standing." Read more »
On June 1st, the financial services industry in the United States must fall into full compliance with the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Scrambling to create an exemption for online poker is the Poker Players Alliance (PPA). Read more »
The latest version of a bill licensing gambling in Massachusetts once again includes a measure criminalizing internet gambling and online poker. Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo is calling for a vote on the measure, which he introduced on Thursday, in two weeks. Read more »
In a new twist involving the seizure of a purported $5 million in funds destined for internet gambling customers in Maryland, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Baltimore is seeking a civil forfeiture, according to the Baltimore City Paper. Read more »
On April 14th, one day before taxes are due in the United States, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) will be hosting an Ante Up for Africa charity poker tournament at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, D.C. Read more »
In breaking news, the Kentucky Court of Appeals has granted a motion that may return the case involving the seizure of 141 internet gambling domain names back to the state's Supreme Court. The URLs in jeopardy include PokerStars.com and FullTiltPoker.com. Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
