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National Poker Week sparks increased optimism in the United States

National Poker Week sparks increased optimism in the United States

These days if one would take the time to look carefully, you are bound to find that every single day of the year and every week has a special significance for someone in some country. This is because there are more and more organizations that are making use of days and week periods as a means of promoting interest in their specific cause. Things such as literacy week or water week are quite common all over the world and during this time frame, there will be a number of different activities that highlight the issue at hand and also work to promote greater participation by the general public. It is a concept that has worked very well and it is therefore no surprise that one can now find a National Poker week in the United States.

The main purpose of this week is not only to promote the sport of poker, but also to increase the awareness from a government perspective of issues surrounding the industry. There are two main issues at hand. The first is the fact that a court ruling has effectively rendered online poker legal although the Department of Justice seems to have taken an altogether different stances on this matter. The second point is that there is increased momentum towards the broader legalization of online gambling and this is something that various interest groups want to work towards.

So the week has seen interest groups such as the Poker Players’ Alliance, Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Associations and others working together to try and promote the broader agenda at hand. The week was not only made up of a number of tournaments and talks, but was also a means of lobbying government officials. So many of the functions that were held included law makers and there were a couple of talks by leading online gambling advocates such as Barney Frank. The national poker week was therefore used as yet another platform to bring this matter to the attention of the government.

When industry players are gathered together in this manner, there seems to be greater momentum and a sense that things are being done and getting achieved. This is certainly the mood that pervaded the week and there is a growing sense of optimism that the moment of the online gambling industry is likely to come in a very short time. It is hoped that the Barney Frank legislation campaign will win through.

Legal European Union gambling comes to Spain

Legal European Union gambling comes to Spain

Earlier this week, it was reported in the media that the Spanish government is now in the process of ensuring that the online gambling industry is properly regulated in the country. There are various challenges to the process such as the differences between different regions in the country. The significance of these are not to be underestimated and it would seem as if some of the regions are indeed so divided that it is likely that there will be some difficulty in ensuring that there is a regulation framework in place that effectively caters to the entire country. In addition to this, Spain is a member of the European Union and has to make every effort to ensure that any laws that are passed in the country are in keeping with the policies of the international organization.

In a situation such as this you need to ensure that there is a broad spirit of cooperation in order to get things to work out. This is exactly what has happened in the country with online gambling operators and various government stakeholders reaching an agreement yesterday. They will work in conjunction to ensure that there is a licensing agreement in place and this is to last for a period of five years. While this may seem like a relatively short time for a license, there is actually a very good reason for it. If one thinks of the dynamic nature of technology in general and especially the online market, then it is very possible that the relevance of this license might be outdated by the time the five year period is complete. A limited time frame means that there can be a revision process in place if necessary.

The online gambling industry in Spain is currently worth about fifty million dollars in terms of bets annually. This is a lot of money and the government wants to ensure that it manages to benefit from taxation of this growing past time. An effective licensing plan will allow it to do exactly this.

The parties that are cooperating in terms of the new agreement will work to ensure that all of the European Union regulations are met by the online gambling companies. In this way, not only will they meet the conditions of their membership of this international organization, but they will also ensure that there are clear guidelines for the market players. This is very important for the healthy development of the online gambling industry.

Fears that change in leadership will spell failure of online poker bill are unfounded

Fears that change in leadership will spell failure of online poker bill are unfounded

The state of California is going through a tough time, make no mistake. The state is certainly traditionally viewed as the wealthiest in the United States and it has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) higher than that of many countries. So when one knows that the government is desperately trying to find funds to fill budgetary short falls you can be sure that there is bound to be quite a significant amount at stake. Despite this general knowledge, it might come as a surprise to some that this is at the level of as much as several billion dollars and it was only quite recently that it seemed as if there was finally a solution in place that would at least help the government to cover its most basic costs.

One of the ways in which the funds are to be generated is through extended gambling activities and while this has already been done to an extent, there is now a move afoot to push through online poker legislation. This is on the back of a court ruling that has stated that poker is not a game of chance and therefore it can no longer be regulated by the UIGEA law. So the state is getting ready to push through a bill that would make online poker legal in the state and would also assign some of the funds and revenues generated by the activity to the state coffers. It would involve licensing and the implementation of some regulation.

This is all good news but now there are some that are worried that the process could be stalled indefinitely as a result of a key stake holder’s resignation. Jim Tabilio – the President and founding member of Poker Voters of America, has announced his resignation from the position. He is now going to the more lucrative area of private sector lobbying, with a keen focus on the gaming area. No doubt he is going to be a powerful voice in this well paid industry and he certainly has done his time in terms of public service.

Those that are still with the organization say that interested parties have no need to worry that online poker legislation in California will not be pushed through as they are as keen as ever to ensure that the measure makes it through the legislative process.

Online poker in Italy affected with regulations

Online poker in Italy affected with regulations

The turbulence over online gambling spilled over from America to Italy, When PokerStars customers living in Italy discovered something unexpected when they logged into their accounts. Rather than logging into the main Poker Stars portal, they were instead re-routed into the Italian version of the site.

Laws relating to online gaming are in a constant state of flux with opposing forces making their moves in the US these days. The argument over legalization of online gambling and related issues has been raging for years ever since the creation of the Unlawful Internet and Gambling Enforcement Act. It would indicate that sometimes the companies are engaging in a massive shell game just to remain legally compliant while maintaining profitability.

In Italy however, the laws relating to online gambling have been in a state of continuous change for the better part of more than a decade. In 2006, internet service providers in Italy were ordered to block all gambling entities which operate outside of the country’s borders. They were provided with a list of 600 companies involved in the ban and Italian residents could only partake in local games. Later, this action was not taken well by the European Union and the block was lifted. Since then, however, the Italian government has been engaging in talks with the rest of the members of the EU and its own administration regarding what sanctions are acceptable.

While all this high drama was being staged, Poker Stars had been positioning itself in the event the country would be successful in its effort of blocking the international sites. To fight this and secure themselves, they created the aforementioned Italian only site and also created the Italian Poker Tour.

In February, Italy somehow managed to reach an agreement with the European Union on changes to their own gaming laws and on July 27th, they agreed to the changes officially—which went into effect immediately. The changes are quite vast and wide-ranging. For example, Italian players can only play in tournaments because cash games are not permitted. Also, players and the servers housing the games must both be within the country’s borders. Moreover, players’ time spent playing will be monitored with restrictions placed on how long per day they can play by the authorities.

Although the changes by the Italian government mark a move toward online poker regulations, the current governing rules are rather prohibitive. It bears noting that PokerStars has a number of well-known Italian poker pros on their roster. It remains to be seen how the changes will impact their playing habits and ability to make a living.

Now Facebook Poker application comes under legal scrutiny

Now Facebook Poker application comes under legal scrutiny

One of social networking site Facebook’s most popular applications, Zynga’s Texas Hold’em, which has over 11 million players, may be violating several state and federal laws, ironically becoming a victim of its own success.

A competitor of Zynga has apparently commissioned a legal brief questioning the legal feasibility of the poker application. The legal brief deduces that Zynga’s Texas Hold’em may be running in violation of various state and federal laws. An insider of the competing company has reportedly leaked the legal brief that was written by a former federal prosecutor and senior Department of Justice official.

Even though there are plentiful inaccuracies in the reports of the current legal state of online gambling in general and poker specifically, the report itself may be perceived to be quite harmless and routine, but the basic facts of the leaked brief are very likely to be legitimate. Since Zynga poker is a play money game, the core issue in concern here doesn’t have much to do with the game itself. However, there is a catch to the situation here. The chips being used actually do have some value since a player can buy the chips from Zynga directly and buy and sell chips in secondary markets online.

Under these circumstances, the Facebook poker game application may amount to illegal gambling under some state laws and some interpretations of a few federal laws, since something of value is being wagered, a common ‘hook, line and sinker’ opportunity for anti-gambling statutes. The guilt would potentially lie with Zynga since it provides a mechanism for its players to transfer chips to one another, basically helping in the sale of chips.

At this point, the impact of the reports of the legal brief is minimal. First, a prosecutor would have to pursue Zynga over the issue, and Zynga would have the option of simply shutting down the transfer mechanism and easily and nip the bud and close the issue right there. Poker players on Facebook at the moment need not get concerned or worried as long as they’re not engaging in the secondary market for buying and selling chips, since that violates Zynga’s terms of service.

The reports of the legal brief at this moment do little more than highlight the invasive, overreaching and at time ludicrous web of anti-gambling statutes, under which something as banal as play money Facebook poker can be construed as illegal activity worth the time and resources of taxpayer-funded prosecutions.

NASCAR up to the challenge as anti-betting lobbies rally forces

NASCAR up to the challenge as anti-betting lobbies rally forces

NASCAR has stepped up to assert that there is no problems with sports betting even as the NFL is leading a parade of sports league hysterically suing to stop Delaware from running sports betting on its lottery.

While the majority of the major US sports leagues go into a fit of frenzy over pending sports betting in Delaware, officials at NASCAR calmly counter the argument by saying the potential of gambling corruption is minimal, and that they are not worried about the new law affecting their sport in any way.

Unlike the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and the money-making top division of the NCAA, NASCAR actually does conduct business in Delaware, which is a major eye opener. The auto racing circuit runs twice a year in Dover, but shows practically no concern over the implications of legal sports betting.

“NASCAR has no issue with Delaware’s proposed law for sports betting,” NASCAR Managing Director of Corporate Communications Ramsey Poston told Full Throttle Autos Online. “We have been racing in Las Vegas for 11 years, the only jurisdiction with legal sports betting including betting on NASCAR events, and there’s never been an issue.”

“Our competitors know not to gamble on NASCAR events,” Poston said in a May statement. “The bottom line is, many of our fans love to gamble in a legal and fun way.”

According to NASCAR drivers, the question of gambling corruption doesn’t even come up. They say this after of course after noting that the NFL is making a shameful statement of how it feels about the integrity of its employees.

“I don’t even know if there is a policy in place about it (sports betting).. At the end of the day, you have to have the integrity that makes you make the right decision,” says iconic race driver Jeff Burton.

Asked about the temptations that may come from the nearby Delaware casinos, which are certainly closer to tracks than any field holding the Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Redskins, Burton laughed the matter off. “I find it hard to believe that location really has anything to do with it. Shady characters can come from Las Vegas as well as they can come from Delaware,” he said.

For its part, NASCAR has done almost everything right over the past decade. That is why the sport of stock car racing has become bigger than ever, and may have passed the NHL as the fourth major sport in the US. However, it is their latest stance that may end up being the one that catapults the sport near the top of the popularity standings in the country. Unlike the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB, NASCAR has no problems with the new sports betting laws in Delaware.

US & China try to block out online gambling industry

Us & China try to block out online gambling industry

Top level US and Chinese representatives said after the meeting that that both the sides had agreed on the importance of free and unobstructed trade, even as all while each is making moves to block competition and access to the online gambling industry. US cabinet officials US met with their counterparts from China in an important international meeting being called the Strategic and Economic Dialogue. After the meeting, the officials announced that both the countries believe it is in their best interests to consider free trade and honoring international commitments.

This news came as an obvious shock to the online gambling industry, which finds the two nations among the most repressive in trade, and least likely to live up to agreed rules. Especially in the US, with Frank Barney’s Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267) garnering the support of 50 bi-partisan Congressmen and several successful demonstrations by online poker supporters at Capitol Hill during “National Poker Week”.

After the meetings, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner stated that the two countries discussed currency policy and the need to maintain fair competition across national borders. Each side assured the other that the government is dedicated to improving trade conditions and rejecting protectionist measures.

“The United States and China are among the biggest beneficiaries of the global trading system and share a common interest in ensuring that global trade and investment remain open and rules-based,” Geithner said.

Meanwhile, both the US and Chinese governments have exhibited hypocrisy in their policies toward online gambling. While the US faces a series of disputes with the European Union and Antigua over its failure to honor free trade in services commitments in regard to online gambling, China has instituted the Great Firewall of China to censor the Internet, with online casinos a prime target. In China, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has actually already banned all online games that may be related to gangster-styled or organized crime based games citing the reason as these games are against their national culture and are influencing youngsters to iconize gangster lifestyles.

The US could start the procedures of implementing the UIGEA online gambling ban in December unless legislative or judicial attempts like Frank’s are successful to stop the process.

Online casino industry observers expressed amazement that the public statements after the meeting put forth for public relations by the two superpowers lay so far from the actual actions each country has taken and continues to take.

The Royal Bank of Scotland Seeks Investors for Online Gambling Gala Coral

The Royal Bank of Scotland Seeks Investors for Online Gambling Gala Coral

With the recent news of the possible sell off of the Gala Coral land and online gambling group, the Royal Bank of Scotland has reportedly come forward to save the venture and is searching for investors to bail out the debt ridden gambling operation. Gala Coral’s business operations have been adversely hit by the downturn in the economy as well as the higher tax imposed recently by the U.K. government, apart from the ban on smoking in its bingo halls. It is reported to be GBP 2.7 billion in the red.

The Royal Bank of Scotland, which assumes the role of an agent for the senior debt holders involved, therefore has much influence although it has a relatively small direct exposure to the debt itself.

The banks introduction to the presentations were plain and to the point, inviting investors to partake in the gambling group or to bid for any of its bingo, casino, betting-shop or online divisions. The RBS invitation read, “The Gala Coral company needs to address its debt burden and is considering a number of options to raise cash. Candover and Permira are financially strained and unlikely to be willing to inject more equity.” The conclusion mentions the alternative to further investment being found of spinning off “one of the company divisions.”

The Group is facing tough deadlines, needing to repay loans of 80 million GBP by September of this year and GBP150 million by 2010. Interestingly enough, the Group had no prior knowledge of the RBS actions and did not give permission for the bank to make this move. Candover, Cinven and Permira are the private equity houses that jointly own Gala Coral Group and have been pursuing investors for funds to ease the debt situation. Their efforts to raise GBP 200 million have been slowed recently by the economic slowdown in the country.

Earlier it had been reported that the debt-laden gambling group Gala Coral could be broken up and the parts thereof would be sold off to secure urgently needed cash for the private equity-owned business.

As the leading lender, the RBS proposal has come in the midst of restructuring talks and just ahead of a major debt deadline for the gambling group.

The RBS, which is owned by the taxpayer in majority, has approached a number of potential investors inviting them to take an opportunistic stake in the gambling group or to bid for any of its bingo, casinos, betting-shop or online divisions.

An RBS presentation said: “The company needs to address its debt burden and is considering a number of options to raise cash. Candover and Permira are financially strained and unlikely to be willing to inject more equity.”

Dispute could have critical outcomes for online gambling

Dispute between church and IRS could have critical outcomes for online gambling market

The online gambling market is keeping its eyes on a rather interesting situation between a church and the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. The main reason for the interest on the part of the online gambling industry is the fact that the outcome of this particular matter could have a major impact on the manner in which churches and church officials are allowed to campaign against various issues. Of course the online gambling market is one that has been at the center of attention for those involved in various religions as they are worried about the moral consequences of people taking part in this activity.

There is a minister in Minnesota who has taken the IRS to court as he believes that there is a provision in a law that violates his rights that are enshrined in the country’s constitution. The provision pertains to the fact that there is to be no involvement by organizations that are tax exempt in any political matters. Now this has a direct influence on churches that are regarded as tax exempt organizations by the government of the United States. As a result of this provision, churches should not strictly be allowed to have any comment on the issue of online gambling. So it becomes clear very quickly why there is such a lot of interest in this issue.

The minister contends that it is his right to freedom of speech to say that he does not agree with the issue of online gambling or anything else for that matter. Perhaps what is problematic though is that the Minister was using his pulpit as a means that he was speaking about political matters during his sermons. This is where the sticky issue comes in and while he was not concerned with online gambling at the time, this is certainly a topic that he would be able to wax lyrical about, if media reports are to be believed.

It is very important that this issue is cleared up as it could be a major win for either side of the debate. If online gambling companies are able to effectively sue religious officials for taking a stand on a political issue then it is clear that the officials’ credibility would suffer to some extent. The IRS has seemingly suspended its investigation of the minister but the situation needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

Las Vegas welcomes a new Hard Rock

Las Vegas welcomes a new Hard Rock

The city of sin is not what it used to be. The recession and the fact that people are no longer able to afford to spend their money in the same way in which they used to. Interestingly enough, casinos reported that they were still getting the same number of visitors but that they were not able to get the same amount of revenue from them. So it was clear that reduced budgets were the order of the day.

This situation has certainly not changed and in fact it would seem as if it is actually worse in most instances. The casinos are struggling to attract visitors and they are still trying to find new and innovative ways of getting players to have fun gambling. The fact that loop holes have started appear in the online gambling legislation means that they are under even greater pressure. Poker is one of the most popular gambling games out there and this is now allowed online, so many people have opted to enjoy this past time in the comfort of their own home. In the first instance it is more convenient and perhaps more importantly, it saves them costs such as travel, accommodation and sustenance. This is definitely a good value proposition in the current economic climate.

So with all of these pressures in place, it has no doubt come as a surprise to many that the Hard Rock franchise has chosen this particular time to open up a brand new hotel and casino resort. This is a massive tower in the heart of Las Vegas and is able to boast four hundred and ninety rooms. This comes at a time when there are many hotels in the city that simply can not fill their existing rooms and industry estimates reveal that at least ten thousand new rooms are scheduled to become available by the end of the year. Now a simple study of supply and demand dynamics would suggest that there is definitely something wrong with this picture.

The latest addition to the Seminole owned Hard Rock chain means that there are hopes that this will be another feather in their cap. It is clear that they are ready for business though and visitors can look forward to paying only fifty five dollars per night. While this is no doubt not what the developers of the property were hoping for, they are going to have to deal with this for now and just make sure that they at least start getting the rooms full.

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