Politics

Federal Bills Introduced to Overturn Sports Betting Ban

Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ 2nd) and Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ 6th) have asked members of the US House of Representatives to support two bills introduced to roll back the Federal ban on expanded state-licensed sports betting.

Sports Betting Gains Ground in California

A measure to legalize sports betting in the state of California moved forward in the legislature but could be all for naught. 

A bill was approved unanimously by the state Senate Governmental Organization Committee on its way toward the Senate floor, but sports betting won’t happen in the state until it is approved at the federal level and this is highly unlikely to occur any time soon. 

CISPA Vote Anticipated Today – April 23: Online Poker PAC Funds Dry Up

A vote on the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) was anticipated in the House on Monday (April 23, 2012).  With funds drying up at the federal level for online poker PACs, expect the Poker Players Alliance to “tack this bill onto anything that is moving”, as Director John Pappas recently stated.  CISPA looks like an “imperfect” host for now, but it is the only thing remotely acceptable that is “moving”. 

Massachusetts Rep Wants Three Online Poker Licensees to Pay $10 Mil Each

Norfolk, Massachusetts Republican Rep. Dan Winslow is looking to create three Massachusetts licenses for intrastate internet poker.

Winslow wants to make his colleagues in the House aware of options to generate additional state revenues in the state, according to the Boston Herald.  He hopes to have his measure passed in the House and Senate in the coming months. 

From the Boston Herald:

Mitt Romney Wins GOP Nomination in Eyes of Oddsmakers Who Already Paid Out Bets

The oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com on Monday announced that they have paid out on all bets that former Massachusetts Republican Governor Mitt Romney will win the GOP Presidential nomination. 

The payouts fluctuated based on when the bets were placed.  At some points early on in the campaign, front runners changed regularly, however, Romney always maintained relatively short odds. 

Washington Post: Gambling’s ‘Unholy’ Grip in the State of Maryland

First it was the US Attorney’s Office in Maryland setting up a phony payment solutions company then spending the nearly two years worth of seized funds on brand new police cars for Anne Arundel County, now state politicians have come under fire for allegedly holding “spending hostage to the gaming industry’s interests”, claims the W

Maryland Now Allows Gambling on Fantasy Sports: Life Behind Bars for Booking NFL Games

As Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre, 50, faces more than 25 years behind prison for running one of the largest online sports betting enterprises and targeting residents of Maryland, that state has just begun allowing wagers on fantasy sports.  Exceptional timing!!!  We can't make this stuff up even if we tried. 

New Jersey Plans to Take Online Bets From Across US but Utah Can Fugetaboutit

A signature piece of legislation that would make New Jersey the second state to offer online gambling within its own borders made it through a state Senate subcommittee with ease despite earlier concerns of potential opposition.  Nevada became the first late last year but its law hinges heavily on a federal ban on Internet gambling being lifted. 

Nadex Denied Ability to Offer Futures Betting on President Obama

While you can still bet on the US Presidential race and Barack Obama’s odds to be re-elected at online gambling sites the likes of Sportsbook.com, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shot down a proposal by the North American Derivatives Exchange (NADEX) to offer options contracts on the US Presidential election, claiming such “gaming” was not in the public interest. 

PPA Pushing to Have Online Poker Measure Attached to Cyber Security Bill

Poker Players Alliance Vice President of Player Relations Rich Muny sat down with Poker Fusion this week to address the possibility of online poker legislation finding its way onto an upcoming cyber security bill. 

UK Internet Gambling Tax Structure Restructured: Sin Tax Based on Consumption

Sinners in the UK, you’ll have to pay!  At least if it is at online casinos and poker rooms where you play. 

Internet gambling aficionados find themselves caught up in George Osborne’s budget tax increases. 

A new tax will be introduced for Internet gambling that is based on the place of consumption.  Previously, that tax was levied on a 'place of supply' basis.

George Osborne UK Chancellor of the Exchequer:

Attempts to Legalize Internet Poker, Casinos in Hawaii Fail

Hawaii is the latest state in the US to propose legalizing Internet poker only to have such efforts stall in the legislature.

A series of three related bills that included the legalization of Web poker, brick and mortar casinos and a state lottery were introduced back in January. 

Rep. Angus McKelvey introduced the online poker measure that would have provided for a state lottery to oversee and regulate Web gambling activity. 

Hawaii is one of only two states in the US that does not permit any form of gambling including a state lottery. 

Herman Cain Wins at Wynn Using ‘9-9-9’ Plan at the Poker Tables

One time GOP candidate for President of the United States and former head of the Godfathers Pizza restaurant chain, Herman Cain, has taken his famed “9-9-9” plan to Vegas.

Iowa House Kills Online Poker Bill

The Iowa House has decided not to take up Senate File 2257 which would have legalized Internet poker in the state.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said there has been a “general lack of interest” in the topic among his 60-member GOP caucus, according to Dubuque’s KCRG. 

“What are we in? Week 10?” Paulsen said March 15. “I don’t know if I’ve had three members mention this subject to me … until this week when the big hub-bub was.”