New Jersey is getting one step closer to becoming the first state in the US to introduce online legal gambling. Earlier this week, Senator Ray Lesniak’s bill to legalise all forms of online gambling was voted 29-5 by the Senate and will allow residents of New Jersey and foreigners to gamble at online casinos whose servers are located in Atlantic City, NJ. However, players from other states will not be allowed to participate in the gaming activities.
According to Senator Lesnaik’s bill, online gambling includes “poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, big six wheel, slot machines, mini baccarat, Red Dog, Pai Gow, and Sic Bo, any variations or composites of such games, provided that such variations or composites, and any above listed game or variation or composite of such game to be offered through internet wagering.” The bill also included a 15% tax on gross revenue made off these online gambling sites.
Any casinos that offer online gambling in New Jersey will be licensed Atlantic City operators operating in Atlantic City. The bill was formulated to revive the flagging gaming industry in Atlantic City; in fact, another bill was also approved by the Senate which will see smaller casinos opening up in with 200 rooms instead of the current minimum of 500 rooms.
Should the bill get passed, it will undoubtedly bode well for the struggling Atlantic City gaming industry, however, one can’t help but wonder at the protectionist approach being taken by the state. Online casino operators in New Jersey will welcome European players however, instead of a quid pro quo, European casino operators are not allowed to market to or take on online players from New Jersey. One could be forgiven for considering this state of affairs to be one of gross double standards.
In the meanwhile, Senator Lesnaik appeared fairly confident that the bill which is now to be decided by Governor Chris Christie will get signed into law. He said, “I don’t think he’s going to have any option but to sign it before the end of the year.”
Mobile phone gambling apps are starting to be used by Las Vegas casinos as they take what steps they can towards the new trend of mobile phone casinos.
There are dozens of top-rated mobile casinos out there that let gamblers play their favorite casino games for real money on their mobile phones. Unfortunately, most of these mobile casinos do not accept players from the United States because of the complex nature of American gambling laws.
Despite these limitations, gambling in the United States is quite popular. Some states like Nevada have embraced the world of gambling, a move which has allowed the city of Las Vegas to become one of the most famous casino hubs in the world. While Las Vegas casinos are not legally allowed to offer online gambling or mobile gambling to players, they are still taking steps towards the world of mobile phone gambling in whatever ways they can.
The Palms Casino, for example, recently started publishing their best promotions on Facebook, and have set things up so that mobile phone users can receive Facebook alerts on their phones when the casino has new specials to offer.
Vegas group Boyd Gaming has created an even more innovative mobile phone casino bonus alert system. It’s called B Connected Mobile, and it lets iPhone, iPad and Android users to receive personalized, up-to-the-minute offers and information about what’s happening at any of Boyd Gaming’s 13 casinos in Las Vegas, California, Mississippi, and across the US.
Vegas casinos might not be able to offer real money mobile casino games, but their embrace of mobile phone technology makes it likely that when online gambling in the US becomes widespread, Vegas will be ready to jump onboard.
# Remember that even after you have mastered basic blackjack strategy and black jack card counting techniques, it is impossible to win all the time. Blackjack is a statistical game and professionals know that to win big means playing lots of hands, riding out fluctuations and perfecting their skills to achieve an overall advantage.
# Card counting is an effective way to gain an advantage over the house, but it is extremely difficult to do properly. More importantly, counting cards in blackjack while playing online is useless, since most games shuffle the deck after every hand.
# Playing multiple hands against the dealer does not provide a statistical edge – it’s really no different than playing for a longer period of time. It certainly speeds things up, but it doesn’t increase your chances of winning.
# Know the blackjack lingo. If there is a term used in blackjack that you don’t understand, you need to find out what it is. Blackjack is an easy game to learn, but it takes some time to master. Find out all about insurance, surrendering, and all the rest before you put money down on the table.
# Never stop learning, never stop practicing. Even if you think you have perfected your game, you can always improve. Check out new strategies, new games, and new ways to play
They are the hip-hop dance troupe that seem to float through the air, glide from one side of the room to the other while each wearing masks that give their performance an eerie and surreal feel; they are the JabbaWockeeZ from California and they are the current flavor of the season at the Montecarlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
These guys rose to fame after winning the first season of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew and wowed the crowds with their break dancing skits and incredible energy. Since their glorious win, their 7-man crew has been in the spotlight which led to their last show MUS.I.C. at the MGM Grand and now followed by headlining at the Montecarlo Hotel. According to the Las Vegas Sun, spectators can expect break dancing skits, projected animations, chase scenes, nods to sci-fi and kung-fu movies along with their smooth moves which are choreographed to popular dance music.
The crew began back in 2003 in San Diego, California where they were formerly known as “Three Musky” who later added on b-boys Rynan, Paguio and Chris – making them the new JabbaWockeeZ. Both crews were experts of free-style street dancing and were able to combine their talents to create the performers we know today. They each wear a white mask and dress alike so audiences will focus on their talent and nothing else.
If you’ve ever had the urge to snooze during a Vegas show, you can expect to be in awe of the JabbaWockeeZ as they perform incredible dance moves and stunts that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Yesterday was a big day for Michael S. of IL who walked away with $29,140 playing Caesar’s Empire online slot machine. As he entered Ceasar’s palace he took no prisoners and scored his glorious win with a few spins of the reels making him our grand winner of the day.
Nate P. of CA was our second place winner of the day with a $21,360 win playing Aztec’s Treasure online slot machine. Whatever Nathaniel or Michael’s winning secrets may be, let’s just hope it rubs off on the rest of us. Check out the rest of our winners for Wednesday.
Other big Bodog Casino winners from yesterday included:
Nathaniel K. of CA won $16,454 playing Blackjack.
Tim T. of TX won $14,612 playing Witches and Wizards slot machine.
Sara W. of MA won $5,368 playing Dirty Martini slot machine.
Janet L. of CA won $10,725 playing Witches and Wizards online slots.
Tim T. of TX. won $7,276 playing Green Light online slots.
Frank L. of CA won $7,250 playing online Blackjack.
Alexander E. of CA also won $6,713 on Blackjack.
Alan Y. of TX won $6,400 playing Blackjack.
That’s a nice chunk of change for all of our casino players who may just be in need of a little extra casino cash for the holidays. Mix it up this season and try any of our casino games including our latest slot machine releases as well as classic Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Video Poker and more.
Congratulations to all of our casino winners!
Looking for the hottest casino action? Find over 70 online casino games that pay out day after day. Make a name for yourself at Bodog Casino today!
After the birth of her twin sons Eddy and Nelson, some of Celine Dion's fans wondered how long it would take the songstress to return to the stage and while the Quebec native may have her hands full, she’s already making plans to return to the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace for a three-year contract starting in March of 2011.
According to Celine’s website, her new show will feature 31 musicians including a full orchestra and band and the theme of the show will focus on the romance of classic Hollywood movies along with a supposed jaw-dropping visual presentation.
Her last residency in Vegas ended in 2007 with her show, “A New Day” which grossed over $400 million over a five-year period. The 41-year old will now fulfill her 3-year contract starting in March with a total of 70 shows which will no doubt be a success.
“Celine's impact on the entertainment standard in Las Vegas is the bar all others compare to. We look forward to her return to The Colosseum. We are excited about continuing our success with Caesars Palace and are optimistic on the future of Las Vegas,” says John Meglen, the President and co-CEO of AEG Live Concerts.
Tickets to watch Celine belt out the tunes are on sale now for her shows from March 15 – August 14.
Here at Bodog Casino we like to recognize our top achievers and yesterday’s bunch of winners scored thousands in cash playing their favorite casino games. Our top winner of the day was Michael S. of IL who won $23,089 playing Caesar’s Empire online slot machine followed by Gregory W. of NY who won $13,002 playing online Blackjack.
The list of winners goes on and on and while these guys may be the king of the heap for the day, there’s certainly no reason why you couldn’t find your way to the top. Check out the rest of our winners for a little inspiration.
Other big Bodog Casino winners from today included:
• Shizuka S. of CA won $11,050 playing Paradise Dreams.
• Michael G. of MO won $10,890 Playing Caesar’s Empire.
• Arthur H. of NY won $9,325 playing Caribbean Hold’ Em Poker.
• Nandit M. of PA won $8,810 playing Crystal Waters.
• Scott R. of CA won $8,469 playing Aztecs Treasure.
• Thuy H. of CA won $6,401 playing Aztecs Treasure.
• Gail M. of FL won $3,989 playing Joker Poker.
• Eric K. of WI won $3,930 playing Enchanted Garden.
Join our crew of outstanding casino winners by simply playing your favorite casino games. Not a member of Bodog Casino? Within a few simple steps you could download to our wide selection of slots and table games which are easily accessible from the comfort of home. What are you waiting for?
Congratulations to all of our casino winners!
Looking for the hottest casino action? Find over 70 online casino games that pay out day after day. Make a name for yourself at Bodog Casino today!
Yes, it’s exciting I know, to see your name in big letters and not on an electric bill or mortgage payment but on Bodog's weekly list of weekend casino winners.
Last weekend we topped off our list with Michael S. from IL who won a total of $23,089 playing Caesar’s Empire online slot machine. That slot machine has been pretty hot lately or maybe it’s just our players.
Our next big weekend casino winner award goes to Janet W. of TX who won $16,080 playing her classic three-reel favorite, Sevens and Stripes. While these two guys made it to the top so did a bunch of other Bodog players. Check out the rest of our amazing weekend winners below:
Other big Bodog Casino winners over the weekend included:
• Gregory. W of NY won $13,002 playing online Blackjack.
• Maria. C of FL also won $13,084 playing Gold in Bars Slots.
• Arthur. H of NY won $12,100 playing Caribbean Hold’em.
• Matt. G of TX also won $11,350 playing Caribbean Hold’em.
• Scott. R of CA won $11,320 by playing Aztecs Treasure.
• Shizuka. S of CA got paid out by playing Paradise Dreams slots game.
• Michael. G of MO won by playing Caesar’s Empire.
• William. H of NY got paid out by playing Realm of Riches.
The sky is the limit when you’re playing at Bodog Casino so why don’t you come and join us for a whole lot of casino excitement and a whole lotta cash.
Congratulations to all of our casino winners!
Looking for the hottest casino action? Find over 70 online casino games that pay out day after day. Make a name for yourself at Bodog Casino today!
He seemed to make a name for himself on the reality television circuit with his no-nonsense, what-I-say-goes kind of attitude and it seems to be paying off because Chef Gordon Ramsey from "Hell's Kitchen" is now opening a steak house on the Las Vegas Strip together with Caesar’s Entertainment, which is set to open in January 2011.
He’s not just a celebrity television star, he’s actually a talented chef who’s earned Michelin stars for his various restaurants in the UK and together his celebrity status in the U.S., he’s made quite a name for himself.
According to the Las Vegas Weekly, he will be taking over the space which currently occupies Les Artistes at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino which will shut down early next year leaving Ramsay plenty of time to prepare for the grand opening of his restaurant in June.
Ramsay will be opening a steakhouse which will have mass appeal and will fit perfectly with the major restructuring of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. According to the Las Vegas Weekly, they are trying to step away from the whole French vibe which is tough to ignore but there will be minor changes involved to help the cause.
Apart from Ramsay's latest venture, he has been making headlines lately due to his financial troubles which have led to a public family feud with his father-in-law who was once part of Ramsay’s corporation as well as the fact that he has completely over-extended himself with reality television appearances, restaurant openings, family troubles, you name it and is in turn hurting his restaurants.
Now that his father-in-law is out of his business dealings and not pocketing anymore cash, this restaurant venture at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas may just be the fresh start he needs to get back on track.
The Christmas weather may be bitter cold but the hearts are warm with the spirit of giving. Casino Tropez is in a very generous mood and wants to show its appreciation for the players' loyalty throughout the year. That is why it is offering some massive deposit bonuses, completely free, from December 1, each and every day until Christmas. In keeping with the Christmas spirit there is a new Santa Claus themed online slot game as well.
The Christmas bonuses are properly laid out in the Advent Calendar. Each day on the calendar is marked with a Christmas icon such as Christmas Tree, Stocking, Santa's Cap and Reindeer. There are 11 such icons, which means that the icons are repeated. Each icon stands for a particular bonus offering like deposit bonus or cash back treat. Every day that a particular icon appears on the advent Calendar players can avail the associated bonus. For example, on December 7 there is a Snowman icon. The associated bonus is a 10% extra on the first deposit of the day. Players will have to contact customer support in order to claim the bonus. The Snowman icon is repeated on December 19 and December 23 as well. This same offer will be repeated on those days.
The Happy Ho-Ho-Ho Holidays promotion offers the long awaited new online slots game Santa Surprise. It is packed with exciting animations and fun sound effects. Santa Surprise is a 5-reel, 20-line video slot game with a fantastic first prize of 10,000 times the line bet. Casino Tropez says, "Santa's sleigh is stuffed with loads of generous gifts so be sure to play this exciting new game today to get yours. Santa knows how to give, and his new slot machine is no different with a ho-ho-whole lot of great prizes to be won." Do not wait till Christmas, but be sure to check this great new title today.
The Guess the Game promotion is going great guns at Casino Tropez. The clues accompanying this week's fuzzy reels display are a bit tough. The first clue is "The Thing is... We're on fire, yet invisible and very flexible." The second clue is "You will Marvel at our mystery jackpot." The third clue is "20 lines of fantastic action." It is evident that the game belongs to the Marvel Movies super hero series, but the question is which of those games the clues are referring to. Once players have got it figured out they can contact customer support and they will be given the 10% bonus on their next deposit.
Casino Tropez is powered by the online gaming software provider Playtech. It is a Euro Partners online casino that has received its license from the Directorate of Offshore Gambling of Antigua and Barbuda.
The clampdown on gambling is gathering pace with a new bill planning to fine fans of online casinos. Russia banned gambling – outside of a handful of special zones – in July 2009, with only sports betting escaping the axe. And now lawmakers want to stamp out a loophole which allows card sharps and roulette lovers to indulge on the internet.
Online gambling ban
The bill, introduced by United Russia’s Ivan Savvidi, proposes fines between 500 and 2000 roubles for people gambling outside of the official gambling zones using mobile networks and Internet, meaning that online casinos and poker will be illegal in Russia.
“Previously the law only concerned organisers of gambling, and now the gamblers themselves will also be responsible,” Savvidi told Gazeta.ru.
Online gambling is thought to be especially tempting to the underage, who can be subjected to pressure from the outside due to their age, says the bill’s explanatory note.
Calling the slots
A second bill tries to define illegal slot machines more clearly in order to close various loopholes.
“I have been looking for a definition of slot machine for a long time and finally found it,” the author of the project member of Federation Council Alexander Pochinok told Gazeta.ru. “It is the most important part of my bill.” If the amendments are accepted, using of these machines will be banned.
“People are trying to escape responsibility by using machines that are capable of doing everything that is banned by the law,” said Irina Tulubyeva of legal firm Tulubyeva, Osipov and partners.
Mixed response
Tulubayeva think the new fines are the right way to go. “If the gamblers know that they will pay a fine, there will be fewer of those willing to play. And they are becoming partners in crime, even though the main punishment will still be given to the organisers,” she said.
The deputy executive director of Russian gambling business development association Samuil Bender disagrees. “We have to judge what causes damage to someone, and a man who comes and spends his own money is not a criminal,” he told Gazeta.ru.
Reaction from Internet users on the online gambling ban are also mixed.
“Poker isn’t always just a way to pass the time. For me, for example, it is my only source of income,” wrote helcaor on Championat.ru website.
“If they ban it, so what? There will be more time to spend with family))),” wrote enter.
Underground gambling in Moscow
After the casino ban was introduced in July 2009, many establishments simply changed labels, but keep operating as elite and lottery clubs, while the number of computer clubs in Moscow rose from 23 to 98. These clubs were providing access to online-casinos as information services.
The new bills are an answer to Dmitry Medvedev’s call to curb illegal casinos in Moscow. On Dec. 1 central administrative area prefecture announced that 78 pseudo-lottery clubs were closed and 3000 units of equipment were confiscated.
However, there are still 90 lottery clubs in the area and 90 per cent of them are thought to operate illegally.
Security is always a big issue at online casinos,and operators are constantly looking for ways to ensure that players feel safe. While digital means, such as encryption and identity authentication, are often enough, some players feel that they need additional methods of protection to fight identity theft and other online dangers.
Cereus Poker has just released a new device called Security Token, a physical device that allows players to ensure that they are the only people logging into their own online poker accounts. Some players need that additional lever of security, and many do not trust the unstable nature of the online environment to provide enough protection. This is especially true of high roller online poker players, who have a lot at stake if their accounts are ever hacked into.
The Security Token is a small electronic device that produces randomized security codes that are only valid for a short period of time. When the player wants to log in to their online gambling account, they will be prompted by the casino to enter the code that Security Token must produce.
This is an ingenious new way to fight identity theft at online casinos and other online gambling websites. Currently, Security Token is only available at a few websites, but it is likely to expand to others.
Nevada casinos won $888.6 million in October, an 11 percent increase over the same month a year ago, gambling regulators said Thursday in a report some analysts said is a sign that the state's battered economy has turned a corner toward recovery.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board said the state collected just over $60 million in taxes based on casino gambling revenues, an increase of 22 percent. Casino taxes make up about one-third of the state's general fund.
On the Las Vegas Strip, the state's economic engine that accounts for about half of statewide gambling revenues, casino winnings jumped 16 percent. Strip resorts won $494.8 million in October, up from $426.3 million a year earlier.
"This data continues to suggest we've moved beyond stabilization in Las Vegas and have entered the early stages of recovery," Bill Lerner, an analyst with Union Gaming, said in a note to investors. "Everything we are seeing on the visitation front ... along with convention similarly underscores positive inflection in Las Vegas."
Winnings at casinos in downtown Las Vegas rose 10.3 percent.
Gaming Control Board analyst Mike Lawton said the October results mark the third consecutive month of rising casino winnings. The last time was April-June 2007, just before the crush of the Great Recession.
Another positive sign, Lawton said, is that the statewide win was up even without baccarat, a high-roller game favored by Asian players that has propped up casinos revenues in recent months. Excluding baccarat, the statewide win was still up 8.5 percent.
"That's why this is such a good month," Lawton said.
Also, there were no special events in October to drive increased gambling.
The "win" is the amount left in casino coffers after gamblers wagered $11.7 billion at table games and slot machines. A breakdown shows the $2.4 billion wagered at table games was up 1.3 percent, while the $9.28 billion wagered on slots rose 0.3 percent.
Though the slot increase was slim, it's another positive sign, Lawton said, because it's the first gain in slot wagering since October 2007.
Elsewhere around the state, Washoe County, which includes Reno and Sparks, won $70 million, up 4.3 percent. In Elko County, casinos' winnings totaled $23.6 million, up nearly 9 percent.
Casino winnings fell 4.5 percent at South Lake Tahoe and 5.6 percent in the Carson Valley area.
The amount of time gamblers are spending in Atlantic City casinos is falling, and they're holding on more tightly to their wallets while they're there.
A new statistical study shows the amount of time gamblers spent inside casinos in the nation's second-largest gambling market is down more than 22 percent, and the amount of money they spend there is down almost 30 percent over the last four years.
The hit to the casinos' bottom line is substantial: gross operating profit per hour is down 61 percent.
George Cosgrove, 69, a retiree from Whiting, N.J., comes to Atlantic City once a month with his wife, visiting a different casino each time. One day last week he was taking a break on a Boardwalk bench outside the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort, which hasn't paid its mortgage in more than a year and a half and which reported $4.7 million in gross operating losses in the third quarter compared to gross operating profits of $888,000 a year ago.
"It's easy to see for yourself -- go in there, and there's hardly anybody in there," Mr. Cosgrove said, motioning to the Hilton.
Mr. Cosgrove estimates he and his wife are spending at least 30 percent less at the casinos this year.
"We are definitely watching our money more closely," he said. "We'd love to keep doing things the way we used to, but we just can't."
Michael Pollock, managing director of Spectrum Gaming Group, which wrote the study, said the numbers showed just how drastically the Atlantic City market was changing.
"It's shifting toward a visitor base that is less gambling-centric, which means they're gambling less per hour with tighter wallets," he said. "Recessions end, and when it does, what Atlantic City needs to do is diversify its customer base.
"We didn't realize it at the time, but 2006 and 2007 in Atlantic City and Las Vegas was really too good to be true," Mr. Pollock said. "People were spending more than they could afford."
That came to a screeching halt when the economy started slowing down in late 2007 and nearly crashed in 2008.
The study examined third-quarter figures from 2006 to 2010 in three areas: gross gaming revenue per visitor hour (the amount of money casinos take in for every hour a gambler is on their premises); total visitor hours, and gross operating profit per visitor hour.
The time frame was chosen to use late 2006 as a starting point just before the first slots parlors opened in the Philadelphia suburbs, ushering in a four-year revenue plunge in Atlantic City that continues unabated.
Gross gaming revenue fell from $9.13 per hour in 2006 to $6.42 for the city's 11 casinos.
Gross operating profit per visitor hour went from $2.74 in 2006 to $1.05 in the third quarter of this year -- a drop of more than 61 percent.
Corresponding hourly figures were not available for Las Vegas, the nation's largest gambling market. But it, too, has been struggling with the recession and the relentless expansion of casinos and slots parlors into local neighborhoods around the country.
Gambling revenue in Las Vegas is up less than 1 percent to $6.7 billion in Clark County from January through September, even though the area has seen 2.4 percent more visitors during the first nine months of 2010 compared with the same time last year.
Atlantic City's casino revenue fell from a high of $5.2 billion in 2006 to $3.9 billion in 2009. For this year's first 10 months, it is at $3.1 billion, down 9.1 percent from the same period in 2009.
If you spend any amount of time at all online then you most certainly have seen numerous advertisements that are trying to lure you to play at one online casino or another by offering you an online casino deposit bonus that is “too good to pass up” or “the best”. What about these deposit bonuses anyway? Are they worth looking into?
Well, the answer to that question is ‘yes’. As you know the online casino industry is growing by leaps and bounds. There are now more opportunities than ever before to experience all of the same thrills and excitement you get when you travel to Las Vegas or your nearest land-based casino to play your favourite games. The amazing technology in use today such as live video feeds when playing poker, blackjack or roulette creates an experience that is second-to-none. Today’s online slots are incredible with rich, colourful graphics and huge jackpots just waiting to be claimed.
The most popular online casino bonuses are the deposit bonuses. With this type of bonus, you get free money to play with as a reward for signing up to a web-based casino. Nice, don’t you think? The casino will quite often match the amount you deposit by up to 100% or sometimes even more. Some casinos stipulate that you have to use the money only in certain areas of their casino such as when playing live poker or blackjack so it’s important to read the terms and conditions so that you are very clear on exactly how you are allowed to spend the bonus money.
There really isn’t any good reason not to take advantage of an online casino deposit bonus. When you stop to think about it, no land-based casino will offer to give you a crisp, brand new $100 bill when you play some of their games for that amount now do they? It would be great if they did and surely every land-based casino on earth would be jammed packed with people around the clock if that were the case, but the truth is they don’t because they cannot afford to. Brick and mortar casinos have so many costs to cover such as personnel, licensing, business mortgages, utility bills, cleaning and maintenance costs and more.
Free cash is a pretty sweet incentive and an offer that’s hard to resist, especially if you are anxious for some great casino action and are willing to make a minimal deposit. So the next time you see a nice, big fat online casino deposit bonus, read the terms and grab it if it appeals to you because you’ve really got nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain.
Remember that the online gaming industry is fiercely competitive. This means that every online casino in existence is vying for your business and the casinos are aggressively competing with one another in order to win you over. Some of the deposit bonuses are just too good to resist so do take advantage of them because who knows? You might strike it rich by hitting a hefty slots jackpot or getting a full house in poker!
The month of December is looking pretty hot and bonustastic for all players looking to cash in on lots fabulous deals and extra casino cash to splash. the season of goodwill, generosity and non-stop pleasure has most definitely not bypassed the exciting world of online casino, as so many venues are offering up great bonuses and lots of fantastic festive extras to add a great big dash of Christmas cheer to the holiday season.
The New Jersey online gambling bill has moved with tremendous speed in the last few weeks. This bill, officially designated as S 490, was introduced in the New Jersey Senate by Senator Raymond Lesniak only in January 2010. On November 14, 2010, the bill was passed in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee by a vote of 10 to 1. Then on November 22 it was passed in the New Jersey State Senate by a vote of 29 to 5. Finally on December 8, the New Jersey Assembly voted unanimously to pass the bill. The full vote is scheduled for Monday December 13. The bill needs 41 supporters or more in the full vote in order to pass, and that should not be a problem. After that Governor Chris Christie has 45 days to decide whether or not to sign the bill into law. Since Governor Christie is a Republican it remains to be seen whether he will listen to the legislators of New Jersey or will toe the line of the Federal Republicans. The bill's supporters are hoping that bill will be enacted before the end of the year.
When the bill was cleared by the Senate sub-committee it contained a provision that the licensed online gaming operators would be able to offer services to residents of New Jersey and to international players, but not to Americans residing in other states of the country. However in order to get the bill through the Assembly the provision of catering to international customers had to be dropped. Now only New Jersey residents will be able to avail of the services.
eGaming Review quoted an unnamed source as saying, "We are about to go and talk to the governor's people. If this passes New Jersey could become the Silicon Valley of e-gaming in the States. Since the very beginning this has become a priority for lawmakers here. We need to do something to reverse the State's gaming industry's decline in Atlantic City. We are very confident that this will be voted favorably on Monday and that it will soon come into law."
Atlantic City land casinos are in a sorry financial state. The S 490 will allow them to offer online the same versions of the games that they offer in their land casinos. This would bring in additional gaming revenue for the casinos and additional tax revenue for the state. New Jersey will be the first in America to offer regulated online casino gambling. The general online gambling bill at the federal level, the HR 2267, is stuck because the Democrats have lost majority in the House of Representatives. There are plans afoot to bring in only online poker bills at the Federal level and in the state of California, but they are facing unexpected hurdles.
Can games be any more fun? Maybe, if you conceal them and make players guess what game it is they can!
Every week at Casino Tropez, players are given the opportunity to earn 10% extra on top of their deposit when correctly "Guessing the Game."
The casino shows you an image and gives you three hints. Guess what game it is and contact the casino's Customer Support team with your answer. If you're right, the bonus will be issued with your next deposit.
Crazy Slots online casino is offering its players an incredible holiday bonus bonanza. The invitation to the promotion says, "Stuff your stocking this holiday season!" In addition to this special event, Crazy Slots online casino has added many more online tournaments to its schedule with a greatly enhanced total prize pool.
The Christmas Bonus Bonanza will take place in December 2010. It consists of a series of raffles in which a wide range of incredible prizes and cash bonuses can be won. The raffles will consist of three separate draws. Players will receive a raffle entry for every incremental deposit of $50 made on the specified dates. For example if a player makes a $50 deposit he will receive 1 entry to the raffle, if he deposits $100 then he will receive 2 entries and so on. The Christmas Bonus Bonanza promotion will have 8 Grand Prize winners who will receive their choice of iPads, Tiffany's gift certificates, state-of-the-art home theatre systems and free luxury spa getaways. In addition to these exciting gifts a whopping $40,000 in bonuses will be awarded to 250 lucky players at Crazy Slots online casino. During the 15 days of Christmas Bonus Bonanza Crazy Slots will be spreading even more holiday cheer by offering other outstanding promotions.
Players who do not want to miss out need to be members of Crazy Slots online casino. Those who are not should simply download the free software or launch the instant play Flash casino and register as a Real Money player. All players should log in to the software each day in December for a welcome message announcing the raffles. On these days they will have to make a deposit of $50 or more and be in the running for the bonuses and bumper prizes. New players should not forget to avail of the crazy $12,500 welcome bonus over their first 15 deposits along with four free entries to the numerous online tournaments offered at Crazy Slots online casino.
The month of December also offers a bonanza to online tournament players at Crazy Slots online casino. There will be 150 different tournaments out of which 27 will be free to enter. The biggest of these is the Countdown to Christmas, which offers a whopping guaranteed prize pool of $250,000. But this begins on December 17, so there is a week to go. The Quickie Bonus Bucks freerolls are one-day events that run on Mondays to Fridays. Next week's tournaments will be played on the slot game Lucky Lady. Crazy Slots online casino is powered by software from Vegas Technology. It is licensed in the gaming jurisdiction of Curacao.
Recently re-elected Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) has been pushing for an intra-state online gaming bill centralized in his home state of Nevada according to the Wall Street Journal. The beneficiaries of the bill would be the brick & mortar casinos located throughout Las Vegas, as they would be the only businesses eligible to receive an online gaming license.
Reid’s support for online gaming is likely due to the huge campaign donations he received in the recent election –which saw Reid narrowly beat Sharon Angle. The major casinos that line the Las Vegas Strip have changed their tune over the past couple of years, and are now in favor of legalizing online gaming – provided they will be the ones offering the games of course.
The argument being pushed is that legalized online poker would provide safeguards against underage gambling and problem gamblers for what is now a highly unregulated market. The bill would also flood state and federal coffers with a new revenue stream worth billions of dollars each year.
The best, and likely only chance, to pass online gaming legislation in the short-term is during the current lame-duck session of Congress. The proponents of the bill are hoping Reid will find another bill that the online gaming bill could be attached to, making passing the measure much simpler.
One company pushing hard for the legislation is Caesars Entertainment Corp (formerly Harrah’s). Caesars owns the World Series of Poker brand, and is hoping to use their name recognition to become a major player in the online poker market, as well as the online gambling market. Caesars has already setup an online poker site –but to comply with US law the site does not offer real-money poker games at this time.
Opponents of the bill include ranking Republican member of the House Financial Services Committee Spencer Bachus (R-AL) who is adamantly opposed to any form of gambling. Bachus and a small group of Congressional members sent a letter to Reid opposing any online gaming legislation being brought up during the lame-duck session: “Congress should not take advantage of the young, the weak and the vulnerable in the name of new revenues to cover more government spending,” Bachus wrote in the letter.
According to the Wall Street Journal:
“Mr. Reid’s office is considering language that would allow only existing casinos, horse tracks and slot-machine makers to operate online poker websites for the first two years after the bill passes, which could limit the ability of other companies to enter the market.”
“The bill would also outsource oversight to state regulators, another move supported by existing casinos that don’t want to see the federal government become overly involved in regulating their industry.”
“The bill as drafted would send taxes on wagers to both federal and state governments.”
According to Senator Lesnaik’s bill, online gambling includes “poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps, big six wheel, slot machines, mini baccarat, Red Dog, Pai Gow, and Sic Bo, any variations or composites of such games, provided that such variations or composites, and any above listed game or variation or composite of such game to be offered through internet wagering.” The bill also included a 15% tax on gross revenue made off these online gambling sites.
Any casinos that offer online gambling in New Jersey will be licensed Atlantic City operators operating in Atlantic City. The bill was formulated to revive the flagging gaming industry in Atlantic City; in fact, another bill was also approved by the Senate which will see smaller casinos opening up in with 200 rooms instead of the current minimum of 500 rooms.
Should the bill get passed, it will undoubtedly bode well for the struggling Atlantic City gaming industry, however, one can’t help but wonder at the protectionist approach being taken by the state. Online casino operators in New Jersey will welcome European players however, instead of a quid pro quo, European casino operators are not allowed to market to or take on online players from New Jersey. One could be forgiven for considering this state of affairs to be one of gross double standards.
In the meanwhile, Senator Lesnaik appeared fairly confident that the bill which is now to be decided by Governor Chris Christie will get signed into law. He said, “I don’t think he’s going to have any option but to sign it before the end of the year.”