Leaders who run casinos for Indian tribes told regulators and companies on Tuesday that they won't support new laws involving online gambling unless it's clear how tribes nationwide will be affected.
Chairwoman Leslie Lohse of the California Tribal Business Alliance said at the iGaming North America conference that online gambling has cultural and economic implications that shouldn't be brushed off because others are in a hurry to start taking bets.
"What's going to satisfy us? That we really sit down and hammer out the nuts and bolts of this," Lohse said. "Really look at the impacts and not rush to the gold."
Tribal sovereignty, local economic implications and other issues need to be fully addressed before tribes eagerly support Internet gambling laws in California or nationwide, Lohse said.
The comments underscored the fierce competition and divisions between those who might want Internet gambling in some form. The tribes and others, including casino companies, equipment manufacturers and state lotteries, don't want to be hurt or left out if Americans eventually are able to wager on poker or other games at home on computers or on mobile devices.
Gambling revenue at American Indian casinos was $26.7 billion in 2010, according to a report issued Tuesday by industry publication Casino City. That was up slightly from $26.4 billion in 2009, when casinos in the U.S. were battered by the global recession that left many people without the means or willingness to gamble as much.
Sheila Morago, executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said tribes are still weary from the hit they took during the recession and don't want to further threaten the businesses they've worked to build. Opinions about Internet gambling proposals are widespread and varied because current arrangements that allow for Indian casinos are complex, she said.
"When you take one federal bill and sort of overlay it over 29 state compacts, you're kind of wondering how is this going to work," Morago said. "We can all agree that nobody wants to open up those state compacts."
Many of the top commercial casino companies have pushed for federal legislation that would create one national framework for online gaming and allow states to opt out if they choose.
Jonathan Halkyard, chief financial officer of Caesars Entertainment Corp., urged federal legislation as soon as possible while speaking at the conference on Monday.
Commercial casinos haven't supported a particular bill and talks of an effort by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid haven't produced any publicly circulated drafts or other tangible proposals since late 2010.
Stephen Hart, a lawyer who represents tribes and tribal gambling commissions throughout the West, said tribes in California won't be eager to give up elements of their sovereignty, or exclusive rights to offer casino games.
"One would have to anticipate disagreements," Hart said.
As many as 239 tribes operated 448 gambling businesses in 2010. California accounted for $6.8 billion in gambling revenue, more than one quarter of revenues from American Indian casinos in 2010.
Leading gambling law expert I. Nelson Rose of Whittier Law School here said he predicts a "big explosion" of states legalizing Internet gambling because state governments face severe revenue shortages. | SEE STORY
Legislatures in 10 states including Illinois, Ohio, Iowa and Kentucky have reportedly said they may favor legalization of online lottery sales or Internet poker. The National Conference of State Legislatures released a letter on March 2 stating the organization's desire for the U.S. Congress to avoid legalizing online gambling nationwide, in order to leave the matter up to individual states. | SEE LETTER
Up to $100 million could be realized in new state taxes in Iowa alone, where a Senate subcommittee recently approved SB Bill 3164, an Internet gambling legalization bill.
The potential boom in online gambling legalization by states is being triggered by new guidelines from the federal government. In December 2011, the U.S. Justice Department announced it was changing its decades-old position on Internet gambling and that states could legalize the activity for citizens within their own jurisdictions, without violating the 1961 federal Wire Act.
Yet federal prosecutors continue to indict owners of offshore Internet casinos and sports gambling websites that target American players. In 2011, the DOJ shut down Pokerstars.com, charging its owners with money laundering and wire fraud. As recently as this February, the feds indicted the owner of bodog.com, one of the world's largest online sports gambling companies.
MOBILE GAMBLERS have boosted third-quarter revenue at Betfair by 11 per cent as the online gambling exchange said it would meet full-year expectations.
Betfair, founded 12 years ago by one-time professional gambler Andrew Black and former JP Morgan trader Ed Wray, took €60 million worth of bets on the marathon Australian Open tennis final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal alone, highlighting the growing popularity of in-play gaming on major sporting events.
The company, which has struggled since it floated at £13 a share in 2010, said punters using mobile devices helped double mobile revenues to £5.8 million in the three months to January 31st, compared with the same period in the previous year.
Mobile revenue accounts for 7 per cent of total Betfair income – a figure the company has previously said could rise to 50 per cent by 2016.
Stephen Morana, Betfair’s interim chief executive, said trading remained good.
“Trading has remained encouraging in Q4, with revenue continuing to exhibit double-digit growth rates and this leaves us confident that we will meet our expectations for the full year,” Mr Morana said.
Overall revenue for the quarter was £85.3 million, while the company’s net gaming revenue for the financial year increased 5 per cent to £255.6 million.
Simon French, an analyst at Panmure Gordon, projects the company will make about £350 million in full-year revenue and £92 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation.
Betfair, which reported a net cash position, said it would continue a £50 million share-buy back programme after spending £37.5 million on it for the financial year to date.
However, Paul Leyland, an analyst at Investec, said there were significant risks to Betfair’s business in the medium-term.
“Betfair generates around 45 per cent of core revenue from non-regulated jurisdictions,” he noted.
“Regulatory change is coming in a number of key markets – eg Germany, Greece, Spain – and we believe this will significantly impact revenue.”
Betfair meanwhile has announced that Edward Wray, the co-founder of Betfair, will step down as chairman on Tuesday. Gerald Corbett, the deputy chairman, will replace him.
Mr Morana became interim chief executive in January, following the departure of David Yu. Mr Morana will stay in the post until Breon Corcoran, formerly chief operating officer of Paddy Power, takes over on August 1st next year.
A divided state Court of Appeals on Tuesday struck down North Carolina's ban on video sweepstakes machines, ruling the law is overbroad and infringes on the free speech rights of their operators. The decision, if ultimately upheld, could reopen arguments on whether the state should regulate the machines and tax them.
A three-judge panel ruled 2-to-1 to throw out the 2010 law, which supporters have said was designed to rid another form of video gambling after the General Assembly banned traditional video poker machines in 2007. The case and another similar lawsuit ruled on Tuesday are now going to the state Supreme Court because state attorneys defending the 2010 law plan to appeal.
Amusement machine companies and two firms that market long-distance phone and Internet services in North Carolina challenged the sweepstakes law, arguing it crosses the line by banning sweepstakes that use "entertaining displays" for people to watch to learn if they've won. Separate trial court judges ruled differently on the two lawsuits.
Writing for the majority, Court of Appeals Judge Ann Marie Calabria rejected the state's argument that eliminating the displays is designed to regulate a certain type of conduct the Legislature finds objectionable. She cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that video games - like books and movies - are entitled to First Amendment protections.
"The General Assembly cannot, under the guise of regulating sweepstakes, categorically forbid sweepstakes operators from conveying the results of otherwise legal sweepstakes in a constitutionally protected manner," Calabria wrote, joined by Judge Linda McGee. The court threw out the entire sweepstakes law, not just one portion of the law that a Guilford County judge threw out.
Judge Robert C. Hunter dissented, writing that the law should be upheld because it regulates conduct, not speech.
Under the law, the plaintiffs are still "free to allow anyone to play their video games so long as the video games are not used to conduct or promote sweepstakes," Hunter wrote. He said he would have upheld the entire law.
Supreme Court justices are obligated to consider an appeal of a split ruling.
"We believe the dissent got it right and plan to appeal this bad decision," said Noelle Talley, a spokeswoman for state Attorney General Roy Cooper, whose office represented the state in the litigation.
Sweepstakes parlors, convenience stores or business centers buy Internet or phone time that gives them the opportunity to uncover potential cash and prizes with mouse clicks on a computer screen. Legislators argued in 2010 the sweepstakes games provide the same negative aspects as other forms of gambling - addictive play and criminal activity.
Sweepstakes boosters say no gambling is occurring because the prize or lack of one is predetermined, nothing can be done by the consumer to change it and consumers can enter the sweepstakes without purchasing a product.
Sweepstakes outlets have remained in operation in North Carolina while the law was challenged. Cooper's office told law enforcement officers to enforce only parts of the law upheld by the trial judges - meaning shutting down casino-style games but keeping games with cartoon characters intact. The entire law will be unenforceable while appeals are heard unless the state successfully asks the justices to stay Tuesday's rulings.
Adam Charnes, an attorney who argued on behalf of sweepstakes software providers Hest Technologies and International Internet Technologies, said he was pleased. The same three-judge panel also ruled 2-to-1 on Tuesday in favor of Sandhill Amusements and other companies who sued separately.
"This statute prohibits Internet cafes and business centers from using video games and only video games from displaying their results," Charnes said. "It's targeting video games in violation of the First Amendment."
Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said the Legislature should wait and see what the Supreme Court does before deciding whether it needs to act.
The General Assembly has been working for almost 20 years on ways to regulate video gambling or similarly-styled games. Some amusement machine providers on Tuesday again raised their long-standing proposal to have the state regulate lawful video sweepstakes games.
"We believe that having state oversight will provide a regulated market with enforcement measures to protect consumers and operators," said Chase Brooks, president of the Internet-Based Sweepstakes Organization. "We welcome the opportunity to meet and talk with the governor and members of the General Assembly."
Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue considered but ultimately declined last year to propose reviving the video poker industry through heavy regulation as a way to generate state revenues. She said Tuesday a change to the state's policy of banning video sweepstakes may be necessary if it can't be eliminated by law.
"If you can't outlaw it, you need to regulate it and charge it a fee," Perdue said.
The 11th season of American Idol continues as a field of 13 singers vie to be the next winner of the reality-television juggernaut, but the person who comes out on top in this competition doesn’t always prosper.
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Case in point, Ruben Studdard won the second season of American Idol in 2003 and even earned a Grammy nomination in 2004, but has since fallen on hard times. Studdard was recently served with a back-tax lien of over $180,000, along with his wife Zuri, but the two are in the middle of a divorce after he filed in December. He also received a property lien in 2008 and this lien is from 2009, so there could be even more trouble ahead for the former champion.
Odds to win American Idol:
Phillip Phillips 7/2
Shannon Magrane 5/1
Colton Dixon 5/1
Jessica Sanchez 7/1
Joshua Ledet 9/1
Heejun Han 10/1
Hollie Cavanagh 10/1
Skylar Laine 10/1
Jermaine Jones 14/1
Elise Testone 15/1
DeAndre Brackensick 20/1
Erika Van Pelt 25/1
Jeremy Rosado 30/1
But on the current season of American Idol, the next group of potential future stars is setting their sights on the title and the odds are with Phillip Phillips, who is favored at 7/2 and has received accolades for his performances thus far. Not far behind is Jessica Sanchez at 4/1, while Colton Dixon, Elise Testone and Shannon Magrane are next in line. The trio of wild-card picks, Jeremy Rosado, DeAndre Brackensick and Erika Van Pelt, are the longshots.
We’ll find out who will be eliminated on Thursday night, one night after the group attempts to win over judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson, along with the rest of America. The males will see if they can handle the songs of musical icon Stevie Wonder, while the females have a huge task as they’ll take on music from the late Whitney Houston, who passed away last month. It’ll be an emotionally charged show on Wednesday and the results are on Thursday, making it another must-see week for American Idol fans.
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State Sen. Raymond Lesniak told PokerNews in an exclusive interview that he expects legislation to allow for Internet gambling to be approved by both houses of the state legislature on March 15. More importantly, Lesniak expects that this time around the governor will sign the bill, which, he said, should lead to online poker being played in the Garden State by Sept. 1.
New Jersey was the first state to pass legislation to create Internet gambling in January of 2011 only to have the bill vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie. In the meantime, Nevada passed legislation, approved regulations and has begun to accept applications for Internet poker licenses.
"The race is on," Lesniak said. "There's certainly room for two major states to regulate the industry and combine with other states. If we get there first or they get there first, we'll both be operating. We expect New Jersey to be the Silicon Valley of Internet gaming in the country."
A state senate panel approved Lesniak's revised bill Monday but an assembly committee didn't vote on the legislation over concerns that a ballot initiative might be needed to alter the New Jersey constitution to allow for gambling outside of Atlantic City even though the actual hubs for gaming will be located at city casinos. Lesniak said this hurdle won't be an issue and that the legislation will pass through the committee early next week.
Lesniak indicated that, while he always knew there was no law in the U.S. that made online poker illegal, the DOJ's December opinion that the Wire Act applies only to sports betting helped convince Christie to support the current bill before other states move on the issue.
While the previous legislation would have only allowed for Internet gambling within state borders, another result of the DOJ opinion is that Lesniak now expects New Jersey to form compacts with other states to create a larger pool of players.
"Only a handful of states can have a regulatory scheme and possess the experience in operating these types of games — obviously Nevada and New Jersey, and likely California," Lesniak said. "It would be a lot easier for most other states to have a compact with us and do a profit-sharing agreement. Market share is very important in this business, and that's why it's important to be there first."
Lesniak said the prospect of states going into partnerships with other states on Internet poker means it's inevitable that the federal government will pass legislation to establish a national framework on Internet gaming.
He welcomes federal legislation but believes it is key for New Jersey to establish its online gaming operations first. He sees federal legislation as the way New Jersey will eventually open up its network internationally.
New Jersey could butt heads with Capitol Hill when it comes to other forms of gambling such as blackjack, slots and bingo. The New Jersey bill allows for casino games while recent federal proposals have been to regulate poker on the condition that these other forms of Internet gambling are outlawed.
"Once we're up and running, there's no way the federal government would shut us down," Lesniak said. "I know our U.S. Senators and Congressional delegation would prevent that from happening. When a federal bill passes, I think it will just open it up nationwide and, because of our marketing share and agreements with other states, we'll be in position to take advantage."
“Super Tuesday” is the busiest day of the presidential run-in as the most states hold their primaries, making the day when candidates can win the most delegates. This year’s edition of “Super Tuesday” didn’t decide the race totally, but it’s all but over as we come down the stretch.
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Mitt Romney has 40.5% of the delegates on his side after wins in Ohio, Virginia, Vermont, Idaho and Massachusetts, but he missed a few opportunities to prove to the Republican Party that he is the man to unseat President and Democrat Barack Obama in November. Rick Santorum picked up wins in Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota while Newt Gingrich stayed alive with an important victory in Georgia. Ron Paul has basically submitted with zero wins, making it a three-man race now.
But it would be a major collapse if Romney loses to Santorum and Gingrich, who are splitting votes and at this rate, there is no chance that they’ll catch up to Romney, who has 315 delegates and carries 14 states. Gingrich has 105 delegates and carries two states, while Santorum has 78 delegates, but carries seven states.
Even if the two were to combine forces, they may not be able to catch Romney because there is a lot of indecision that could come into play, and it looks like it’s going to be clear sailing to the presidential trail for Romney, although no one is quite sure if he can beat Obama. The Democrats will be watching and waiting to see who will try to replace their guy, but they’re also very confident in his abilities to take down whoever the Republican choice is. It’s going to be a very interesting stretch run for the GOP part.
Global Betting and Gaming Consultants estimates China’s unregulated market for online gambling to have been worth $562.4m in gross gaming yield last year.
“This does not include the illegal land-based operations, which could be three to four times that figure in the underground casinos and gambling houses across the country,” the company’s Lorien Pilling told InterGaming. “Bearing in mind that margins are very low from Asian handicap betting and the agent system, the $562.4m could equate to a turnover of around $15bn to $18bn.”
Aside from the popular sports of football and basketball, Chinese gamblers are understood to favour live dealer casino games, such as baccarat and sic bo, that are enormously popular in Macau.
“It is not unknown for players to play by mobile phone,” explained Pilling. “They call their colleague in a casino in the Philippines, for example, who places bets on their behalf and tells them the result over the phone. How would you classify this – remote gambling?”
Casino gambling is presently only legal in Macau, which is now the world’s single largest gaming market. There is some debate, however, over the presence of gaming machines in mainland China and the authorities’ attitude towards them. It is not possible to obtain a licence for internet gambling in China either, but the state lotteries have permitted mobile and online lottery sales.
“If sports betting were to be permitted, with advertising allowed and the full range of bet types and local payment methods available, it would certainly be worth several billion dollars in revenues,” said Pilling.
Gaming revenues in Macau increased by more than 22 per cent to MOP24.3bn ($3.04bn) in February, building on the MOP188.34bn recorded for the whole of 2011.
Italy's online gambling market is where all the opportunities are right now, as demonstrated by the announcements made this week by two different operators - Paddy Power and Prima Networks.
Italy Expansion
Irish-based online bookmaker Paddy Power said Monday that it will expand its Italy operation, in order to continue from the success of last year's business success. Paddy Power's revenues increased 17 percent to almost half-a-billion euros last year, mainly due to a stand-out year in its UK and Irish online business.
Prima Networks agreed to a deal this week with Tarricone Holding Group to supply a new Italian online casino under the domain name Betflag.it. Tarricone is already known for being behind leading Italian gaming brand Totosi, which was eventually sold to Lottomatica in 2008.
Betflag will feature a sportsbook and online casino, utilizing Prima's QuickFire software. Betflag.it is licensed by Italian gaming regulation authority AAMS, while its general domain name Betflag.com is operating under a Maltese license.
Good News for Players
Most of the big names in online gambling have either signed deals to enter the Italian gambling market, or are in the process of negotiating them. And this is good news for Italian players too, as the better the competition the better the product they end up receiving.
Consumer groups are hoping Italy can quickly sort out the remaining problems with its gambling legislation. The European Court of Justice last month questioned whether the country was restricting foreign operators from obtaining licenses. The news of Paddy Power and Prima Networks shows some progress is being made though.
AAMS Approved
Online Casino Reports Italy lists all legal, AAMS certified and approved online casinos that currently serve the Italian market. Italian readers and speakers - make sure you visit!
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Statements in this press release, which are not historical are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "may", "will", "would" and similar expressions and the negative of such expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, foreign exchange rates and effective income tax rates. While the Company considers these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks related to forward-looking statements include, without limitation, risks associated with the Company's financial condition, prospects and opportunities, legal risks associated with Internet gaming and risks of governmental legislation and regulation, risks associated with market acceptance and technological changes, risks associated with dependence on licensees and key licensees, risks relating to international operations and risks associated with competition. Additional risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company's Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 under the heading "Item 3 - Key Information - Risk Factors" and in the Company's other filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities commissions. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are given only as at the date of this release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
Zynga Inc., the social gaming giant, made an announcement Thursday that it will soon launch a brand new gaming platform, separating it from the social networking site Facebook. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, this move on the part of Zynga will one day enable it to launch a real money online gambling site without the assistance of Facebook. Based in San Francisco, Zynga, which has presented to millions of Facebook users popular games such as CastleVille, Words with Friends, CityVille, and Zynga Poker, is closely associated with Facebook and will continue being associated with Facebook in future too. In a recently issued press release Mark Pincus, the co-founder of Zynga, said, “In 2007 Facebook changed the game with their courageous move to open their platform to us all. We’re proud to be a part of Facebook’s ecosystem and we built Zynga.com to complement their pervasive social graph. Zynga.com will be one of the first sites completely integrated with Facebook which has become the world’s social dial-tone.”
A Facebook spokesman has revealed that the social networking site is not interested in the real money gaming business.
Zynga Poker had made public its intention to explore possibilities of launching real money online poker back in January. However, this is easier said than done in the US, where the company has to get a license from a jurisdiction that has legalized and regulated the online poker gaming industry.
Fortunately, Nevada has recently prepared a regulatory framework for the online poker industry and is currently processing applications from operators who wish to launch real money gambling businesses in Nevada. If Zynga Poker wants to grab a share of the online poker market in Nevada, it has to get into a partnership deal with a land-based casino in Nevada. So far, Zynga has not shown any interest in entering the US intrastate poker market.
On Wednesday, however, a Dow Jones Newswire report quoted Pincus as suggesting that the company might get into a partnership deal with Wynn Resorts. This land-based casino gaming company has not made public any intention to get into a partnership deal with any online gaming operator after it broke all connection with PokerStars following the federal government crackdown of April 15, 2011.
Meanwhile California, the place where Zynga is based, has expressed its intention to follow in the footsteps of Nevada and draw a regulatory framework for online poker.
Dancing With The Stars is set to start on March 19th on ABC, with hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet (who won the seventh season of the show), and judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli. The cast of characters is star-studded, but one in particular is getting a lot of attention. Even though she is an early favorite, she is having issues picking up on some of the steps.
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Maria Menounos hosts Extra and has recently donned a bikini in Times Square, so she isn’t going to have a problem with the outfits that she’ll have to wear on Dancing With The Stars. But she has admitted to having trouble with the dance steps that she’ll have to perfect if she is going to avoid elimination. She has been paired with Derek Hough, the only person to win three times, and he has also earned three Creative Arts Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Choreography on Dancing With The Stars, so Menounos couldn’t have a better teacher; she has admitted as much herself. She has never been able to actually learn how to dance, but Menounos says she is having fun with Hough and that is half the battle when you are learning to dance.
Dancing With the Stars Season 14 - Who will win?
William Levy 4/1
Maria Menounos 5/1
Sportsbooks have Menounos at 5/1 currently, behind actor William Levy at 4/1, and with her increasingly public profile, she is sure to earn a ton of votes. But will she impress the judges, who are notoriously difficult on the competitors? In particular, Tonioli has made headlines in the past for his remarks (Michael Bolton had an issue with Tonioli in the 11th season), so Menounos has to pick up her game if she wants to remain a part of Dancing With The Stars.
ONLINE gambling should be made legal, say Members of Parliament.
The National Assembly’s Trade and Industry Oversight Committee has asked the Department of Trade and Industry to draft legislation to this effect because, it says, online gambling is happening anyway but the economic benefits – tax revenue and local jobs – are going begging.
The industry was estimated to be worth R320 million in 2009.
The committee was discussing a report this week based on research done by the gambling review commission on the socio-economic impact of various forms of illegal gambling.
DA MP Geordin Hill-Lewis, who was part of the team that drafted the report, said SA could not continue to refuse to legalise online gambling. He said online gambling was happening and the only consequence was that “SA derives no economic benefit from it”.
The legal gambling industry generated R18.1 billion in 2009. This netted taxes of R1.5bn, making gambling tax the second most important source of provincial income.
The committee recommended that forms of gambling which should be legalised in online form include:
l Slot machines and tables.
l Bingo.
l Sports betting.
l Betting against the totalisator.
The Gambling Review Commission suggested that a maximum number for online gambling licences should be set. This would allow for the monitoring of the socio-economic impact.
Established in December 2011 to represent the online gabling sector in Denmark and abroad the Danish Online Gambling Association has rapidly grown in scope and stature. The association acts as a sounding board and voice for operators in the recently regulated online gambling industry’s Danish jurisdiction.
Its governing body is the Executive Committee which is selected by the full membership every year. The mandate of the organization includes, Regulation, Sports betting issues, Taxation, Social Responsibility and Crime Issues.
The DOGA is committed to promoting a well regulated and non-discriminatory Danish environment for responsible licensed operators. In doing so it shares the objectives of the Danish Act which are to maintain the consumption of gambling or as they put it, gaming for money at a moderate level; to protect young people and other vulnerable people from being exploited through gaming or developing a gaming addiction; to protect players by ensuring that games are provided in a fair, responsible and transparent way and to ensure that public order is maintained and to prevent games from supporting crime.
The consumer is a major consideration for the Danish Online Gambling Association expressed on the web site for the group. ‘Gambling is a legitimate leisure activity that provides harmless entertainment for the vast majority of its consumers, who should be given the option to choose from a wide range of licensed, reputable and responsible Danish-licensed operators. Appropriate levels of licensing and regulation can address all of the potential risks associated with gambling - both online and offline - irrespective of whether it is provided by state or private sector operators.’
It was recently revealed that Betsson, Bet24 and Ladbrokes along with Bet365, Betfair, Unibet and Sportingbet are active members of the organization.
Having over 12 years of experience from the private and public sector the recipient of the "European Regulator of the Year" award from the association "International Masters of Gaming Law" in 2010 Morten Rønde, is the current Chief Executive of DOGA.
U.S. Congressional candidate Utah Rep. Stephen Sandstrom ended the Utah legislative session yesterday on a high note with four key legislative wins, making his 2012 public service commitment to Utah constituents both productive and patriotic.
The four bills passed include: HB395 Firearms Amendment, which addresses the lack of constitutional due process that currently impacts lawful gun owners in Utah; HB108 Internet Gambling that prevents online gambling and eliminates the threat of Indian casino's coming to Utah; HJR012/ SJR008, Joint Resolution on Property Tax Exemption for Military Personnel, which Rep. Sandstrom jointly sponsored with Utah Senator Luz Robles; and SB223 Pledge of Allegiance Amendments, a bill that is expected to foster American patriotism in Utah schools. Rep. Sandstrom also passed additional legislation dealing with education and healthcare.
House Bill 395 amends provisions of Utah's firearm laws, adding due process for those charged but not convicted of a crime. The bill also makes it a second degree felony if a person knowingly sells or transfers a firearm to someone they know is restricted by law such as a gang member or drug dealer. The regional director of the National Rifle Association (NRA) stated that this is one of the most significant, pro-2nd Amendment fireman provisions to pass out of legislature in the last 15 years.
"HB395 was a constitutional win for lawful gun owners in Utah," said Rep. Sandstrom. "The concept of 'innocent until proven guilty' had significant influence in moving this bill to the Governor's desk.
"Utahns understand that today we need less federal government meddling and more state sovereignty. They also understand that small businesses, not online slot machines are the foundation of America's economy and the only way we will beat back today's recession."
Rep. Sandstrom added, "I am pleased Utahns chose to support our military by reducing their tax burdens. These brave men and women put their lives on the line for us each day, this is the least we can do for them especially as the Obama administration strips back the military budget to skeletal levels."
All four bills are currently on Governor Herbert's desk for review before being signed into law.
About Utah Rep. Stephen Sandstrom U.S. Congressional candidate Utah Rep. Stephen Sandstrom favors small government, strong education, and states' rights. A lifelong resident of Utah, Sandstrom graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Political Science. He believes in promoting growth through lower taxes, which allow hard-working Utah citizens and Americans to retain their hard-earned savings. Sandstrom is well-known in the community as an honest, classic Reagan conservative. His life experience as a former United States Marine, small business owner, local and state public servant, and a steadfast family man uniquely qualify him to represent the constituents of the 4th District. For more background information, go to Stephen Sandstrom for U.S. Congress.
Global Betting and Gaming Consultants (GBGC) has just released the findings of its latest research showing a rise in gambling revenue across the world by 5.6% to $419 billion, compared to the previous year.
Although lotteries were out in front accounting for 28.4% of gambling revenues, casinos were close behind on 27.7% and are expected to claim the top spot this year. The growth in Asian gambling is directly linked to the forecast, and as GBGC Director Lorien Pilling explains:
“There are numerous new casinos under development in Asia that are due to open in the next few years, whilst Singapore’s integrated resorts are still only in their second full year of operations.”
Online gambling, too, experienced growth in its share of global revenue, albeit a slight one up just 0.4% to 8.4% in 2011. However, online gambling still remains illegal in the huge US market and any moves to legalize and regulate it State side would inevitably see that figure skyrocket.
Looking ahead to the future, GBGC is predicting global gambling revenue to top $500bn by 2014, but depending on how the global economic situation develops. As mentioned, the Asian market is helping to drive revenues up with the enclave of Macau regularly posting $3 billion monthly revenue results. Furthermore, Macau gambling is expected to reach over $45 billion a year by 2014, but if China’s economy suffers a crash landing, then Macau’s stellar gaming growth rates will obviously be greatly affected.
Commenting on the growth prospects for the rest of the world, Lorien Pilling said:
“A strong economic recovery in the U.S. would help gaming revenues that have been hit hard in recent years. In Europe, the gambling industry needs the euro zone crisis to be resolved because the uncertainty is really hurting the gambling sector in the likes of Greece and Spain.”
It’s still very early in the American Idol proceedings, and there have been no real big surprises so far in the 11th season of the hugely popular reality/talent show. Thursday’s episode went to plan as the singer many thought was out of his element was eliminated, and the favorite remained on top.
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Jeremy Rosado, a 19-year-old from Florida, never really got on track for this show, which is surprising because he had been through the auditions four times before. He looked nervous and was put out of his misery last night after his rendition of “Ribbon In The Sky”. The males had their hands full with Stevie Wonder’s music, but the second-favorite to win it all, Philip Phillips, had no problems rocking through “Superstition”. Phillips, a 21-year-old Georgia native, went to the hospital on Thursday morning and had kidney stones removed but managed to make it back to the show that night. That shows how much he wants to win this competition and that’s the type of drive that will take him to the top.
American Idol Season 11- Odds to Win
Jessica Sanchez 2/1
Phillip Phillips 7/2
Skylar Laine 6/1
Hollie Cavanagh 7/1
Colton Dixon 15/2
Heejun Han 15/1
Joshua Ledet 15/1
Shannon Magrane 18/1
DeAndre Brackensick 25/1
Elise Testone 25/1
Erika Van Pelt 25/1
Jermaine Jones 40/1
As for the females, 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez surged to the lead with her rendition of “I Will Always Love You”, the Dolly Parton-penned anthem that was taken over by the late Whitney Houston Her songs were always going to be tough for the competitors. However, Sanchez sung with force and maturity and some are even saying she is more of a favorite than Phillips, although she needs to string together a few more consistent performances, while Phillips has been solid all the way through.
Tune in next week when the field of 12 is cut down to 11 and see if Sanchez can maintain her status as the favorite on American Idol.
Recently the government of Portugal has made it favourable for opening up options for online gambling. The tourism minister, Cecilia Meireles has been saying the government is now rethinking the benefits of revenue derived from the activity.
Meireles has said that the government has decided that it is “a reasonable goal” to start collecting gambling fees in regards to online betting as early as this year. Quoted in a local newspaper Publico, she has said that local legislators have, “unanimously approved” policies to regulate the gambling sector.
Although the details of theses plans are still in the works it is part of the main strategy. Just last month, Portugal News Online has a source quoted as saying that the government expects to gain as much as €250m in government coffers for this year alone from the gambling concessions.
Meireles was apprehensive about further specifics with regards to revenue and declined to express any other particulars on the government’s revenue prospects. She added only that the course of action requires, “some secrecy” implying that the issues around online gambling are perceived to be vulnerable to opposition, hinting that in the global scheme of things many different participants have a part to play.
One among the chief actors will be the lottery and sports betting monopoly, Santa Casa de Misericordia de Lisboa. This Catholic aid organization has been Portugal’s sole online betting alternative since 2003. This is only because it has received the approval of the European Court of Justice in 2009.
Before that Bwin, the well established international online sportsbook, lost its case to sponsor the Portuguese Football League. It was ordered to terminate its advertising and in fact had to pay damages with a court order. Bwin undeterred continues its legal battle with Portugal’s entrenched gambling monopoly. Portugal's Court of Second Instance will be the next battle ground for Bwin’s attempt to have the decision reversed.
source😋ortugese Online Gambling Options Continue to Expand
US seizure of a Canadian gambling website caused online outcry as it was registered abroad and thought to be outside American jurisdiction. But this is far from isolated; it has emerged that the US has seized hundreds of foreign domain names.
US customs official Nicole Navas confirmed that the US government has taken control of 750 domains, “most with foreign-based registrars” over the past few years.
Operation “In Our Sites”, an initiative run by US and Immigration Customs Enforcement, is dedicated to shutting down illegal websites that it believes are involved in the distribution of copyright goods and copyright works. It was initially created in 2010 to police US-owned domains, but now appears to have extended its reach using federal court orders to shut down websites.
“The ramifications of this are no less than chilling and every single organization branded or operating under .com, .net, .org, .biz etc. needs to ask themselves about their vulnerability to the whims of US federal and state lawmakers,” said EasyDNS, a multinational domain-hosting company.
The gambling site Bogdan-com was shut down and its owner Canadian billionaire Calvin Ayre prosecuted on the basis that internet gambling is illegal in the US. However, the website was registered to a Canadian server, where gambling is perfectly legal. Homeland security justified the move citing “the movement of funds from accounts outside the US” as the reason.
At first glance it would appear that such a move was beyond US jurisdiction, but this is not so. The US can get at any .com domain through a US-based company called Verisign, which is the only organization authorized to issue new .com domains. In addition, it manages .net, .cc, .tv domains.
It simply has to issue Verisign with a court order that in turn shuts down the offending website. The Public Internet Registry also based in the US is able to do this to .org websites, which it controls.
Verisign told Wired magazine in a statement that it had acted above board and “responds to lawful court orders subject to its technical capabilities.”
The US’s seemingly unbridled power to exercise its influence throughout the web has many online activists worried that this may be what is in store if SOPA and PIPA laws are finally passed.
Source: Official: US govt already seized hundreds of foreign domains — RT
Did the guilty get away with it or did another political witch hunt blow up in the faces of those with an agenda?
Either way, between 35 million and 40 million of our tax dollars walked out the door Wednesday with the remaining six defendants in a federal gambling corruption trial. All six, as well as fellow defendants who were acquitted in 2011 during the first trial, were found not guilty Wednesday. By the way, some estimate as much as $50 million was spent on investigating and prosecuting the defendants, which included a casino owner, former and current state legislators, lobbyists and others.
In trying to answer the question posed above, it seems logical this case is another example of a political witch hunt gone bad.
You’d be naive to think legislators don’t receive favors from lobbyists who seek a particular vote on an issue. It happens, but you cannot say it happened in this case.
Twenty-four jurors were asked to sit through weeks of testimony, evaluate volumes of evidence and listen to taped conversations of key players in the case. None of those jurors — not one — agreed the evidence proved the accusations on any of the hundreds of criminal counts presented. Enough said.
You know, $35 million could pay for a nice prison in a state so financially strapped that many convicts will likely be released early because it cannot afford to house them. Imagine that, building a new prison for real criminals instead of wasting money on a political agenda.
Don’t underestimate the financial losses and attacks on personal reputations that defendants suffered in this case. The government doesn’t have to worry about those individuals. Prosecutors can go on to the next case without any financial obligation. It’s unfair at best.
It’s not uncommon to hear words like “political espionage” tossed around and to hear attorneys say the prosecution built its case on the backs of “racists, crooks and political manipulators.” It’s shameful when you can’t dispute the claims.
As misguided and biased as the gambling corruption case has proved to be, it doesn’t come close to the ongoing injustice involving former Gov. Don Siegelman. If you recall, Siegelman was convicted on bribery charges in 2006 after being accused of appointing former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy to a state health board in exchange for Scrushy donating to the ex-governor’s education lottery. Siegelman, by the way, wasn’t accused of receiving money.
The case has raised interest nationwide in what many mark off as a political agenda overtaking the justice system. That is a dangerous thought, but one Alabama has again raised with Wednesday’s across-the-board acquittal.
Source:Millions lost in Alabama gambling trial - TimesDaily-com
Chairwoman Leslie Lohse of the California Tribal Business Alliance said at the iGaming North America conference that online gambling has cultural and economic implications that shouldn't be brushed off because others are in a hurry to start taking bets.
"What's going to satisfy us? That we really sit down and hammer out the nuts and bolts of this," Lohse said. "Really look at the impacts and not rush to the gold."
Tribal sovereignty, local economic implications and other issues need to be fully addressed before tribes eagerly support Internet gambling laws in California or nationwide, Lohse said.
The comments underscored the fierce competition and divisions between those who might want Internet gambling in some form. The tribes and others, including casino companies, equipment manufacturers and state lotteries, don't want to be hurt or left out if Americans eventually are able to wager on poker or other games at home on computers or on mobile devices.
Gambling revenue at American Indian casinos was $26.7 billion in 2010, according to a report issued Tuesday by industry publication Casino City. That was up slightly from $26.4 billion in 2009, when casinos in the U.S. were battered by the global recession that left many people without the means or willingness to gamble as much.
Sheila Morago, executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said tribes are still weary from the hit they took during the recession and don't want to further threaten the businesses they've worked to build. Opinions about Internet gambling proposals are widespread and varied because current arrangements that allow for Indian casinos are complex, she said.
"When you take one federal bill and sort of overlay it over 29 state compacts, you're kind of wondering how is this going to work," Morago said. "We can all agree that nobody wants to open up those state compacts."
Many of the top commercial casino companies have pushed for federal legislation that would create one national framework for online gaming and allow states to opt out if they choose.
Jonathan Halkyard, chief financial officer of Caesars Entertainment Corp., urged federal legislation as soon as possible while speaking at the conference on Monday.
Commercial casinos haven't supported a particular bill and talks of an effort by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid haven't produced any publicly circulated drafts or other tangible proposals since late 2010.
Stephen Hart, a lawyer who represents tribes and tribal gambling commissions throughout the West, said tribes in California won't be eager to give up elements of their sovereignty, or exclusive rights to offer casino games.
"One would have to anticipate disagreements," Hart said.
As many as 239 tribes operated 448 gambling businesses in 2010. California accounted for $6.8 billion in gambling revenue, more than one quarter of revenues from American Indian casinos in 2010.