Several US states look likely to approve online gambling this year, but a serious attempt at changing federal legislation looks less likely as the Presidential election draws closer to its climax.
Read More: Will US Legalize Online Gambling in 2012? - The Headlines - Onlinecasinoreports-com
Dating back to July 2011, NJ lawmakers were telling the US Department of Justice that their state has, “every right to enact intra-state Internet gambling, and that their efforts are permitted under current federal law.”
New Jersey Senator Raymond J. Lesniak stated in his letter to US Attorney-General Eric Holder, that “the State of New Jersey should not be impeded in any manner from exercising our rights under our state constitution and under federal law.”
Read More: When Will NJ Start Taking Bets to Enact Intra-State Internet Gambling | Casino Scam Report
New York state is one step closer in a years-long process that could bring non-Native casino gaming to seven locations statewide.
Only one member of the north country’s legislative delegation, Assemblyman Kenneth D. Blankenbush, R-Black River, voted against the constitutional amendment in the early morning Thursday. The measure must pass the Legislature again in 2013, and then must be approved by a public referendum.
Even those who supported the measure were quick to add caveats about the potential pitfalls, which include gambling addictions and other community concerns.
“There’s a tremendous opportunity to create jobs and bring revenue into the state through tourism,” said state Sen. Patricia A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton. “At the same time, there are concerns.”
Read More: Watertown Daily Times | State looks to expand casino gambling
The competitors on the 11th American Idol are starting to get settled in, and after Thursday’s show, we’re now down to the final 10 as one was sent packing.
Shannon Magrane failed to make the cut on American Idol with her rendition of “One Sweet Day” by Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey (the theme was “The Year They Were Born”, so Magrane had to sing something from the year she was born, which was 1995). Erika Van Pelt, who performed Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”, and Elise Testone, who did Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”, were in the bottom three with Magrane, but the 16-year-old from Tampa, Florida was eliminated.
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The top 10 was formed not only with Magrane’s elimination, but with the disqualification of Jermaine Jones, who was booted off before Wednesday’s performances shows because he didn’t fully disclosed his criminal past to the producers of American Idol, which meant one more competitor is gone and the field is getting smaller.
As far as the rest of the field goes, Phillip Phillips is still among the favorites after performing “Hard To Handle”, which was written by Otis Redding, but since the Black Crowes covered the song in 1990, which was the year Phillips was born, it counted. It was less than a week after Phillips had to be hospitalized for kidney stones, and that surely had a hand in his advancement, although he has been the favorite since day one. Interscope honcho Jimmy Iovine felt Testone didn’t deserve to be sent to the bottom three and that she had one of the better performances of the round, so that should give the 28-year-old from South Carolina more confidence going forward on this season of American Idol.
Lawmakers are considering the largest expansion of gambling in New Jersey since the 1970s, with Internet gaming, sports betting, online lottery sales and barroom horse wagering all possible before the end of the year. The initiatives come as the state — and Atlantic City in particular — faces increasing competition from neighboring states for gambling dollars but also questions about whether those dollars are a finite resource.
For supporters, adding to the options is a logical progression, made more urgent by that competition. Especially important is the chance to be “first to market” with Internet-gaming infrastructure or to be the first state aside from Nevada to offer full sports betting.
Read More: N.J. pursues more options for gamblers - NorthJersey-com
Yes it’s St.Patrick’s day again and what are the Irish doing today to celebrate. Well probably putting a few pints of Guinness down the hatch or a little Irish whiskey and placing a little money on a horse, a hand of cards or maybe even a little bingo. The pot of gold is at the end of the rainbow as all those who dream of riches can tell you is as Irish a saying as it comes.
Read more: Online Gambling on St.Patrick's Day the Pot of Gold
State government’s insatiable hunger to glean more money from citizens reached cleverly into homes across Iowa last week. The Senate passed a bill to make Iowa one of the first states to approve Internet poker — a revenue enhancer of up to $15 million, according to the nonpartisan legislative services agency.
Iowa’s casino industry supported this legislative expansion of their powers. Native American casinos could be expected to follow suit. Presumably individuals could establish accounts and deposit money with casinos for use in online poker games. Voila! Establish an account, deposit some money, and play online poker from the comfort of your home.
Read More: Zaun: Potential tax revenue drives push for gambling expansion | The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister-com
Interest for online poker is on a heater of sorts after the Department of Justice letter in December paved the way for states to pursue intrastate industries.
Many in the gaming world see a federal bill drawing nearly dead for 2012, and perhaps unlikely to happen ever. In the near future, states that have legalized online poker could potentially form compacts in order to create larger player pools.
Gaming lawyer I. Nelson Rose predicts that many states will join the revenue party over the next couple of years.
As hearings on Capitol Hill are bogged down by issues of problem gambling and competing casino interests, localized efforts are churning out some results — or at the very least, interesting story lines.
Read More: The Weekly Orbit with Online Poker Legislation
Georgia Lottery officials in recent months have quietly explored how to roll out video gambling in the state if the idea ever gains political backing, documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution show.
Read More: State takes close look at video gambling | ajc-com
New Jersey added the lottery in 1970, opened the Meadowlands Racetrack – the premier harness racing site in North America – in 1976, and opened its first Atlantic City casino in 1978.
It would be hard to beat that amount of fanfare – but today’s legislators collectively have quite a potpourri of options they want to offer you by the end of the year. If they get their way:
- Sports fans – particularly those who follow the NFL – would be able to bet on professional and college sporting events at the state’s racetracks and casinos.
- Not only would online poker become legal, but so would online roulette, slots, and other variations of casino games. So you could play all you want without ever leaving the house.
- The same goes for online lottery – no more having to put on the sweat pants and t-shirt and schlep to the nearest convenience store. You’d be able to do it all at home.
And there’s more: The grand universal lowdown on NJ gambling | Meadowlands Matters | NorthJersey-com
On 15 March, Bulgaria's parliament adopted a new law to regulate online gambling for the first time, its press office said. The new law sets special licensing regimes for all online casino operators, both Bulgarian and foreign. It also obliges Internet providers to block access to unlicensed gambling websites, which were also to be included in a special blacklist, news agencies reported.
Read More: Parliament adopts law to regulate online gambling | New Europe
This past week the Senate approved internet gambling. The bill that passed would allow Iowa's casinos to create a platform where a person could get a password from the casino and play online at their home or business.
The online gaming bill was packaged as a way to create safeguards and protocols to make online gaming safer for those who play it. Online gaming is an illegal activity in every state in the nation.
Read More: Cherokee Chronicle Times: Column: State Senator Randy Feenstra: At The Capitol
Lawmakers are considering the largest expansion of gambling in New Jersey since the 1970s, with Internet gaming, sports betting, online lottery sales and barroom horse wagering all possible before the end of the year.
Read More: N.J. pursues more options for gamblers - NorthJersey-com
Local television producer Jason Stevens is getting a taste of the national spotlight in the world of comics.
Stevens, who produces the 4 and 7 p.m. newscasts on NBC affiliate WLEX, has launched a comic on USA Today's Web site.
Each week, Stevens and his partners debut three new pages of F-OO Fighters, which tells the tale of the best World War II fighter pilots teaming up to stave off an alien invasion. The name comes from the term used by World War II pilots who described seeing UFOs.
"While everyone else is fighting World War II, these guys are fighting for the world," Stevens said. "The pilots are taking on these scout party alien ships as they come in, and the main invasion fleet is on its way."
Read more here: Media Notebook: WLEX news producer, partners launch online comic | Business | Kentucky-com
A push to loosen gambling restrictions has fizzled this year in the Legislature despite claims that Nebraska could preserve jobs and tap the millions of dollars that are poured into Iowa and South Dakota casinos each year.
Lawmakers have killed bills this year to let gambling outlets run more keno games per hour, and a proposal that would allow machine bets on past horse races is facing a legislative filibuster. A proposed constitutional amendment that could have led to casino gambling near the Iowa border is also dead in committee.
Read More: Nebraska gambling measures fizzle in Legislature - Boston-com
Just last month, Florida’s lawmakers put legislation to legalize destination resort gambling on hold. But even without the mega-casinos, Florida lawyers continue to hit the jackpot, reaping significant business from a gaming industry that promises more growth in the state.
This recent push to approve Las Vegas-style gambling started when Malaysia-based Genting Group, one of the biggest international casino developers, entered Florida in a big way a year ago. It bought the giant waterfront Miami Herald property in downtown Miami for $236 million and announced it wants to build a mega-resort casino on the site.
Read more here: Florida lawyers hit jackpot in representing gaming industry - Business Monday - MiamiHerald-com
The latest reports from Bulgaria indicate that the legislators have agreed to regulate online gambling. However, the move to block unlicensed operators has been criticized. This was revealed by the Bulgarian Focus news agency.
Read More: Bulgaria for Online Gambling Regulation
Read More: Will US Legalize Online Gambling in 2012? - The Headlines - Onlinecasinoreports-com