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The best internet gambling experience is usually made possible by the quality of the software one uses. There are a great number of software developers and they are not all created equal. The first firm to offer a usable software program for online betting in 1994 hails from the Isle of Man and is called Microgaming. Now there are hundreds of software makes and that number continues to climb.

Software firms must undergo strict and rigorous testing before they are approved for use by online casinos. The player need good software to have a good time but more importantly to know the experience will be safe one for htei player’s money as well as personal information. The online casino industry's independent testers include Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), eCOGRA, Technical Systems Testing (TST), Certified Fair Gambling (CFG), BMM International and Gaming Associates (Australia). The online casino industry's independent testers include Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), eCOGRA, Technical Systems Testing (TST), Certified Fair Gambling (CFG), BMM International and Gaming Associates (Australia). These labs carry out monthly payout percentage reports, compliance tests and regularly review the casinos backend operating system.

The biggest software supplier in the world is the pioneer Microgaming but there are significant other players in this important field. Playtech is an innovator while there have been other pioneer companies such as Cryptologic that have struggled with the competition only to be taken over and reinvented. When it comes to choosing an online casino, bingo hall or poker room the software the site runs can not only affect the play but also the service and security. Players are told by reviewers to choose the larger online casino software providers, and check any online gaming software they end up using, with particular care to note if it's a proprietary software provider. Software matters and it is actually the backbone of the online gambling industry, be sure to learn about this factor when considering investing in a game or two.

Internet Betting Software Backbone of the Industry
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The French blockbuster “Les Intouchables” won the best European film prize at the prestigious Spanish film awards, the Goyas, on Sunday, while Pablo Berger’s “Blancanieves” took the top film award.

“Les Intouchables”, directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, has become the second biggest box office hit in France and the biggest selling French film overseas of all time.

It is a story about the relationship between a quadriplegic millionaire and a caretaker he hires from a poor Parisian suburb.

Unlike last year’s European prize winner at the Goyas “The Artist”, the film cannot secure further glory at the US Oscars where it has not even been nominated in the foreign language category.

“Blancanieves,” which picked up 10 Goyas in all, is a retelling of the Snow White fairy tale.

The film’s lead Maribel Verdu won the best actress award while Jose Sacristan, was named best actor for his performance in “The Dead Man and Being Happy”.

Juan Antonio Bayona won best director for “The Impossible” which has already earned Naomi Watts a best actress nomination at the upcoming US Oscars.
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Look out Las Vegas, here comes FarmVille. Silicon Valley is betting that online gambling is its next billion-dollar business, with developers across the industry turning casual games into occasions for adults to wager. At the moment these games are aimed overseas, where attitudes toward gambling are more relaxed and online betting is generally legal, and extremely lucrative . But game companies, from small teams to Facebook and Zynga , have their eye on the ultimate prize: the rich American market, where most types of real-money online wagers have been cleared by the Justice Department. Two states, Nevada and Delaware , are already laying the groundwork for virtual gambling . Within months they will most likely be joined by New Jersey . Bills have also been introduced in Mississippi, Iowa, California and other states, driven by the realisation that online gambling could bring in streams of tax revenue . In Iowa alone, online gambling proponents estimated that 150,000 residents were playing poker illegally.

Legislative progress, though, is slow. Opponents include an influential casino industry wary of competition and the traditional anti-gambling factions, who oppose it on moral grounds. Silicon Valley is hardly discouraged . Companies here believe that online gambling will soon become as simple as buying an e-book or streaming a movie , and that the convenience of being able to bet from your couch, surrounded by virtual friends, will offset the lack of glittering ambience found in a real-world casino. Think you can get a field of corn in Farm-Ville , the popular Facebook game, to grow faster than your brother-in-law's ? Five bucks says you cannot. "Gambling in the US is controlled by a few land-based casinos and some powerful Indian casinos ," said Chris Griffin, chief executive of Betable, a London gambling start-up that handles the gaming licences and betting mechanics of the business for developers . "What potentially becomes an interesting counterweight is all of a sudden thousands of developers in Silicon Valley making money overseas and wanting to turn their efforts inward and make money in the US." Betable has set up shop in San Francisco, where 15 studios are now using its back-end platform. "This is the next evolution in games, and kind of ground zero for the developer community," Griffin said. Overseas, online betting is generating an estimated $32 billion in annual revenue — nearly the size of the United States casino market . Juniper Research estimates that betting on mobile devices alone will be a $100 billion worldwide industry by 2017.

Silicon Valley sets its sights on online gambling - The Economic Times
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Switzerland has announced a plan to introduce laws to regulate online gaming.

New laws will be drafted by the Department of Justice and Police in cooperation with the representatives of each Swiss Canton, The Federal Council announced last week.

The drafts will be available for consultation and review in the second half of 2013.

Gambling is very popular in Switzerland. With 19 land based casinos licensed under the existing law, including two new developments in Neuchâtel and Zurich, the existing gaming taxes yielded SFr360m ($390m) in 2011.

The government has for years opposed online gambling, concerned over the loss of potential revenue in established brick and mortar operations.

However, following an extensive report published in 2009, the Government decided that the lesser—or perhaps more lucrative—of two evils was to establish its own licensing and taxation system.

In the report, the Federal Gaming Board came to the conclusion that “virtual gambling should be liberalized, and apart from such liberalization, illegal operation of these games should be more effectively curtailed through further measures.”

Alongside the new regulatory framework will come an unusual and welcome change to the tax laws. Currently, winnings from lotteries and from sports betting are taxable but casino winnings are exempt. The Federal Council plans to end this unequal tax treatment by exempting all winnings from income taxes. The current 1998 gaming law prohibits online poker and all online gambling. There is no enforcement capability in the law which means that Swiss poker players have had no difficulty playing at the “dot-com” sites of all the major operators.

In a move preparatory to introducing the new legislation, the Swiss Federal Constitution was amended after a popular vote in March last year. The amendment establishes a framework for the new gambling laws which includes levying “a revenue-related tax on casinos; this tax must not exceed 80 per cent of the gross revenues from gambling.”

The tax must be hypothecated to “fund the Old-age, Survivors’ and Invalidity Insurance.”

The responsibility for granting licenses will fall to the 26 Cantons, the semi-autonomous regional governments. Licences may be issued for casino games, sports betting and games of skill.

Any revenues the cantons receive must also be used “in their entirety for charitable purposes, in particular in the fields of culture, social projects and sport.” The constitutional amendment specifically includes “telecommunications-based gambling” so online poker operators are included.

Switzerland is not a member of the EU, so has a free hand to determine its own laws. Historically, democracy has been widely decentralized in the nation of less than eight million people, with almost all serious issues decided by referenda.

The official Government consists of seven people, the Federal Council. The Swiss President serves only for one year and although chairing all Federal Council meetings, has no greater powers than the other six members.

The shape of the new licensing regulations is, therefore, not likely to be revolutionary. The Swiss will most probably permit international operators like PokerStars and bwin.party to apply for licenses, and there are no suggestions at present that Swiss players will be restricted to a national player pool only.

The introduction of licensing for online operators does look like it will be accompanied by some form of ISP blocking and/or black list system for operators who continue to offer services without one of the new licenses. Similarly, there is a strong emphasis on protecting minors and people with gambling problems.

Switzerland to End its Ineffectual Ban on Online Gaming | Pokerfuse Online Poker News
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President Barack Obama talked about a lot of things in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, but hopes of a mention from the online gambling community were quickly dashed.

State of the Union

In his first State of the Union address since being reelected, President Obama called restoring the country's middle-class promise "our generation's task. He told the nation that the basic American principles of work and prosperity are under threat because of partisan politics and a rapidly changing economy.

Although the address focused mainly on domestic issues, with mentions of tax reform, gun control, and other national issues, Obama also spoke about foreign policy - highlighted by the announcement that he will bring 34,000 American troops back home from Afghanistan over the next year.

Where to for gambling?

Although Obama spoke about "defending our freedom" and doing our part to make sure our God-given rights are protected at home, he disappointingly made no mention of the right to Americans to make their own decision on online gambling - a measure many legislators have been pushing for years.

The question that now must be asked is where online gambling sits on the agenda. Will the push for federal regulation succeed during Obama's second term, or will we have to be satisfied with laws being enacted by the states - such as Nevada, California and New Jersey who are pushing ahead with intra-state online gambling anyway.


No Mention of Online Gambling in State of Union - Commentary - Onlinecasinoreports-com
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Prince Michael Jackson, the eldest child of late pop superstar Michael Jackson, has landed a gig as a correspondent for veteran newsmagazine "Entertainment Tonight."

The 16-year-old's first assignment is interviewing actors James Franco and Zach Braff and director Sam Raimi for their upcoming movie "Oz: The Great and Powerful."

Jackson taped the interviews this weekend under the mentorship of "ET" regular Brooke Anderson and the segments will air throughout this week on the syndicated show.

Although Jackson's father kept his children out of the spotlight while he was alive, they have slowly begun to emerge as public figures in the years since his death.
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Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that he will quickly sign an Internet gambling bill if lawmakers make the changes he wants to the legislation.

At an appearance in Lavallette, the governor said he could conceivably sign the bill the same day the Legislature approved those changes, or the next day, "depending on how my day is going."

Assuming the state Assembly and Senate approve an amended bill, "There's no reason not to sign it quickly," Christie said.

Both houses are set to consider the bill next week, and lawmakers say they are willing to make the changes Christie asked for when he vetoed it this month. They include a 10-year trial period on Internet gambling and higher taxes on the casinos' online winnings.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, one of the staunchest supporters of online gambling, said there is a commitment in both houses to getting a revised bill passed and on Christie's desk Feb. 26. Both houses will meet that day to hear the governor's budget address.

New Jersey is trying to become the third state to approve Internet gambling, after Nevada and Delaware. It wants to become a national hub of online betting, which many in the industry see as an inevitable, profitable expansion of legalized gambling.

Atlantic City's 12 casinos would run the online operations.

On Feb. 7, Christie for a second time vetoed an Internet gambling bill approved by the state Legislature. In his veto message, the governor said he is fundamentally supportive of Internet gambling, but he asked for changes including raising the tax on the casinos inline winnings from the proposed 10 percent to 15 percent.

Christie also wants a 10-year trial period for online gambling, after which the program can be evaluated by lawmakers. He also recommended a series of ethical and legal protections to make sure Internet gambling is done transparently, including having lawmakers disclose any past or present representation of companies seeking online gambling licenses.

If Christie signs a future bill, it would represent the largest expansion of legalized gambling in New Jersey since the first casino opened there in 1978.

Christie says he'll quickly sign revamped online gambling bill - NorthJersey-com
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It has been confirmed by a Representative of Pennsylvania, Tina Davis, last week, that she is going to propose an intrastate internet gambling bill as soon as the upcoming week. This bill has been in the making for over a year, this is why it is expected that Pennsylvanians will be able to legally gamble eventually. Pennsylvania is home to the well-reputed “Prax Casino” that is located near Philadelphia. Recently, Pennsylvania was able to surpass the state of New Jersey as the number two gambling state in the country and with this new bill, Pennsylvania will be able to keep its competitive edge.

Kathleen Kane, the Attorney General of Pennsylvania has clearly questioned Governor Tom Corbett’s appointment of Camelot, the UK Lottery operator in a position that would enable it to run the lottery of the state of Pennsylvania. Tina Davis stated that this would not have any negative impact on her initiative to legalize internet gambling in the state.

At first, the proposed bill by Tina Davis is going to permit online blackjack and poker only in the state of Pennsylvania accompanied by any versions of these games that are being played in the existing casinos. This was done in order to strike a balance between online and land based gambling in order to prevent discouraging gamblers from going to land-based casinos. This is why these two popular online games were chosen. The online license, according to this bill, can only be issued to companies who have a Pennsylvanian table and slot game license. These games will be launched on the website of the land-based casinos. All of these games are going to be inspected by the Gaming Control Board of the state; this includes inspecting the software and the devices. The cost for such licenses is equal 16.5 million dollars and the tax rate would be equal 45%.

Players who would want to participate in online gambling will have to create an account. This account can only be registered through a licensed facility. Players will also have to link an active banking account to the account. Players will also be obligated to sign an agreement that prohibits them from allowing other players from using their accounts.


Online Gambling Interests in Pennsylvania : ADI News
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Good things to come to those who wait, and finally, a first taste of one of our most anticipated releases of 2013 is being presented on a silver platter. Or, a lyric video, but tomato, tomahto. Phoneix‘s new song, “Entertainment,” has us tapping our toes and dancing in a field of daisies that currently exists only in our mind on this otherwise cold and blustery day. In other words, it’s a Phoenix song.
The follow-up to 2009′s euphoric Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix emulates the band’s successful style that’s helped forge a worldwide following and land them a headlining spot at this year’s Coachella Festival, but takes things to a darker place. With fruitful inspiration stemming from juicy peaches and dank smell of Drake-approved fragrances, the band continues on a familiar sound rooted in peppy percussion, bouncing synths, and indelible vocals on the lead single and opening track off the upcoming Bankrupt! (out April 23). In nearly four years between albums, lead singer Thomas Mars has had much to celebrate–marrying Sofia Coppola and all–and yet the lyrics suggest an otherwise complicated, unfair relationship (“Show them what you do with me/When everyone here knows better”) that could be on its way out (“I’d rather be alone”).

“Do you want to let go?” Mars sings. We do want to let go of the oppressive bonds of this cold and boring season, that’s for sure. And if Phoenix is willing to help us do that a wee bit early, well then, even better.
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Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that he will quickly sign an Internet gambling bill if lawmakers make the changes he wants to the legislation.

At an appearance in Lavallette, the governor said he could conceivably sign the bill the same day the Legislature approved those changes, or the next day, "depending on how my day is going."

Assuming the state Assembly and Senate approve an amended bill, "There's no reason not to sign it quickly," Christie said.

Both houses are set to consider the bill next week, and lawmakers say they are willing to make the changes Christie asked for when he vetoed it this month. They include a 10-year trial period on Internet gambling and higher taxes on the casinos' online winnings.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, one of the staunchest supporters of online gambling, said there is a commitment in both houses to getting a revised bill passed and on Christie's desk Feb. 26. Both houses will meet that day to hear the governor's budget address.

New Jersey is trying to become the third state to approve Internet gambling, after Nevada and Delaware. It wants to become a national hub of online betting, which many in the industry see as an inevitable, profitable expansion of legalized gambling.

Atlantic City's 12 casinos would run the online operations.

On Feb. 7, Christie for a second time vetoed an Internet gambling bill approved by the state Legislature. In his veto message, the governor said he is fundamentally supportive of Internet gambling, but he asked for changes including raising the tax on the casinos inline winnings from the proposed 10 percent to 15 percent.

Christie also wants a 10-year trial period for online gambling, after which the program can be evaluated by lawmakers. He also recommended a series of ethical and legal protections to make sure Internet gambling is done transparently, including having lawmakers disclose any past or present representation of companies seeking online gambling licenses.

If Christie signs a future bill, it would represent the largest expansion of legalized gambling in New Jersey since the first casino opened there in 1978.
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Citing a February 17th article in the New York Times, DHS Holding Co. (PINKSHEETS: DHSM) announced that online gaming in the United States looks promising. According to the article, two states, Nevada and Delaware, are already laying the groundwork for virtual gambling, with New Jersey soon to follow.

Quoting the New York times article, President Charlie Barrett stated, "Gaming bills have been introduced in Mississippi, Iowa, California and other states, driven by the realization that online gambling could bring in streams of tax revenue." According to the article there is an estimated 150,000 residents playing poker illegally in Iowa alone.

In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie recently vetoed two online gambling bills, stating only that the proposed 10 percent tax was not large enough. The bill is likely to be refined and successfully resubmitted within the next few months.

The article also stated that "Overseas, online betting is generating an estimated $32 billion in annual revenue -- nearly the size of the United States casino market. Juniper Research estimates that betting on mobile devices alone will be a $100 billion worldwide industry by 2017."

Even social gaming companies that aren't traditionally thought of as being involved in gambling are getting into the business. Zynga, best known for its Facebook games Farmville and Mafia Wars, has recently applied to the state of Nevada for a gambling license.

Mr. Barrett concluded his statement, saying, "Online gambling appears to be reemerging in the US as a source for states to increase revenue, such as the example with many of the states mentioned in the New York Times article."

Online gaming is $180 billion per year industry and DHS Holding Co. will advertise and market LuckyFoxCasino-com worldwide in an attempt to capture its share of this $180 billion industry.

Online Gaming Looking Promising for US States
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The regulated internet gambling industry has only a few methods to control unlicensed operators and keep those who don’t want to play the game fair out of bounds. One of those methods is censorship or internet provider blocking of illegal web gambling locations. Many countries employ this technique in order to control the influx of foreign content. Cyprus has just announced it plans to blacklist as many as 270 web locations and have ordered Internet Service Providers to block these sites. The National Betting Authority has given the ISPs 72 hours notice to block all sites offering unlicensed services to punters or face fines of up to 30 thousand euro.

Politicians in Cyprus passed legislation last year requiring online gambling firms to have a license to operate, and restricting all sports wagering and internet lottery and keno games to the Greek gaming company OPAP. Competition has been limited and will be even more restrictive with the legislation prohibiting betting exchanges such as Betfair which exited the market there losing as much as four percent of its revenues. Operators are not happy with this situation and have sent letters of protest to the European Commission yet Cyprus continues to block and remove the web locations of some major operators who have tried to offer their services to Cypriot punters. The current blacklist is continually being updated by the National Betting Authority which has ignored the complaints.

Cyprus is close to a general election with the candidates for president mentioning gambling reform in their campaigns. Even though land-based casinos remain illegal under the same legislation passed last year that prohibits online betting other than sports betting, Cyprus granted two official land-based sports betting licenses last month to Intralot subsidiary Royal Highgate and U.K. based Stanleybet. European operators like Bwin.party, accounted for 22 of the 270 domains. PokerStars had 11 domains on the restricted list as well as many other well known operators.


Online Gambling Sites Blocked In Cyprus
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Almost 5 years after Michael Jackson’s death, another Jackson has set out to conquer the entertainment business: his eldest son, Prince Michael Jackson.

The 16-year-old has been recruited by "Entertainment Tonight" to be one of its correspondents. According to an article on The Hollywood Reporter, his very first assignment was a press junket for the movie, “Oz the Great and Powerful.”

Cast member Zach Braff, in the presence of director Sam Raimi and star James Franco, asked Jackson, “Are we your first interview?”

To which a very amiable Jackson replied, “Actually, yes you are.” When ET’s Brooke Anderson interviewed the late pop star’s son about his first correspondent assignment, she told him, “You’re 16 years old but you seem so much wiser.”

“It’s all thanks to my dad who raised me right,” Prince Michael replied.

He revealed dreams of being a media personality; but unlike his dad who grew up in front of the camera, he’d rather be calling the shots mostly from behind the scenes: “I'm looking to become well-rounded as a producer, director, screenwriter, and actor.”

Prince Michael has two other siblings: 15-year-old Paris and 11-year-old Prince Michael II aka Blanket.

Because he is still a minor, Prince Michael's appearances on ET as a correspondent will likely be few and far between. But ET has promised that it will air his reports on the “Oz” movie for an entire week. - With reports by Pia Ranada/Rappler.com
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Spice Girl Mel B (aka Melanie Brown) will join the summer reality hit’s judging panel. She’ll take a seat beside Howard Stern and Howie Mandel critiquing the show’s wild variety of performers. The pop singer has live competition show experience having served as a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor as well as guest hosted on the show’s UK version.

“I’ve known Melanie since she did Dancing with the Stars, and I’ve known her as a performer in The Spice Girls before that,” said NBC president of alternative Paul Telegdy, who was previously at Dancing production company BBC Worldwide America. “To know her is
to know a very frank, strong, enduring entertainer. Someone who has a very strong point of view. We needed somebody who was qualified for the job. She’s an amazing singer, dancer and a huge personality. The contestants will get a lot of constructive feedback from her and I can’t wait to see her chemistry with Howard and Howie.” “Scary Spice” will replace longtime judge Sharon Osbourne, who announced she was quitting the series last year. Osbourne later said she was angry at the network for not allowing her son Jack to participate on the physically demanding NBC reality effort Stars Earn Stripes after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This will mark Stern’s second season with AGT and Mandel’s fourth.

Also, EW can exclusively report that Got Talent may not be finished hiring. NBC is considering adding a fourth judge to the talent show for the first time in its U.S. history. Having a quartet of Got Talent judges is common on overseas editions of the show. But, as Telegdy put it, “The right person has to show their hand.”

Got Talent has frequently been ranked as the summer’s highest-rated series. Last summer the show was scheduled more aggressively against stronger competition and the numbers slipped, with ratings down about 18 percent. NBC expects to return to a scheduling pattern this summer that’s benefited the show in the past. Before Got Talent returns, NBC will bring back its other major talent show, The Voice, which is undergoing some judging changes too — adding Shakira and Usher to the mix while Cee Lo and Xtina take the spring off.

Telegdy just saw a first cut of the midseason premiere, which airs March 25 along with the return of Revolution. “I am extremely pleased,” the executive said. “Shakira and Usher fit right into The Voice family. Shakira is a real mysterious person and most people don’t know she’s so warm and feisty. Usher is just impressive. He will stand on his track record in terms of record sales and how to mentor contestants. He’s extremely exacting in a way that’s new to The Voice. He’s getting these people ready for the world stage. It’s an instant friendly rivalry with the new people and the old guard.”
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Gov. Brian Sandoval signed legislation Thursday legalizing online gambling in Nevada, capping a dizzying day at the Legislature as lawmakers passed the bill through the Assembly and Senate as an emergency measure.

Nevada wanted to beat New Jersey, its East Coast casino rival, to the online gambling punch. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie previously vetoed an online wagering bill but has indicated he may sign an amended version next week.

The measure makes Nevada the first state in the country to approve interstate online gaming, notes CBS Las Vegas affiliate KLAS-TV, adding that it was put on the fast track Thursday. Senate and Assembly judiciary committees approved it, sending it to the Assembly where it passed unanimously. The Senate passed it at midday and sent it to the governor's desk for signature.

Sandoval and Nevada legislative leaders said it was important for Nevada to remain at the forefront of gambling regulation.

"This is an historic day for the great state of Nevada," Sandoval said, flanked by dozens of state lawmakers. "Today I sign into law the framework that will usher in the next frontier of gaming in Nevada."

Sandoval, a former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission added, "This bill is critical to our state's economy and ensures that we will continue to be the gold standard for gaming regulation."

He praised legislators for their swift action and commended Assembly Majority Leader William Horne, a Democrat from Las Vegas, for shepherding the bill.

Horne, in turn, had equal accolades for the Republican governor.

"This was a lot of work and it couldn't have been done without the governor's leadership and vision," he said.

Horne couldn't resist at jab at Nevada's gambling rivals.

"As to our competitor, New Jersey, they should be accustomed to following Nevada," he said.

AG Burnett, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, said the state already has about 20 applications from various operators, equipment and software vendors to be licensed for online gambling.

AB114 authorizes Nevada to enter into compacts with other states to offer Internet poker. It sailed through both the Assembly and Senate on Thursday after a joint hearing before the two judiciary committees.

Gambling regulators will now come up with regulations dictating compact parameters.

Lawmakers in 2011 passed a bill that put Nevada in position to legalize Internet gambling if the federal government sanctioned it. But when those efforts failed in Congress, Sandoval said Nevada would work toward agreements with other states.

Several other states began looking into online gambling after the Department of Justice issued a letter in 2011 stating that the federal Wire Act of 1961, often used to crack down on gambling over the Internet, only applies to sports betting.

Partnering with other states gives Nevada an expanded customer market and provides other states with Nevada's expertise in gambling regulation.

Pete Ernaut, a lobbyist representing the Nevada Resort Association, said expanding the customer base was key.

"It's imperative for the success of this that we compact with other states because we don't have a universe of players," Ernaut said.

The benefit for other states, he said, is Nevada's "most mature regulatory infrastructure."

"We have the most mature financial, auditing and collection capabilities, much greater than some of those states, and they have the players," he said.

The bill approved Thursday resolved a disagreement between Horne and the governor's office over licensing fees. Sandoval had pushed for companies that want to offer online gambling to pay a $500,000 fee, while Horne, in the original bill draft, proposed $1 million.

Under a compromise, the fee was set at $500,000, though it gives the Nevada Gaming Commission authority to change the amount. A renewal fee was set at $250,000.

Nevada legalizes online gambling - CBS News
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The 2000s in the US witnessed a poker boom, characterized by heightened interest in the game, resulting perhaps by the TV coverage given to prestigious live poker events such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Home poker games and online poker became immensely popular in the US till April 15, 2011, a day commonly referred to as the “Black Friday” of online poker. Online poker in the US began suffering ever since the US federal government passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006. A number of US friendly online poker rooms began moving out of the US market. The US federal government has not yet passed a proper online poker bill although it has realized the revenue-generating potential of online poker. But individual US states are more than interested to legalize intrastate and even interstate online poker now that the DoJ has clarified that the Wire Act of 1961 no longer applies to online casino and online poker gambling.

The Rational Group, the parent company of Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, is now checking the pros and cons of purchasing the struggling Atlantic City Club Casino in New Jersey, in a bid to facilitate its smooth re-entry into the US online poker market. If PokerStars establishes its base in New Jersey, the state will be able to generate huge online gambling revenue.

The Atlantic Club Casino suffered a loss of $13.6 million during the last fiscal year, but this is not the only problem The Rational Group will be facing if it acquires the casino. In July 2012, The Rational Group acquired Full Tilt Poker as part of the $731 million settlement deal with the US federal government, and no one can say for sure if the settlement deal has really settled all the issues between PokerStars and the US government.

Gambling lawyer Jason Gross said, “Both companies had issues with U.S. law when, in 2011, the Department of Justice closed down [PokerStars’s and Full Tilt’s] websites after they continued accepting U.S. bets. Here you have these two companies, both owned by Rational Group, that went farther than most companies, and it may create further issues.”

Whatever the issues might be, online gambling is on the verge of returning to the US, even if online poker might take a longer time to get back simply because US players and individual US states want legalized online gambling.

US Eager for Legalized Online Gambling
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Manne wrote: Gov. Brian Sandoval signed legislation Thursday legalizing online gambling in Nevada, capping a dizzying day at the Legislature as lawmakers passed the bill through the Assembly and Senate as an emergency measure.

Nevada wanted to beat New Jersey, its East Coast casino rival, to the online gambling punch. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie previously vetoed an online wagering bill but has indicated he may sign an amended version next week.

The measure makes Nevada the first state in the country to approve interstate online gaming, notes CBS Las Vegas affiliate KLAS-TV, adding that it was put on the fast track Thursday. Senate and Assembly judiciary committees approved it, sending it to the Assembly where it passed unanimously. The Senate passed it at midday and sent it to the governor's desk for signature.

Sandoval and Nevada legislative leaders said it was important for Nevada to remain at the forefront of gambling regulation.

"This is an historic day for the great state of Nevada," Sandoval said, flanked by dozens of state lawmakers. "Today I sign into law the framework that will usher in the next frontier of gaming in Nevada."

Sandoval, a former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission added, "This bill is critical to our state's economy and ensures that we will continue to be the gold standard for gaming regulation."

He praised legislators for their swift action and commended Assembly Majority Leader William Horne, a Democrat from Las Vegas, for shepherding the bill.

Horne, in turn, had equal accolades for the Republican governor.

"This was a lot of work and it couldn't have been done without the governor's leadership and vision," he said.

Horne couldn't resist at jab at Nevada's gambling rivals.

"As to our competitor, New Jersey, they should be accustomed to following Nevada," he said.

AG Burnett, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, said the state already has about 20 applications from various operators, equipment and software vendors to be licensed for online gambling.

AB114 authorizes Nevada to enter into compacts with other states to offer Internet poker. It sailed through both the Assembly and Senate on Thursday after a joint hearing before the two judiciary committees.

Gambling regulators will now come up with regulations dictating compact parameters.

Lawmakers in 2011 passed a bill that put Nevada in position to legalize Internet gambling if the federal government sanctioned it. But when those efforts failed in Congress, Sandoval said Nevada would work toward agreements with other states.

Several other states began looking into online gambling after the Department of Justice issued a letter in 2011 stating that the federal Wire Act of 1961, often used to crack down on gambling over the Internet, only applies to sports betting.

Partnering with other states gives Nevada an expanded customer market and provides other states with Nevada's expertise in gambling regulation.

Pete Ernaut, a lobbyist representing the Nevada Resort Association, said expanding the customer base was key.

"It's imperative for the success of this that we compact with other states because we don't have a universe of players," Ernaut said.

The benefit for other states, he said, is Nevada's "most mature regulatory infrastructure."

"We have the most mature financial, auditing and collection capabilities, much greater than some of those states, and they have the players," he said.

The bill approved Thursday resolved a disagreement between Horne and the governor's office over licensing fees. Sandoval had pushed for companies that want to offer online gambling to pay a $500,000 fee, while Horne, in the original bill draft, proposed $1 million.

Under a compromise, the fee was set at $500,000, though it gives the Nevada Gaming Commission authority to change the amount. A renewal fee was set at $250,000.

Nevada legalizes online gambling - CBS News
Thank heaven for that. I believe this will be a domino effect for other states. 😁
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mike1 wrote: Thank heaven for that. I believe this will be a domino effect for other states. 😁
Hard to Believe. I'm really happy!
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Gov. Chris Christie conditionally vetoed legislation to allow online gambling in New Jersey earlier this month. But, in so doing, he suggested to legislators what he would put his signature to. He has since urged them to act on it — a pilot program that would run for 10 years. He also wants higher taxes on casinos’ online winnings that what they pay on winnings in Atlantic City. Lawmakers in Trenton are set to consider bill revisions next week.

Frightening as the prospect of legalized online gambling may be to some, New Jersey would be wise to move ahead with it for a few reasons.

For one, the horse has already left the barn. It was 10 years ago that poker roared back as cultural phenomenon in the United States fueled by television coverage and an explosion of poker websites.

Reacting to this, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in 2006 that barred online gambling in the United States in all its forms. But a multibillion-dollar business continued to thrive.

Federal prosecutors put a dent in things in 2011, indicting executives with the three largest poker websites and shutting them down. But despite the government’s whack-a-mole efforts at targeting gambling website operators — which are all based outside the United States — millions of individual gamblers in this country have never been targeted for arrest. They likely never will. The evolution of technology has made it easy for those who want to gamble online to deposit and withdraw money. The government is limited in what it can do.

Having watched attempts in the 1990s to block pornography on the Internet fail, casino operators know what the future holds. State legislators know, also. That’s why in more and more places (including Nevada, Delaware and other countries) both casinos and elected officials are now supporting legal — regulated and taxed — online gambling. Wanting to be the first across the finish line, ahead of New Jersey, the Nevada Legislature passed a legalization bill Thursday and the governor there quickly signed it into law.

Online gambling giant PokerStars is currently attempting to buy the foundering Atlantic Club Casino in Atlantic City. If the deal goes through, it would be the industry’s first marriage of an online and brick-and-mortar casino. It could establish New Jersey as a U.S. base for online gaming firms and bring high-tech jobs here.

Also with legalization would come stringent regulation of online gambling, which is needed. Players will happily accept new taxes in return for the security of knowing online games are monitored and would-be cheaters are targeted for prosecution, the same as in Atlantic City’s casinos.

The law can stand still, but technology always moves forward. In time, stale laws will do little or nothing to stop electronic gambling. It’s more sensible that government act pragmatically and establish a system that keeps underage gamblers, cheaters and criminals out and falls under the same tight regulatory umbrella as the Atlantic City casinos.


www-mycentraljersey-com/article/20130223/NJOPINION0101/302230013/State-should-move-fast-adopting-online-gaming
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Nevada has legalized online gambling, speeding a bill through joint committees and both houses of the legislature in less than four hours.

The state's governor, Republican Brian Sandoval who also is a former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, had signed the emergency measure by 4 p.m. PST Thursday. Nevada wanted to beat New Jersey, its East Coast casino rival, to the online gambling punch. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie previously vetoed an online wagering bill but indicated he may sign an amended version next week.

Earlier this month, Delaware sought bids from vendors to have games up and running no later than Sept. 30.

A.G. Burnett, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, said the state already has about 20 applications from various operators, equipment and software vendors to be licensed for online gambling.

Assembly Bill 114 authorizes Nevada to enter into compacts with other states to offer Internet poker and other online gambling to patrons in Nevada and participating states.

In 2011, lawmakers passed a bill that put Nevada in position to legalize Internet gambling if the federal government sanctioned it. But when those efforts failed in Congress, Sandoval said Nevada would work toward agreements with other states.

But Reno gaming analyst Ken Adams said other states that might want in on the online gambling business could decide to contest Nevada's role in establishing parameters for online poker and expansion to other games down the road.

"Not every state will think it's good for Nevada to dictate the terms," Adams said. "A bit of a fight could happen. This could end up going to court." The bill approved Thursday resolved a disagreement over licensing fees. The governor had wanted companies to pay a $500,000 fee to offer online gambling while in the original bill draft the House majority leader, a Democrat, proposed a $1 million fee.

Poker players will have to be physically online in Nevada or other states that would be part of a compact to participate. But one lawmaker worried that online games could hurt some casinos in rural areas that already took a hit when Indian gaming became widespread in more than a dozen states.

"My concern is its impact on the small casinos of Nevada," said Rep. Ira Hansen, a Republican from Sparks, Nev., who represents a large portion of rural Nevada. "We are rushing this thing through.

You can't stop progress, said lobbyist Pete Ernaut. The future of gambling is online.

"We could stick our head in the sand and say we don't want to participate, and theoretically, 49 other states would," he said. "We are ... maintaining our leadership position and putting the best rules in place as possible."

Nevada's governor signs online gambling bill
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