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Viktor “Isildur1” Blom has finally stopped the bleeding after a $4 million online downswing. Over the past week he has won slightly more than $1 million, according to HighstakesDB.

Electing to continue grinding through the slump, Blom finally emerged a big winner over a seven-day span for likely the first time since he went on a massive heater to start the year. Before January was finished, Blom was up more than $5 million.

His profits fell all the way to under $1 million, before running well this week.

Unlike Blom, Gus Hansen still can’t find any traction. He’s down $1.6 million this year, to go along with huge losses late last year after Full Tilt relaunched. Since reuniting with his Full Tilt account in early November, Hansen has lost more than $4.8 million.

German online high-stakes pro Kagome Kagome, who frequently plays with Hansen at deuce-to-seven triple draw, had this to say about his colleague:

“I think Gus is a fearsome and smart player. Sometimes, however, he takes things a bit too lightly and starts making small mistakes. When that happens, I recommend he should reduce the amount of tables he plays at the same time.”

Like Blom, Hansen has dropped down in stakes when things haven’t been going his way. Hansen can sometimes be seen grinding the mid-stakes pot-limit Omaha tables — a far cry from the $500/$1,000 tables where he has battled at in the past.

“I actually envy him for his patience,” Kagome Kagome said. “Earlier this year when he had a really rough month, he moved down the stakes to regain his confidence.”

Here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers on 2013:

1. Alexander “PostflopAction” Kostritsyn: $3.1 million
2. Ben “Bttech86” Tollerene: $2.5 million
3. Viktor “Isildur1” Blom: $2 million
4. Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond: $1.8 million
5. SallyWoo: $1.6 million

1. Ben “Sauce1234” Sulsky: -$2 million
2. Gus Hansen: -$1.6 million
3. patpatpanda: -$1.3 million
4. Scott “mastrblastr” Seiver: -$1.2 million
5. punting-peddler: -$1.1 million



High-Stakes Online Poker: Viktor Blom Finally Stops The Bleeding
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Manne wrote: Pokerstars online setupWednesday, the Illinois state legislature introduced a bill that would legalize internet gambling, with a committee approving the legislative proposal on a 10-4 vote. The full senate is expected to decide on the landmark legislation in the next few days.

The bill represents Illinois' second attempt at legalizing online gambling, which would enable residents to play poker and other games of chance online. State senator Terry Link, a Democrat, said the gambling expansion will generate between $400 million and $1 billion in new government revenue.

For 2012, the online poker industry totals $33.8 billion around the world, according to industry insider Sam Shefrin in a recent interview with Investment Underground. "The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and others in April of 2011 . . . . Online poker enthusiasts are hopeful that the U.S. can soon become like the U.K. and other countries where online poker is legal and regulated," said Shefrin.

If the measure is passed, online poker sites such as Pokerstars (which has bought Full Tilt) and 888 Poker could once again make its way to households, coffee shops, and offices throughout Illinois. Professional players, many of whom have since moved outside of the U.S. since the government shutdown in April 2011, will likely establish residences in Illinois in order to legally wager online.

In March 2012, Illinois became the first state in the United States to sell lottery tickets online after the United States Justice Department ruled that it would not prevent official state-sponsored lotteries from selling tickets on the Internet. In December 2011, the DOJ revised its opinion on the 1961 Wire Act and decided that the law only restricted wagering on sporting events.

As the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Already faced with a weak U.S. economy, Illinois is struggling with its worst fiscal crisis in history. On Wednesday, Illinois governor Pat Quinn presented the state budget which proposed to slash $400 million from education in order to pay for skyrocketing public pensions. Next year, the state, which has long been a bedrock for public unions, expects a backlog of $2 billion in unpaid bills to vendors. Legalizing Internet gambling would be a desperate source of revenue for a state struggling to pay its bills. Gov. Quinn has vetoed previous attempts at legalization but has also signaled that he would welcome any influx of cash to state coffers. In various interviews, Quinn said that under the right circumstances, he would approve gambling expansion in the state as long as the revenues are "dedicated to education" and possibly teacher's pensions.

According to Sen. Link, most of the gaming revenue would be directed towards the state's Education Assistance Fund after local communities receive a share of the profits.

Opponents, including conservative advocacy groups and some GOP lawmakers, argue that Illinois should fix its long-term fiscal crises by reducing unsustainable commitments to public unions, not by expanding gambling activities which would increase the number of personal bankruptcies in Illinois. Others see the revenue share for local communities as benefiting mostly voters of the Democrat base, and a self-interested vehicle for shoring up campaign financing for local Democratic candidates in future elections.

In his March 6 budget address at the state assembly, Quinn added that "gaming expansion has to be done right. It must have tough ethical standards, a campaign contribution ban on casino operators, and no loopholes for mobsters."

The Illinois state legislature isn't just proposing the legalization of online poker and Internet gambling, its measure also allows for the construction of land-based casinos and the placement of slot machines throughout the state. The bill allows for one new casino in the city of Chicago and enables slot machines to be placed at airports and horse racing tracks.


Illinois Bill Would Legalize Online Poker - Page 2 - Technorati Gaming
Nice to read.
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David_1 wrote: You can not only win.
Sometimes It's good sometimes Its bad. Thats the name of the game.
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The USA has been slowly reintroducing online gambling state by state after the shredding of the industry back in 2006. The need in America for a clear and defined set of rules regarding online gambling is far from a done deal although Delaware Nevada and New Jersey are well on their way to becoming legal.

There are many other states considering legislation to allow online wagering and the one that punters are keeping an eye on is the entertainment and tech state of California. Silicon valley has taken up the cause and embraced the development of casino software enabling the social media gambling for real money trend. Talks have been underway in California to legalize online poker but have been stalled by the various stake holders who want their fair share of the gambling pie.

Recently Senator Lou Correa , put forth Senate Bill 678 representing the latest effort for an internet poker bill in California. The tribal gambling industry is the largest in the USA and has been instrumental in bogging down a legal online gambling platform resolution in California. California has thirty-eight million residents representing huge potential for online poker and other gambling games. This is the third internet gambling bill to be introduced in California’s Senate in the last three years. The latest official content of the internet poker bill, SB 678, has not yet been released for public perusal, it is expected to spell out specifically a legal framework for internet poker. This framework is expected to outline the guidelines for the proposed industry.

The responsibility for controlling and running will fall on the shoulders of the gaming commission for the state of California. The need for a regulated online poker offering in California is still a long way from becoming a reality but with yet another attempt there is hope.


Online Poker Senate Bill Introduced in California
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Manne wrote: The USA has been slowly reintroducing online gambling state by state after the shredding of the industry back in 2006. The need in America for a clear and defined set of rules regarding online gambling is far from a done deal although Delaware Nevada and New Jersey are well on their way to becoming legal.

There are many other states considering legislation to allow online wagering and the one that punters are keeping an eye on is the entertainment and tech state of California. Silicon valley has taken up the cause and embraced the development of casino software enabling the social media gambling for real money trend. Talks have been underway in California to legalize online poker but have been stalled by the various stake holders who want their fair share of the gambling pie.

Recently Senator Lou Correa , put forth Senate Bill 678 representing the latest effort for an internet poker bill in California. The tribal gambling industry is the largest in the USA and has been instrumental in bogging down a legal online gambling platform resolution in California. California has thirty-eight million residents representing huge potential for online poker and other gambling games. This is the third internet gambling bill to be introduced in California’s Senate in the last three years. The latest official content of the internet poker bill, SB 678, has not yet been released for public perusal, it is expected to spell out specifically a legal framework for internet poker. This framework is expected to outline the guidelines for the proposed industry.

The responsibility for controlling and running will fall on the shoulders of the gaming commission for the state of California. The need for a regulated online poker offering in California is still a long way from becoming a reality but with yet another attempt there is hope.


Online Poker Senate Bill Introduced in California
Great news!
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March Means Money at Bodog - Gaming - Onlinecasinoreports-com
March Means Money - Hopefully
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Separate measures in the states of Hawaii and Iowa seeking to authorize and regulate online poker have folded, according to legislative reports emanating from both states.

Hawaii’s bid to bring online poker to the Islands failed to garner a hearing in the state’s House Finance Committee, after clearing two previous committee hurdles (the Economic Revitalization & Business Committee and the Judiciary Committee) in the past month. A lack of general support from legislators on both sides of the aisle was blamed for the bill’s demise, according to local reports.

Several similar bills have been proposed in Hawaii in recent years, none of which have gathered serious legislative support. Hawaii remains one of only two US states along with Utah where all forms of gambling are prohibited. Proponents of the poker-authorizing measures have pitched the bills as a way to buttress Hawaii’s prominent tourism industry in lean economic times.

In Iowa, an online-poker measure sponsored by State Sen. Jeff Danielson (D-Cedar Rapids) failed to clear a full Senate subcommittee after receiving preliminary approval two weeks ago. News of the Iowa bill’s demise was suspected by Chris Krafcik and later confirmed via social media by Iowa lobbyist Matt Eide of the firm Eide & Heisinger LLC, which includes among its clients the powerful Ho-Chunk tribe that has casino interests in several Midwest states and is interested in a gambling expansion in Iowa.

The Iowa measure offered by Danielson was similar to a bill sponsored in 2012, and like the 2012 version, ran into opposition at the full committee level. The bill’s demise means that no new Iowa online-poker measure will be proposed before 2014.


Hawaii, Iowa Online Poker Bills Fold | Pokerfuse Online Poker News
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Looking for a cash infusion, the State Senate Monday proposed legalizing online poker as New York's budget fight began to take shape.

The state Senate and Assembly each passed versions of a budget Monday -- essentially, public statements of spending priorities. Though non-binding, the documents outline where the Legislature and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo clash over the next two weeks as they try to beat the April 1 budget deadline.

Lawmakers signaled the battles would center on increases for schools and the disabled, tax cuts for businesses and homeowners, and control over discretionary funds. A key part of the school fight pits an Assembly Democrats' proposal to effectively exonerate New York City from missing a deadline for implementing a teacher-evaluation plan that would otherwise cost it $240 million. The Senate wants to spread that money around statewide.

Meanwhile, legislators indicated they might postpone discussion of Cuomo's proposal to site three upstate non-Indian-run casinos.

"I'm really not very optimistic that casinos will be part of this budget," said Senate co-leader Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) said after emerging from a meeting with Cuomo.

Minimum wage appears stalled, too. "I would say it's not a major part of the discussion at all," Senate co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said after leaving the same meeting.

School aid, as is customary, looms as one of the biggest battles.

Cuomo in January proposed boosting education aid by roughly $500 million statewide, a 3 percent increase. The Democrat-led Assembly Monday proposed an $834 million hike; the politically split Senate, a $931 million increase.

Similarly, both houses want to increase direct aid to municipalities and reject Cuomo's proposed $120 million cut to programs for the developmentally disabled.

Senate Republicans proposed a slew of tax cuts, including eliminating corporate taxes on manufacturers and allowing a special utility tax to expire. Cuomo has proposed renewing it, which would generate about $250 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

Assembly Democrats want to increase aid to community colleges and to the state's tuition assistance program.

Meanwhile, Klein and Skelos proposed allowing online poker in New York. Aides say they rely on a state court ruling that determined poker is considered a "game of skill" and not a legally prohibited "game of chance."

They tucked language into their budget stating: "The Senate supports authorizing and regulating internet gaming for games of skill, including poker, to reflect recent changes in the classification of these games."

To offset their additions, legislators would eliminate some of the governor's discretionary money. Some of those funds have been used for regional economic-development awards, doled out by Cuomo-appointed panels.

The governor questioned whether all the legislative additions would result in a balanced budget. "I don't believe the numbers add up," Cuomo said.



State Senate eyes legalized online poker
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Proposed legislation designed to bring online poker—along with expanded gambling—to Illinois carries heavy restrictions that could block many current industry leaders.

And Caesars Entertainment could be positioning itself as the Internet gaming front runner in the Land of Lincoln, with a pre-planned route to enter the market in a state with the potential to attract a massive player pool.

Taking yet another swing at gambling expansion, including online poker, Illinois lawmakers are trying to work with Governor Pat Quinn, who has rejected previous bills, but indicated he could be persuaded to enact legislation that steers revenue in the right direction.

Quinn has said he wants more focus on addressing corruption and providing for education in the state. The latest proposed legislation address both of those issues but also reintroduces an online gambling component that failed to make the cut last June.

The only companies eligible to become online operators in Illinois are those with current valid gaming licenses in the state.

However, the bill includes a “bad actor” clause that prohibits operators who facilitated gambling in violation of US law up to 10 years before applying. The bill would even block software vendors indefinitely if they are deemed to have violated federal law.

It will be open to debate how wide-reaching this clause would be, but under the most restrictive interpretation, all online software providers who operated in the United States would be ineligible. This wide net does not just ensnare those who continued in the market until Black Friday—i.e. PokerStars and Full Tilt, which Nevada’s new law specifically targets—but also all operators pre-UIGEA.

Practically all major networks today operated in the US in 2006. This includes PartyPoker, Ongame, iPoker, 888, Microgaming and Boss Media.

Enter Barriere Digital, Caesars’ new poker partner.

Barriere is one of the few active online poker providers today which has never operated in the US; in fact, it has not operated outside of regulated France. Launching in late 2010, Barriere operates a little-know independent French online poker network.

But its set to get a lot more attention.

In a recent earnings call (transcript via SeekingAlpha-com), Donald A. Colvin, Caesars CFO and executive vice president, provided insight into the deal with then untarnished Barriere.

“We have 2 [online poker] tracks underway … The first is the use of the 888 software with minor modification, and we have the right to use that software and introduce it, for example, in Nevada under what we consider to be quite reasonable terms,” Colvin said.

“We also … acquired the right to use and customize the software platform of Barriere Digital all from France. ... We have developers working on its modification to suit the World Series of Poker as we speak.”

“So at some point when that modification is complete, we’d anticipate that we might migrate off of the 888 platform and onto the Barriere platform in due time,” he added.

With the potential of Illinois and possibly others adding bans on software vendors to their state regulations, the move to whiter-than-white Barriere platform now makes sense. It will put CIE in a strong position to bring a tried and tested online poker platform to the United States, regardless of how stringent the “bad actor” terms are—a position few of its competitors will enjoy.

However, the current absence of a “tainted asset” clause in the Illinois bill can potentially provide additional avenues for operators. There seems to be no restrictions on software that was once used to accept real-money wagers from within the US being acquired by an Illinois operator that did not participate in offering online gambling in the US itself. If that holds true, we could see familiar software reemerge under new brands.



Who Would Make the Cut to Offer Online Poker in Illinois? | Pokerfuse Online Poker News
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It appears that online poker is on its way to the debate table in the Empire State.

As part of ongoing budget talks, the New York Senate wrote in a resolution released Monday that it “supports authorizing and regulating Internet gaming for games of skill, including poker, to reflect recent changes in the classification of these games.” No bill has been introduced yet, and it’s unclear if the governor would support the initiative.

Lawmakers were likely referencing an August 2012 decision by a federal judge in New York. Poker was referred to as a game of skill in U.S. vs. DiCristina.

Online poker discussions in New York could occur as the state also grapples with the possibility of allowing Las Vegas-style casinos upstate. At least one casino developer wants lawmakers to authorize one in New York City, but it doesn’t look like that would happen.

The state is right in the thick of things with regards to gambling expansion in the region. New Jersey, home to Atlantic City, and Delaware have legalized online gambling. Pennsylvania, with an already booming casino industry, is considering the web activity. Massachusetts is inching closer to brand new mammoth brick-and-mortar casinos.

New York itself played a role in the shutdown of the major offshore poker sites operating in the U.S. In April 2011, federal prosecutors in Manhattan unsealed an indictment against PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker for allegedly violating gambling laws in New York.



New York Senate Says It Supports Internet Poker
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One more state in the US may now be added to the growing list of states interested in offering online poker. New York seems to be showing interest in online gambling options according to a recent resolution released by the New York State Senate on Monday.

Card Player reported on this story, stating that as the New York Senate were in budget talks, a resolution was made which mentioned an interest in online poker. The resolution sated the following: “(the senate) supports authorizing and regulating internet gaming for games of skill, including poker, to reflect recent changes in the classification of these games.”

It seems as though New York State is realized the revenues that can be made with online gambling. As more states open up to online gambling and report the positive points of the option, the more other states want to get in on the action. A bill for online poker in New York has yet to be released and it is unclear how much support a bill will have in the state.

According to the Card Player report, the state is also considering the possibility of creating a casino in the style of Las Vegas options in the upstate area. However, it does not appear as if this will happen. However, the state is right in the middle of the online gambling launch. With New Jersey and Delaware launching the option, New York is falling behind. Massachusetts is also close to land casinos, so gambling is prevalent in the area.

Residents of the state will travel to the neighboring states to enjoy gambling at casinos. If the state got in on the action, they would have a large population who would be able to enjoy the games, brining in millions of revenues. It will be interesting to see where this revelation leads. Hopefully in the direction of online poker for NY!


Online Poker Coming to New York?
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Several states such as New York, Delaware, Hawaii and Iowa are either moving forward or failing to make progress in recent online gambling initiatives.
New York State Senate Considers Online Poker

New York’s Senate and Assembly both outlined budget priorities this week, with the Senate proposing the legalization of online poker as a means to generate revenue.

Senators Jeff Klein and Dean Skelos are seeking to regulate online games of skill, including poker, and to reclassify such games as not identifiable as gambling pursuant to the Illegal Gambling Business Act (IGBA). The lawmakers were apparently swayed by a federal judge’s ruling last August in U.S. v. DiCristina in which poker was found to be predominantly a game of skill.

Nearby states such as Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have either enacted or are proposing online gambling bills. So it is not inconceivable that New York may eventually also get in on the game. However, no actual online poker bill has yet been introduced.
Delaware Vendors Must Bid by Friday

Delaware gaming officials are intent on having online gambling sites up and running by Sept. 30 and have set Friday, March 15 as the deadline for vendors to submit proposals.

After all such proposals are tabulated, the Delaware Lottery plans to hear presentations from vendors and schedule meetings to work out details. The oral presentations of vendors desiring to provide services in the areas of operations management, technology, game content, and support services are tentatively set for April 1-12.

The state is confident that it can meet its Sept. 30 target date and estimates a revenue windfall in the neighborhood of $7 million per year.
Iowa and Hawaii Bills Mucked

Sen. Jeff Danielson’s proposal of an online poker bill failed to move forward in an Iowa Senate subcommittee. Danielson’s initiative met the same fate as a similar bill that he proposed last year. If Danielson is persistent and believes that the third time may be the charm, he will have to wait until 2014 to try again.

An online poker bill in Hawaii also landed in the muck. The bill was able to survive the scrutiny of two separate committees, but died in the House Finance Committee. Hawaiian lawmakers continue their malaise in supporting gambling legislation of any kind, as Hawaii remains one of two states with no forms of legalized gambling.


U.S. Online Poker and Gambling Update
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Despite sharing a name with one of the most popular games in the world, Texas is notorious for its exclusion of poker within its borders. That could soon change thanks to a few new measures being introduced in the Lone Star state.

The first is State of Texas Ballot Measure SJR No. 43, alongside State Bill No. 1103, both by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, which offer a "constitutional amendment to authorize online poker gaming regulated under federal law." The joint resolution—a legislative measure that must be approved by the Senate and House before being presented to the president—essentially proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize federally regulated online poker and provides for a state constitutional amendment that would see Texas opt-in if and when a federal licensing program for the operation of online poker facilities is enacted. The measure also allows for any state to apply the federal law if and when it becomes available.

If a federal law is not passed, the joint resolution provides for Texas to offer online poker through its state agency-run lottery system, if voters approve the measure in an election to be held Nov. 5, 2013. Despite being considered a long shot, the joint resolution shows that online poker legislation, which was recently passed by New Jersey, is on the mind of Texas lawmakers.

As if that weren't enough, House Bill No. 2098 and House Bill No. 292 are also pending action. The latter provides for “regulated poker gaming” at licensed gambling facilities, though the bill has remained stagnant since its introduction last December. Meanwhile, House Bill No. 2098, which was filed on Feb. 28 by Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City), seeks to legalize “social poker gaming,” which would allow certain licensed establishments to offer poker to “registered players” while profiting without collecting a rake. They would do so through membership fees and food sales.

Whether or not these measures move forward remains to be seen, but you can add Texas, which is home to 26 million people, to the list of states considering online poker.


Read more: Texas Legislation Addresses Both Live and Online Poker | PokerNews
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For U.S. poker players, April 15, 2011 is a day that will be tough to forget. This is the day that the U.S. Department of Justice, for all intents and purposes shut down online poker. Millions of people woke up that morning and quickly realized that not only were they unable to play online poker, but they were unable to access the money (sometimes in the millions) that they had accumulated on the sites.

Nearly two years later, Americans are still not free to play online poker again, but that is about to change, at least for some people. A few states have approved online poker recently: Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware.

With these three states having already passed online gambling legislation, more are sure to follow. Understanding that the trend is moving towards online poker, the U.S. Congress will most likely join the race and try to get national legislation passed to avoid having 50 states with 50 different sets of laws. Uniformity is essential to the industry, and I expect Congress will do something soon, maybe as early as this spring.

There have been previous attempts in Congress, but prior drafted legislation never gained the support needed, mainly a result of stiff opposition from religious groups.

Read More: Who benefits from the return of online poker?
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While other gaming companies produce a stream of press releases about their plans for newly regulated US markets, iPoker owner Playtech has been virtually silent. That may change as CEO Mor Weizer told investment analysts that he hoped to have news in the “not too distant future.”

The comments came at an earnings call to discuss Playtech’s latest annual report. Journalists and investors quizzed the CEO hard on what plans Playtech had for the US, a subject virtually omitted from the annual report.

Non-Executive Chairman Roger Withers told investors in his annual statement that “signs from the US are encouraging,” but added that, “developments are in their infancy and there remains much work to do to resolve regulatory, political and practical considerations.”

In his own statement in the report, Mor Weizer used exactly the same words, “developments are in their infancy and there remains much work to do to resolve regulatory, political and practical considerations.”

In the nuanced world of investor communications, this level of verbal choreography is not unusual, but it often signifies that something is going on behind the scenes.

Mor went a stage further than his Chairman and added, “a number of strategic partnerships are being pursued to prepare for the potential opportunities offered by this large, diverse market.”

This was enough for questioners to try to elicit more at the conference call, but their efforts were met with optimistic blandness.

Playtech’s strategy makes a specific point of the importance of regulated markets; “… the global process of regulating the online gaming industry continues to advance. This trend, led by national and local governments, is a key driver of Playtech’s current and future success.”

Given this positioning there seems no doubt that Playtech will be making a move into the US regulated arena in the near future. It has previously tried to get a foothold, albeit on a small scale.

2010 saw it create a joint venture called SciPlay which was approved by the now defunct California Online Poker Association (COPA). The partnership with Scientific Games Corporation was dissolved in January last year with Playtech taking a loss of about $700k on the deal.

Playtech’s growing confidence after revenue increases of over 50% in the last year suggest that its next deal will be on a more ambitious scale. When state regulated online poker finally goes live in the US, iPoker is likely to be there.



Playtech Plays Cute on US Poker | Pokerfuse Online Poker News
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While New York has enjoyed a reputation as being one of the strictest states when it comes to business and tax laws, as well as many other aspects including - more recently - gun control, there is a glimmer of hope emerging when it comes to the once-banned world of online poker. Indeed, online poker could very well make a resurgence in the Empire State, as the New York Senate has called for making online poker legal. Dean Skelos and Jeff Klein are leading the charge, stating that over $100 million in revenue could be generated for the state of New York. This is obviously no monetary amount to be taken lightly, as this can come as a much needed breath of fresh air amidst a climate of budget cuts and layoffs.

This entire new situation comes during a time that Governor Cuomo is seriously considering the construction of several brick and mortar casino operations throughout the state. While no budget proposal is a surefire ‘in’ for any cause, especially online gambling, there is reason to believe that online poker could very well become a reality sooner than later.

A recent state court ruling has ascertained that poker is a ‘game of skill’ and does not fall into the category of a ‘game of chance,’ which can be determined illegal. Instead, poker sets itself apart and it seems that state government is beginning to realize this (as well as the potential revenue legalizing such an operation in New York could generate).

While the 1961 Wire Act remains the proverbial elephant in the room, with issues having to do with whether or not games like poker fall under the illegal umbrella of sportsbetting, this will likely do little to affect the chances of online poker becoming a reality in New York as well as many other states. In fact, a recent reinterpration of this law by the Department of Justice, has made this distinction between sportsbetting and poker clearer than ever.

It’s about time officials in government recognize the potential benefits of legalizing online poker. The focus is now becoming more on the facts and the numbers and no longer on the outdated discourse that attempts to position to poker as something less than a credible sport that requires skill to succeed. This issue could be decided as early as this coming April, when legislative deadlines will come to fruition.



Online Poker Legislation Reaches New York
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Manne wrote: It’s official. It’s finally over. Online poker, as a business, is legal in New Jersey.

Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill Tuesday that authorizes casinos in struggling Atlantic City to eventually offer Internet versions of casino games intrastate — and one day beyond.

Christie’s action comes after he decided to conditionally veto the measure earlier this month, sending it back to lawmakers to vote on his proposed changes. They agreed with the governor, voting Tuesday to make the amendments and end years of debating the issue in Trenton.

What Christie wanted was considered very minor, and thus it was easy to get the bill back to him just a couple of weeks later. Now it’s up to state gaming regulators to figure out precisely how to license and oversee the complex new industry.

However, it could take quite some time for the first New Jersey-based sites to offer real-money games. Nevada legalized online poker in June 2011, but still hasn’t allowed any of its online gaming licensees to bring a product to the market. Just last week, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill that tweaked his state’s Internet gaming rules.

In addition to New Jersey and Nevada, Delaware has legal online betting. That state could see its first real-money games debut this fall, probably following a Nevada move.

“It’s off to the races for New Jersey,” Sen. Ray Lesniak, sponsor of the bill, told Card Player on Feb. 7. “This is a huge lifeline for Atlantic City — a big win for the state.”

The news is also great for PokerStars, which is looking to buy a casino in Atlantic City.


BREAKING: Online Poker Now LEGAL In New Jersey
That's what we been waiting for 😁
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Manne wrote: While New York has enjoyed a reputation as being one of the strictest states when it comes to business and tax laws, as well as many other aspects including - more recently - gun control, there is a glimmer of hope emerging when it comes to the once-banned world of online poker. Indeed, online poker could very well make a resurgence in the Empire State, as the New York Senate has called for making online poker legal. Dean Skelos and Jeff Klein are leading the charge, stating that over $100 million in revenue could be generated for the state of New York. This is obviously no monetary amount to be taken lightly, as this can come as a much needed breath of fresh air amidst a climate of budget cuts and layoffs.

This entire new situation comes during a time that Governor Cuomo is seriously considering the construction of several brick and mortar casino operations throughout the state. While no budget proposal is a surefire ‘in’ for any cause, especially online gambling, there is reason to believe that online poker could very well become a reality sooner than later.

A recent state court ruling has ascertained that poker is a ‘game of skill’ and does not fall into the category of a ‘game of chance,’ which can be determined illegal. Instead, poker sets itself apart and it seems that state government is beginning to realize this (as well as the potential revenue legalizing such an operation in New York could generate).

While the 1961 Wire Act remains the proverbial elephant in the room, with issues having to do with whether or not games like poker fall under the illegal umbrella of sportsbetting, this will likely do little to affect the chances of online poker becoming a reality in New York as well as many other states. In fact, a recent reinterpration of this law by the Department of Justice, has made this distinction between sportsbetting and poker clearer than ever.

It’s about time officials in government recognize the potential benefits of legalizing online poker. The focus is now becoming more on the facts and the numbers and no longer on the outdated discourse that attempts to position to poker as something less than a credible sport that requires skill to succeed. This issue could be decided as early as this coming April, when legislative deadlines will come to fruition.



Online Poker Legislation Reaches New York
It's going in the right direction.
Join: 2008/12/18 Messages: 846
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This week is proving to be quite a testing one for past World Series Of Poker champions. Recently, we learned that the 2007 WSOP Main Event winner Jerry Yang has burned his way through his $8.25 million winnings and is currently being forced to sell numerous assets by the IRS, including his winners bracelet.

Now, the 2004 WSOP Champion Greg “Fossilman “Raymer has found himself in hot water after being arrested as part of an undercover prostitution sting by police in Wake Forest, North Carolina. The 48 year old poker pro lives in nearby Wakefield, N.C. with his wife, Cheryl, but apparently, the philandering Mr Raymer is not adverse to playing away from home after showing up at a North Carolina hotel expecting to meet a hooker he found on website Backpage-com.

Unfortunately for Greg Raymer the woman turned out to be an undercover cop and the rotund poker champ was promptly arrested on a misdemeanor prostitution charge, as well as attempted crime against nature (CAN). In the Bible Belt state, the CAN laws cover a range of sexual practices including homosexual acts, anal sex, bestiality, incest and necrophilia. However, these days the CAN law is only usually applied to acts involving oral sex (fellatio and cunnilingus) and anal intercourse.

Following his arrest, Mr Raymer was released on a $1,000 bond and is expected to appear in court on April 18th. Mr Raymer’s lawyer, Wade Smith, later issued a statement saying: “Mr. Raymer is very sorry for this lapse in judgement. He regrets deeply the pain he has caused his family, friends and fans. Mr. Raymer is grateful for the many expressions of support he has received.”

Nevertheless, others in the poker community, as well as some media sources, have been more inclined to mock the situation, and here are a selection of some of their choice comments:

NYDN: “Clearly, he wasn’t happy with his hand.”

Tmz-com: “Greg Raymer — aka the FossilMan — has been busted for trying to bury his bone.”

Bruce Gold8: “Looks like Raymer was trying for the nut flush.”

OooooNooo: “He was hoping to be all-in but busted instead.”


Greg Raymer Charged With Attempted Sex Crime Against Nature In Carolina
Join: 2006/12/07 Messages: 29893
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In line with Nevada’s Assembly Bill 14, which permits the State of Nevada to expand online poker coverage by entering into agreements with other U.S. states, the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) is currently soliciting the public’s opinion. A statewide public consultation is vital to the drafting of the policies, to ensure that NGC’s rules and regulations will take into consideration all possible issues related to interactive gambling, including revenue sharing deals between states. Moreover, other state lawmakers and governors will thoroughly evaluate the strength and integrity of such regulations, before allowing their respective residents to play poker online via the facilities of Nevada’s online casinos.

Some examples of the issues that need threshing out include determining whom to task in handling any gaming disputes that may arise between interstate players. Another area of concern is the basis for deciding the location of shared interstate gambling revenues, between agreeing states and the state of Nevada. The objective of which is to formulate clear cut policies for calculating revenues, whether to base the amounts on the location where the players placed their bets or where the servers of online casinos are situated.

The Nevada Gaming Commission welcomes any other comments or suggestions on what to include as relevant measures in managing or controlling interstate online gambling deals and activities. Licensees and interested individuals should state the specific reasons why or why not, as well as cite any legal support related to their viewpoint/s. The deadline for filing of the comments is on April 12, 2013.


Nevada Drafts Policies for Interstate Online Poker : ADI News
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