For online poker supporters, June could best be summed up with the first half of a famous Shakespeare line, as the month was full of sound fury in multiple state legislators. Unfortunately, July completed the quote, as thus far, all of the hullabaloo that occurred in June has signified nothing. Even though no less than… Continue reading Pennsylvania Still a Must-Watch State for Online Poker Regulation

The month of May was all about Pennsylvania. The Keystone State resumed its push for regulated internet gambling on May 24 with a hearing about a spending bill. That bill included an amendment containing the framework of HB 649, introduced by Rep. John Payne. HB 649 would green-light regulated online gaming in Pennsylvania, including poker.

March was a busy month in the world of poker legislation. The highlight: a possible change in focus by Sheldon Adelson, the head of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and the man who once pledged to spend “whatever it takes” to rid the US of online gambling.

California is the largest state in the US at 38.8 million people. If it were its own country, California would be the 35th largest in the world, sandwiched in between Sudan and Poland. In February, all eyes were on the Golden State’s deliberate, contentious march towards legalized online poker.

Only a month into 2016, there has been plenty of movement on the legislative front in the United States. Online poker could soon be regulated in Pennsylvania, while states like Washington and New York are seriously considering the same. Here’s a recap of the major developments in January.

According to the Poker Players Alliance, the main lobbying voice for poker players on Capitol Hill, a bill could be introduced in the US Congress that “would block new states from licensing online poker while a federal study is conducted.”

In response to a letter to the editor, Newsweek writer Leah McGrath Goodman (pictured) explained the rationale for and background to the cover story in the magazine’s August 22 edition espousing the societal ills of online gambling. Despite not conveying any reaction from pro-gambling forces, Goodman asserted, “No view was unwelcome and there was no… Continue reading Newsweek on Ripping Online Poker: “No Bias For or Against Online Gambling”

There is a great deal of discussion in our community regarding the proposed California online poker legislationand one of its key clauses, the “bad actor” verbiage that would prevent companies that served US players following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act from being involved with the California online poker industry. Now, a… Continue reading Are Bad Actor Clauses in Poker Legislation Unconstitutional?

As Congressman Eric Cantor‘s (pictured) shocking defeat in the primary for the Seventh District of Virginia reverberates through the political spectrum, many gambling analysts are beginning to wonder how the loss of this Sheldon Adelson-backed lawmaker will influence the future of internet gaming legislation.

On Wednesday, longtime reporter John Ralston wrote on his blog, “Here’s what’s floating around DC. I smell a Nevada company.” What followed was text of a draft bill that expands the scope of the Wire Act by adding the following language: “The term ‘any sporting event or contest’ includes games in material part or predominantly… Continue reading US Internet Gambling Bill with Online Poker Carve-Out Surfaces

In what could be a significant blow to the regulatory movement for online gambling and poker in the US, the American Gaming Association – the powerful lobbying organization for the US casino industry – has withdrawn its support for legalization and regulation of the industry.

On Thursday, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing on the impact of internet gambling. The scheduled two-and-a-half hour hearing, which was streamed online, featured a variety of witnesses and panels spanning the gamut of our industry. Among the topics discussed were policy and regulatory issues, social impacts, problem gambling, industry services,… Continue reading PPA Calls Pennsylvania Internet Gambling Hearing “100% Positive”

On Thursday, the Poker Players Alliance, the primary lobbying voice for poker players in the US, called legislation from Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) “misguided” and launched a national call to action campaign to encourage Americans to fight back. The organization has launched a detailed, informative web page allowing players to… Continue reading PPA Takes a Stand, Calls Chaffetz/Graham Legislation “Misguided”

Following the introduction of legislation in the US Congress by South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz that looks to ban online gambling and poker, Democratic Governors from 11 states replied with a letter to the major players in Congress denouncing the move.