Gambling Law and Legislation

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) has launched a new campaign in pro of the legalization of online poker called "Tweet for Poker" and that allows poker players from all over the United States to contact their respective Congress and Senate representatives and ask them to support a two legislation bills introduced by Rep. Barney Frank and Senator Robert Menendez and that will finally regulate online poker in the U.S.

The Israeli Police dismantled a massive sportsbetting ring on Monday, that had been in business since 2007 and involved over $90 million in earnings. The raid was comprised of over 300 local police and officials, with the homes of 37 people allegedly involved in the operation, raided throughout the country.

This morning 100 percent of the unofficial votes on Issue 3 (which proposed construction of four new Vegas-style casinos in Ohio) were counted, and 53 percent of voters were in favor of casino gambling in their home state. The proposal will allow construction of casinos in Ohio's four largest cities: Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) presented a series of arguments in favor to the legalization of online poker in a hearing held by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. The leading poker grassroots advocacy group counts with more than one million members across the U.S and more than 25,000 in the state of Massachusetts.

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the largest poker grassroots advocacy group in the United States with more than one million members, today released an statement issued by PPA Executive Director John Pappas regarding Kentucky's Commonwealth's appeal hearing held today at the state's Supreme Court.

Each week Fox News in partnership with Rasmussen Reports conducts surveys related to hot topics and other news. This week the poll conducted was on the topic of U.S. residents' feelings about gambling in their home country. The majority of adults polled were in favor of gambling in the U.S. and also felt that gambling has a somewhat positive effect on the local economy.

The ban placed on certain land-based casinos in Russia over the summer has forced citizens to search for other ways to gamble within the borders. The most convenient option discovered by the citizens of this country has been online casinos. With this surge in online gambling originating from the country, Russian officials are becoming concerned about this situation since the offshore casinos do not generate tax revenue for the country.

The French betting authorities are very close to opening the competition for the privatization of horse racing, sports and poker markets in the country. With this opening of the market, many private sportsbooks and poker rooms are already jumping at the chance to compete in this competitive online market.

The country of Hungary could see a new poker law passed before the end of this year, however there are some discrepancies on how the regulation of online poker and live poker will affect the economy.

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the largest poker grassroots advocacy group in the U.S with more than one million members nationwide, today applauded the ruling of a South Carolina court that confirmed that poker is a game of skill, and it should not be considered gambling under the state's law.

Even with the current economic downturn experienced around the world, online gambling is one industry that is showing no signs of slowing down. Studies have recently shown that online gambling is expanding around the world, due to the fact that it is a fun, convenient and cost-effective way of entertaining people.

A three-judge panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked Delaware's plan to offer single game sports betting starting on September 1st. The decision was taken after the appeal court determined that Delaware's plans violate a 1992 federal ban on sportsbetting.

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) today expressed its support to a court appeal filed by a citizen in the state of Colorado in where he’s requesting the State’s Supreme Court to nullify a court ruling that determines that poker is predominately a game of chance and that it is consider as a gambling activity according to the state’s law.

Has online poker really improved its position with the Congress?

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) has released a statement praising Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for introducing the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, a new bill today intentioned to regulate and tax Online Poker and other "games of skill".

Rep. Barney Frank’s Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267), project introduced in May has reached a total of 50 co-sponsors early this week.

Stand up for your game with Cake Poker. This online poker room is looking to make a difference in the legalization and regulation of online poker. They will present the signatures along with a petition for licensing and regulation to President Obama, while you will get to participate in a $3,500 poker freeroll at CakePoker.

Frank, who was invited to the Main Event to make the traditional "Shuffle up and deal" call, requested poker players and guests present at the Main Event to write their Congressmen and Senators and ask them to support his bill. At the same time, Frank told the more than 1700 players present at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino, that he's currently working overtime to have the bill voted by early 2010.

During an interview given last week, NJ Governor Jon Corzine said that he will join and support New Jersey’s Senator Ray Lesniak’s lawsuit against the Federal Government, which was filed New Jersey State by Lesniak and the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association and seeks to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act approved in 1992. The Governor claims the current Federal prohibition discriminates against the 46 states in where sportsbetting is not permitted by the federal law.

It looks like online poker's best chance of becoming legalized in California could be closer than most people think. The state's $25 Billion budget deficit would surely benefit from the legalization of online poker, considering that the recent emergency proposals to fix the deficit were rejected. This state could go into serious debt by the end of this year if these measures are not at least considered. Thus opening the possibilities for legalization and taxing of certain illegal activities, such as online poker.

Is online poker covered by the Illegal Gambling Business Act?

 

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the largest independent poker advocacy in the U.S today has released a statement in response to the recent actions taken by the Southern District of New York to freeze payment processor accounts containing more than $30 million in online poker players' deposits and payouts.

According to statements released by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) and Associated Press, more than $30 million in payments sent to online poker players have been frozen by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Poker players in Florida wont have to cross the state's border to play high stakes games after the state's lawmakers approved a bill last Friday that would expand gambling and increase the limits on poker games.

As it was reported on the international news site, Bloomberg.com, Las Vegas hotel and casino operator and owner of the World Series of Poker, Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. and the online sportsbetting site Youbet.com Inc. have joined the list of companies, politicians, entrepreneurs and poker players supporting the new online gambling legislation to be introduced today by Representative Barney Frank, which could finally legalize and tax certain forms of online gambling and repeal the existing ban and restrictions imposed by the UIGEA.