Posts Tagged ‘legal’
Harry Reid Online Poker Bill Still Alive
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. On Wednesday, just hours after publishing a story claiming that legislation to legalize online poker introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had been dropped, the Las Vegas Sun newspaper issued a correction. Instead, the legislation remains very much alive and may be added to the tax relief bill.
How did the Sun get it wrong, you ask? A correction published on Wednesday night read in part, “In that earlier article, Reid was quoted telling the Sun after a press conference that he would not be adding legalization of online poker to his list of objectives during the lame duck session… A spokesman for Reid said later that the Senator’s comment got muddled in the cacophony of the Senate hallways, and that online gambling is still something he’d like to see move forward.”
Poker News Daily was one of the many mainstream and poker-related media outlets that picked up on the Sun’s story. Reid’s measure to license and regulate internet poker may be added to the forthcoming tax relief bill, which may have hit a stumbling block itself on Thursday. The L.A. Times reported that Democrats had rebuffed an agreement forged between U.S. President Barack Obama and Congressional Republicans on the tax bill’s contents. What the tax bill will ultimately look like now remains to be seen.
News of the Democratic rejection of the tax cut bill sent Wall Street on a downward spiral. At the time of writing, the Dow Jones Industrial Index is down 24 points on the day, or 0.2%, after spending the majority of the morning in the black. An Associated Press story quoted internet gambling champion Barney Frank (D-MA) as predicting that “the tax cut compromise ‘will be passed by virtually all the Republicans and a minority of Democrats.’ He said he would vote against it.”
Riding the wave of news stories this week has been Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Executive Director John Pappas, who told Poker News Daily on Wednesday night, “The process has been a roller coaster. We have been fighting off all sorts of bad additions to the bill, while at the same time swallowing the bitter pill of the 15-month freeze. We are still fighting and I won’t concede that the bill is dead until the Congress adjourns.”
The 15-month freeze refers to a period following the bill’s passage during which no online poker site can service the U.S. market legally. Following the waiting period, companies with existing casino licenses can solicit U.S. customers in online poker games for two years. Then, the market will open up to everyone. The timeline means that sites like PokerStars and Full Tilt, which are the major players in the market today, may be shut out for over three years if the bill were to be passed.
Poker News Daily sought comment from Reid’s staff on whether the final tax relief package would be revealed on Thursday. However, Reid’s staff had no statement on the matter.
Coming out in strong support of Reid’s efforts on Thursday was Forbes Magazine, which published an article that read in part, “Reid’s turnaround is welcome – and long overdue. The proposed policy change makes fiscal sense. Moreover, it is not government’s proper role to dictate what activities private individuals may or may not engage in. And from a practical perspective, Reid’s proposal provides a good opportunity for Congress members from both parties to turn their stated commitment to bipartisanship into substantive change.”
According to The Hill, the lame duck session of Congress is likely to end next Friday. Keep it tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest from Capitol Hill.
Harry Reid Drops Push for Online Poker Legislation
In breaking news from Washington, DC, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has dropped his push for legislation to legalize and regulate online poker in the United States, according to the Las Vegas Sun newspaper.
The Sun explained in an article published just before 5:00pm ET on Wednesday, “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the Las Vegas Sun after a press conference this afternoon that despite a flurry of last-minute lobbying, he would not be adding legalization of online poker to his list of objectives during the lame duck. ‘We’re still working on that, we’re not able to,’ Reid said.” The lame duck session is likely to end next Friday, according to The Hill.
The Sun continued by explaining that the road to legalizing and regulating online poker was a long one in the first place: “Lobbyists for the industry speculated that lawmakers might include the legalization as part of the tax extensions package being batted between Senate Democrats, Republicans, and the White House, and is expected to come up on the Senate floor sometime later this week.”
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) commented, “No bill is dead until Congress adjourns” in the organization’s Twitter feed, in response to several reporters’ questions.
With U.S. President Barack Obama forging an agreement on the tax relief bill with Republicans this week, the likelihood of Reid being able to squeeze online poker legislation onto the measure appeared to be thin. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate was forging a debate on the controversial “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy today, with the window of time until the lame duck session ends quickly vanishing.
The status quo in the industry appears to be intact for the foreseeable future. However, according to a press release distributed by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) on Monday, “The status quo is not tenable and legislation is needed to clarify and correct current laws and provide a regulated U.S. marketplace for players. Failing a Federal legislative solution, the future of internet poker remains unpredictable. However, a regulated market that offers competition, consumer protections, and clarity will undoubtedly provide the greatest benefit for the players and long-term stability to the internet poker experience.”
The online poker and internet gambling industries in the United States will now await a possible vote by the New Jersey Assembly next week on State Senator Raymond Lesniak’s measure to create the first intrastate internet gambling framework. The bill, which allows online poker and web-based versions of other brick-and-mortar casino games, may be the blueprint that other jurisdictions interested in legalizing internet gambling will follow.
Read the entire Las Vegas Sun article. The lame duck session is likely to end next Friday, so we’ll learn the ultimate fate of Reid’s bill shortly. Keep it tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest developments from Capitol Hill, New Jersey, and beyond.
Harry Reid Online Poker Legislation May Be Added to Tax Relief Bill
It’s shaping up to be an interesting last 10 days of the current Congressional session for members of the online poker community. On Tuesday, Politico published an article revealing that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was attempting to add a bill legalizing online poker to the measure extending tax cuts. Read the article.
Politico confirmed Reid’s desires with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Hatch told the political news outlet, “They’re trying. Sen. Reid would like to do that.” Despite Hatch’s confirmation that Reid was attempting to add an online poker rider to the tax bill, Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), one of the masterminds of the original Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), would not allow the plan to come to fruition. Kyl told Politico, “[There is] zero chance – no chance whatsoever that would be part of the tax deal. I don’t think it would be the right thing to do.”
Further complicating the matter is an agreement reached between U.S. President Barack Obama and Congressional Republicans. Whether Reid will be able to inject a measure that many consider to be a favor for Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah’s Entertainment) and MGM Resorts International, two of his biggest financial supporters, remains to be seen. One Congressional staff member told Politico, “You could call him ‘Harrah Reid’ at this point.”
Also coming out against Reid’s online poker legislation is the National Indian Gaming Association, which told Politico on Tuesday, “[The bill] is drafted to create an initial regulatory monopoly for Nevada and New Jersey for the first several years, which gives Las Vegas operators time to capture the market.” Several draft versions of the bill show that the U.S. market would only be open to existing land-based casino companies for the first two years. Then, other gambling outfits could join the fray and offer online poker.
Not optimistic about the chances of Reid’s legislation passing was Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) Chairman Joe Brennan, who told Poker News Daily on Wednesday, “Based on reports, it seems highly unlikely given the tax deal cut by President Obama that Senator Reid will have the leverage necessary to include this bill as part of the tax relief package.”
The Politico article was referenced in a barrage of stories on Wednesday, including one that appeared in the Huffington Post. Meanwhile, Capitol Weekly sourced a draft of the bill as saying, “The provisions of this title shall supersede any provisions of the law of any state or tribe relating to internet gambling facilities, including internet poker facilities.” In essence, according to Capitol Weekly, “Reid’s bill would throw a monkey wrench into an effort by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians to push forward a tribe-run internet poker franchise in California.”
Language in Reid’s bill, a draft of which appeared on Politico’s website and clocked in at 157 pages, read in part, “A new market should be limited, at least initially, to service providers that have an established track record of complying with a strict regulatory environment, have an established track record of providing fair games to consumers, and have significant goodwill and assets at stake, in addition to their internet poker assets, to ensure they would comply strictly with the new regulatory regime.”
The text also mandates, “No qualified body may issue a license under this title before the date that is 15 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.” What would happen to the online poker industry in the United States during so-called the 15-month “blackout period” is not clear. Posters on forums like TwoPlusTwo and PocketFives.com, however, have been up in arms over the 15-month restriction.
According to The Hill, the “lame duck” Congressional session will wrap up next Friday.
BLOG - Land of the Free, unless you just want a harmless game of poker
Inside Gaming: PokerStars Ads Illegal in New Zealand, Titan Gets French License and More
Reid Pushing for Legalized Online Poker By the End of Next Week
Poker Players Alliance Comments on Harry Reid Online Poker Bill
Last week, word broke around the industry that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was planning to introduce legislation to legalize and regulate online poker in the United States. The bill, dubbed the Internet Poker Act of 2010, remains in draft form, but plenty of organizations have weighed in on its merits. Among them was the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), which spoke in favor of the bill on Monday.
The PPA’s Executive Director, John Pappas, commented in a press release that the process of pushing pro-online poker legislation through Congress has been a long road. Pappas admitted, “As news stories circulate about a potential bill that would license and regulate online poker, it is important to remember that the Poker Players Alliance has been actively pursuing such legislation for more than five years. If nothing else, this shows that lawmakers are acknowledging what the PPA has been saying all along – that Americans want to play the great game of poker in any venue they choose and they deserve to be afforded the basic consumer protections that regulation can provide.”
The bill has received a considerable amount of mainstream attention, as media outlets from the New York Times to Associated Press have printed articles on Reid’s bill. The Internet Poker Act bars existing sites that service the U.S. market from obtaining a license for two years, potentially shutting out Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and others. This feature of the bill has drawn the ire of many in the online poker community, while land-based casinos like Harrah’s and MGM have come out in favor of Reid’s proposal.
Pappas, however, charged that securing a legislative framework was critical: “The status quo is not tenable and legislation is needed to clarify and correct current laws and provide a regulated U.S. marketplace for players. Failing a federal legislative solution, the future of internet poker remains unpredictable. However, a regulated market that offers competition, consumer protections, and clarity will undoubtedly provide the greatest benefit for players and long-term stability to the internet poker experience.”
Recent funds seizures in states like Maryland and Washington have complicated the process of depositing and withdrawing from major online poker sites. Also coming under fire in recent weeks has been eWalletXpress. Under a regulated scheme, these problems could, in theory, be mended.
According to the Wall Street Journal, land-based casino companies have been nearly diehard in their support of Reid, who was reelected in 2010 to another six-year term. The Journal explained, “Gambling interests and casino executives gave the Senator more than $700,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, ranking fifth among all industry contributors. His biggest single benefactor: MGM Resorts International, whose executives and political action committee gave Reid more than $190,000 in combined campaign donations, according to the same data. Harrah’s Entertainment ranked fourth, with more than $83,000 in campaign contributions.”
The news publication The Hill revealed that the “lame duck” Congressional session will likely end on Friday, December 17th. It added that this week’s focus would be on healthcare for first responders on September 11th and “the DREAM Act, which provides U.S. citizenship to children of illegal immigrants.” Online poker legislation could potentially be added as a “pay-for” to a separate bill.
We’ll keep you posted right here on Poker News Daily.
The Weekly Turbo: Harry Reid Pushes for Online Poker Legislation, ESPN’s The Nuts, and More
Harry Reid Online Poker Bill Receives Mainstream Media Attention
This week, word circulated around the Web that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was set to introduce a bill legalizing and regulating online poker in the United States. From the Associated Press to the Wall Street Journal, the Internet Poker Act of 2010 gained a considerable amount of mainstream media attention. Read more.
Among those media outlets to take a jab at Reid was the Huffington Post. An article posted on Friday read in part, “So many priorities, and so little seriousness. And now you find out that during this very tiny window to act, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has asked his staff to work on a bill that would legalize online poker. What the what, now?” The Huffington Post pointed out that only licensed brick-and-mortar gaming establishments would be able to provide internet poker for the first two years under Reid’s measure.
Even a blog on the website of Time Magazine tackled the online poker story. The Time Magazine entry pointed out how the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed during the final moments of the 2006 Congressional session. It added, “It would be interesting to see whether the measure would resonate with the GOP’s libertarian wing – which should ideologically support a measure that gives citizens the freedom to gamble online – or others open to the idea of using additional sin taxes to help close yawning state and federal budget gaps.”
Appearing on the front page of Yahoo late Friday night was an Associated Press piece that pointed out several of Reid’s major campaign contributors: “MGM Resorts International, through its employees and political action committee, donated $192,000 to his campaign, the most of any single company, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Meanwhile, employees and the PAC at Harrah’s Entertainment chipped in an additional $83,100. Harrah’s recently changed its name to Caesars Entertainment Corp.”
The cavalcade of articles included a Bloomberg piece affectionately entitled “Senate Accused of Secret Plan to Legalize U.S. Online Gambling.” The article appeared on Thursday following the release of a letter submitted by three Republican lawmakers: Spencer Bachus (R-AL), Dave Camp (R-MI), and Lamar Smith (R-TX). The letter, which was targeted at the pending Web poker legislation, read in part, “Creating a federal right to gamble that has never existed in our country’s history and imposing an unprecedented new tax regime on such activity require careful deliberation, not backroom deals.”
Poker News Daily received a copy of the 57-page bill, which states that existing online poker sites cannot sell their “assets” to a licensed outfit. In essence, it appears that sites servicing the market like PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker could essentially be shut out for two years. Then, the bill explains, “After two years from the date of first license… the Secretary may issue regulations expanding the range of licensees beyond those listed… if the Secretary makes a determination.”
We’ll keep you posted right here on Poker News Daily. In the meantime, check out a draft of Reid’s Internet Poker Act of 2010.
The Nightly Turbo: Harry Reid Pushing to Legalize Online Poker, LA Poker Classic Schedule Released, and More
Online Poker Legislation Taking Shape in U.S. Senate
According to an article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) may soon be bringing online poker legislation to life in the U.S. Senate. Whether the measure could pass into law before the current legislative session expires is anyone’s guess.
According to the Journal, “The Nevada casino companies pushing the measure were among [Reid’s] biggest donors during his fierce re-election fight. They argue the bill would provide consumer protection for poker players and would provide some tax revenue for federal and state governments.” Reid will return as the Senate Majority Leader in 2011 when the new Congress is seated. Then, the House of Representatives, currently controlled by Democrats, will see Republicans assume a leadership role.
In the House, Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, sailed out of the Financial Services Committee in July. The bill establishes a licensing and regulatory framework for internet gambling sites to solicit real money action from the United States. Even though it passed by a 2:1 margin in Committee, it has yet to be approved, or even addressed, by the full House.
Speaking out against possible online poker legislation by Reid was House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Spencer Bachus (R-AL), who may assume the Committee’s Chair in the new year. Bachus told the Wall Street Journal, “Congress should not take advantage of the young, the weak, and the vulnerable in the name of new revenues to cover more government spending.” Curiously, Reed’s camp declined to comment to the New York news outlet.
The bill would allegedly allow “only existing casinos, horse tracks, and slot-machine makers to operate online poker websites for the first two years after the bill passes, which could limit the ability of other companies to enter the market.” If the Journal’s assessment were true, then the bill would be similar to the marked up version of HR 2267, which prohibits companies that have circumvented the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) from obtaining a license.
The UIGEA was passed in 2006 after being attached to the SAFE Port Act, an unrelated port security measure, in the waning moments of the Congressional session. Then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) pushed the UIGEA through Congress four years ago; now, the current Senate Majority Leader may undo the legislation before year’s end.
On December 1st, three Republicans – Bachus, Dave Camp (R-MI), and Lamar Smith (R-TX) – authored a letter to Reid and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging that any attempts to legalize internet gambling be squashed. The letter claims that approving web gaming would result in an “unprecedented new tax regime” and adds that the rumored bill represents “desperation for more tax dollars to pay for ever-increasing Federal spending.”
The Republican-backed letter also reminds readers that, four years ago, the UIGEA coasted through the House before being tacked onto the SAFE Port Act in the Senate: “It should also be noted that in 2006, the last time the whole House considered an internet gambling bill, it voted 317 to 93 to prohibit gambling online.”
The Journal notes that Caesars Entertainment, which owns the rights to the annual World Series of Poker and recently changed its name from Harrah’s Entertainment, supports the movement to legalize internet gaming. Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest headlines from Capitol Hill and beyond.
Angle Shooting: Why All the Fuss?
One reason I like poker is its uniqueness compared to other sports and games. Its perfect mix of skill and luck combined with the unending variety of people you encounter at the tables make it a lot of fun. One unique aspect of the game that I am not as fond of, however, is angle shooting.
For those new to poker, angle shooting is doing something during a poker game that is not technically against the rules, but is nonetheless considered unethical. It is pushing the limits of the rules while not crossing the line of illegality to the point where the person doing it is generally perceived to be pretty scummy or disrespectful.
For example, a player might purposely act out of turn in order to influence the actions of his opponents. Perhaps a player wants to see the flop for free or cheap. He might, before it’s his turn to act pre-flop, throw out a raise. He then takes it back after “realizing” that it wasn’t his turn yet, but now the players ahead of him might be scared to bet, thinking he will raise. When it checks to him, however, he just goes ahead and checks behind.
In another instance, someone with a strong hand on the river might pretend to accidentally toss the wrong denomination chip into the pot, supposedly making his bet much higher than intended. Since he can’t take it back, he acts like he is upset about betting too much, which then induces his opponent to call since they think they have him beat. Neither of those instances of angle shooting is illegal, but nobody is going to like someone who is perceived to have made those moves intentionally.
I find angle shooting interesting for a couple of reasons. First, it is, for the most part, unique to poker. In other sports, there isn’t usually a gray area between legality and illegality. Either something is against the rules or it isn’t. Now, sometimes players get away with breaking the rules, like when Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry would throw his famous spitball without getting caught, but getting away with it doesn’t mean it isn’t illegal.
The closest thing I can think of to angle shooting in other sports is in basketball when a defender flops in the hopes of drawing a charging foul. It’s not against the rules to flop and it sometimes works, but most fans think it’s a pretty bush league move. Similarly, you will often see a jump shooter throw his legs forward, towards his defender, and then fall backwards to make it look like he was fouled. Again, not against the rules, but fans don’t like this sort of thing. But still, neither of these examples is a true angle shot. Basketball players can flop, dive, and dance a jig as much as they want – it’s up to the refs to see a foul.
The other reason angle shooting is interesting to me is that it evokes such strong emotional responses from people. I would say the majority of poker players simply despise angle shooters. Many fans thought Perry’s efforts to get away with a spitball were amusing. In fact, his Hall of Fame plaque alludes to this with the sentence, “Playing mind games with hitters through an array of rituals on the mound was part of his arsenal.” But angle shoot in poker and you are generally considering a sleaze.
Why is that, though? I’m not saying that attitude is wrong; I can’t stand angle shooters. But I find it odd that I, along with the majority of poker players, so strongly condemn players for trying to gain a competitive edge within the confines of the rules. It seems to me that the biggest reason for this is money. We play poker to win money and when someone pulls a shady stunt to try to take our money, we get upset. Most of us just want to play poker and have enough to think about over the course of a game without having to worry about someone angle shooting us.
Piggybacking on that point, a single hand, especially in a tournament, can make a big difference in the course of the game. If I get angle shot out of a good chunk of chips and therefore hurt my chances to advance in a tournament, I will not be a happy camper. In other sports, a single sketchy play, while not appreciated, isn’t generally going to affect a player’s financial well-being. Sure, it hurt a hitter’s stats to strike out on a spitter, but it’s just one at-bat of many in his career and shouldn’t hurt him in contract negotiations.
Finally, in poker, we’re on our own. If we fall victim to an angle shot, that’s it. In team sports, we still have teammates who will have our backs. If I strike out on a spit ball, the next guy can pick me up by hitting one out of the park. My pitcher can silence the opposition’s bats. My coach can get on the refs about the power forward flopping or my teammate can block the guy’s next shot and turn it into a fast break dunk on the other end.
At the poker table, it’s every man for himself. We were all taught to play nice and when someone doesn’t, it hurts.
New Zealanders Break Poker Endurance Record
A little over a year ago, on one of the world’s largest stages, Paul Zimbler played poker for over 72 consecutive hours, getting his name into the Guinness Book of World Records. This June, Phil “The Unabomber” Laak played $10/$20 Hold’em at the Bellagio for an amazing 115 straight hours, streaming his insanity online for the world to see. Hopefully, his name was written in pencil, as there is now a new poker endurance record holder.
Make that two record holders.
At Noon on Saturday, Christie Teki-Reu and a man who goes by the nickname Chopper eclipsed Laak’s mark together at the Grand Hotel in Wanganui, New Zealand. For good measure, they played another two hours, just to make sure that their title was undisputed.
The world record run was put together by NZ Poker Tours, which organized a charity tournament in an effort to get at least two players across the finish line. The previous records, on the other hand, were achieved in cash games. The organization wanted to get 80 players registered for the tournament, but only eight players began the journey last Monday at 5:00pm. It was not expected, however, that more than two players would make it all the way to the end. It was a tournament, after all, which means that players could be eliminated. To keep people in the game, unlimited rebuys were allowed for a $20 donation and each stack contained a special chip to remind players when they were getting low. Blinds did not increase until the record was attained.
In addition to raising money for charity, it appeared that the idea of attempting to break the record in a tournament could keep morale high. The more people who were at the table, all working towards the same goal, the easier it would be for at least a couple of them to make it the full 115-plus hours.
In order to make the record attempt a bit more humane, a few concessions were made. Every player was allowed a five-minute break each hour. These breaks were not mandatory, so the minutes could be banked to create a larger break later. Food and drink were allowed at the table as long as they didn’t interfere with the game. Drinking alcohol in excess was not permitted, nor were stimulants and illegal drugs.
With only eight players in the tournament, they either had to avoid eliminations or continually rebuy to have a shot at the record. The first knockout came four-and-a-half hours into the marathon, while another player quit early the first morning.
According to Rhoda MacKenzie‘s recounting of the event, it was when Thursday rolled around that things got very difficult for the remaining competitors. MacKenzie, one of the Tournament Directors, said that she and her fellow staff required some of the players to take a break to try to regain their composure. The situation had gotten so bad that she had this to say about Wendy Coley‘s elimination after 75 hours: “Wendy stated later that she thought it was raining inside from the table to the roof! That’s what sleep deprivation will do.”
On Friday, one delirious player said, “I dont know what I’m doing here, and what game are we are playing? Poker? I don’t know how to play that!” He was examined by medics and required to withdraw from the tournament for the protection of his health.
Finally, at Noon on Saturday, the two surviving players, Teki-Reu and Chopper, crossed the 115-hour line together and continued to play for two more hours for good measure. On their final hand, they both folded, stood up, and stepped back from the table, officially ending the ordeal. Teki-Reu was named the official winner of the tournament by virtue of having more chips, but that was a secondary achievement to the world record.
To celebrate, Teki-Reu went home, slept from 3:00pm to 8:00pm, and slept again from 10:00pm until 8:00am. Read more.
Rush Poker Mobile Pulled from Android Market
In breaking news, Rush Poker Mobile, which is compatible with Android-based phones, has been pulled from the Android Market. Originally, the program was unavailable “due to maintenance,” but Poker News Daily has learned that offering real money gambling could be to blame.
An e-mail from Full Tilt technical support posted on Droid-Life.com read in part, “Rush Poker Mobile is currently unavailable due to maintenance. While we are delighted at the success of the Rush Poker Mobile software, due to the software being in the beta testing stage, maintenance such as this is often essential.” The Rush Poker Mobile application was introduced into the Android Market last week after Black Card members beta tested it.
On the Android Market website, language against real money gambling games is given: “Apps with gambling themes or that include simulated gambling should be rated ‘Teen’ or above. Real gambling is not allowed in Android Market.” Also prohibited in the Android Market are programs that incorporate pornography, hateful speech, illegal activities, and “gratuitous real violence.”
Rush Poker Mobile’s departure from the Android Market doesn’t mean that players can’t use it. Instead, the application is still available from Full Tilt Poker’s website. A web-based version is available, as is a QR code that can be scanned. You’ll need Flash Version 10.1 or higher on your phone in order to use Rush Poker Mobile and whether the program will return to the Android Market in play money form remains to be seen. The program is not compatible with any phone that lacks Flash.
Users have reported that the application continues to work as normal despite no longer appearing in the Android Market. Players compete against Full Tilt members firing up Rush Poker tables on their computers and a maximum of one table can be opened at a time. The “Quick Fold” button appears in the lower left of the screen and, when you’re facing a bet, “Fold,” “Call,” and “Raise To” buttons will pop up along the bottom. When you click on the latter, a slider will appear in the middle of the screen with options to bet “Min,” “Pot,” and “Max.”
When players are sitting out, a link to the “Cashier” appears at the top of the screen, flanked by buttons to “Get Chips” and head to the “Lobby.” Options available include using animations, dealing a four-color deck, and turning the sound on and off.
On TwoPlusTwo, posters weighed in on their Rush Poker Mobile experiences. One player wrote, “My only complaint is it that takes forever for my phone to load; otherwise, it’s fun, dangerous, but fun.” Phone speed, cell signal, and wireless connection seem to be the major factors in a player’s ability to use Rush Poker Mobile.
Other posters were lamenting at authentication issues, while TwoPlusTwo faithful also questioned the overall security of playing online poker on a cell phone: “TBH playing on a phone is pretty bad idea. There is to much equipment out that can grab information off cell phones.” One poster, however, retorted, “and there isn’t equipment out that can grab information off of desktop PCs?”
Rush Poker was introduced in January as a high-octane variation on the age-old classic. As soon as a player’s action in a hand is finished, they are whisked away to a new table with a new set of opponents where a new hand is dealt. There is very little downtime in the Rush Poker cash games and tournaments that are available.
Excapsa, Blanca Games Finalize Ultimate Bet Dispute
Former Ultimate Bet owner Excapsa Software has apparently put the final touches on the ownership transfer of the online poker room, ending a multi-year saga following the downfall of the Ultimate Bet superuser scandal. Antiguan-based Blanca Games, which acquired the CEREUS Poker Network in August from Tokwiro Enterprises, settled on a deal with Excapsa through a liquidator to put the seemingly endless financial struggle to rest. Read more.
XMT Liquidations, the court-appointed “Liquidator” selected to wrap up the affairs of Excapsa Software, released a document this week that broke down the deal with between the two sides: “After canvassing the Inspector and several shareholders of Excapsa following the unsuccessful settlement conference, and taking into account the time, costs, and uncertainty associated with the continuation of legal proceedings and enforcements of justice, the Liquidator concluded that the final settlement with the Tokwiro Group should be pursued. Negotiations ensued, and the Liquidator has reached an agreement with the Tokwiro Group and its successor in interest, Blanca Games.”
Once the final details are settled and the court approves the settlement, Blanca Games will acquire Excapsa’s interest in the debt and related security for a total payment of $2 million, of which $1 million will be paid on closing and the balance will be paid on March 31st. The payments originally appeared to be in jeopardy.
In the event that Blanca sells or merges the business and assets it acquired from Tokwiro on or before March 31st, 2013, Excapsa will receive 8% to 20% percent of the net proceeds attributable to the UB.com brand assets. Excapsa will also acquire the remaining interest in the gaming software, which Tokwiro had retained to use for internal business purposes. XMT claims it is confident that the majority of Excapsa’s shareholders will sign off on the deal.
The news of the settlement leaves many wondering if the truth about the Ultimate Bet hole card scandal will dissipate now that the principals have parted ways with the brand. It is assumed that a non-disclosure agreement was part of the settlement, which would restrict the details of the scandal from the poker community from this point forward.
Tokwiro was also in the news last week regarding an article published by a radio station in Tennessee that warned area residents of a “scam” being pulled by Tokwiro Enterprises ENRG. Tennessee District Attorney General Mike Bottoms said in a press release that several area residents had filed complaints regarding a “collection agency” type scam. Residents reported they had received letters through the mail from “Tokwiro Enterprises ENRG” stating that they had been contracted to collect debts amassed in the victim’s name. According to Bottoms, the letters indicated that “Ultimate Bet” or “Absolute Poker and Debt Alliance Corporation” had contracted with “Tokwiro” to collect the monies.
On Tuesday, Tokwiro responded with a statement saying that it is no longer in a business relationship with Debt Alliance America Corporation or any other debt collection entities seeking to make good on claims of monies owed to the CEREUS Network.
“Tokwiro is not a part of any current or continuing efforts to collect on funds owed to any online interactive gaming businesses or interests,” said Joseph Norton, principal of Tokwiro. “Any claims that such demands for payment came from Tokwiro are wrong. Tokwiro is no longer even involved in the operation of CEREUS. We will take vigorous steps to protect our good name and reputation from false claims.”
Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest headlines.
Kentucky Internet Gambling Case Returns to Circuit Court December 6th
Here we go again. On December 6th at 9:00am ET, a hearing is scheduled in front of Judge Thomas Wingate in the case involving the seizure and potential forfeiture of 141 internet gambling domain names in Kentucky, including those belonging to PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. This time, Kentucky attorneys have asked that the 141 sites be split up into several groups.
Legal documents filed by the Commonwealth read in part, “In order to effectively manage the large number of sites, the Commonwealth suggests that the determination of identification and ownership of sites occur in groups. The Commonwealth requests that the initial group consist of playersonly.com, sportsbook.com, sportsinteraction.com, mysportsbook.com, and linesmaker.com.” Anyone who claims to be an owner of these five sites is asked to file a motion to intervene within 30 days, although the aforementioned hearing is scheduled for December 6th.
Representing many of the sites in question to this point has been the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association, or iMEGA. The organization’s Chairman, Joe Brennan, told Poker News Daily on Tuesday, “We look forward to meeting them in court again because we are fairly comfortable that we’re going to prevail.” Brennan and company took the original domain name case all the way to the Kentucky Supreme Court, which sent the legal action back to the trial court two months ago to determine who had standing in the case.
Brennan added that iMEGA plans to make a motion to intervene on behalf of the first group of sites; whether that motion will be granted remains to be seen. A Status Report filed on Monday by Kentucky attorneys noted, “The Kentucky Supreme Court has held that neither iMEGA nor IGC have established standing in this matter. Moreover, neither iMEGA nor IGC claim to represent playersonly.com, sportsbook.com, sportsinteraction.com, mysportsbook.com, and linesmaker.com or their owners.”
Brennan explained that if iMEGA were denied standing, it would seek the intervention of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, mirroring how the original legal action played out. To assume standing in the first round of legal battles, the owners of the domain truepoker.com, one of the 141 sites at risk, asserted that they were members of iMEGA and filed an affidavit. Brennan also filed an affidavit claiming truepoker.com’s membership to the trade organization.
However, Kentucky attorneys questioned their legitimacy, explaining in the same document, “The Commonwealth takes issue with iMEGA’s assertion and questions the adequacy of the affidavits, pointing to an unconventional and arguably improper notarization. Moreover, the Commonwealth has presented contrary evidence of another entity’s ownership of the domain name.”
If the Commonwealth were successful in forcing the forfeiture of the domain names in jeopardy, they could be unavailable not just in Kentucky, but also around the world. Full Tilt has sought a court order protecting its domain should Kentucky ultimately emerge victorious. Full Tilt, Party Gaming, and Microgaming have also come under fire in Kentucky in a separate case seeking to recoup funds lost by state residents on those sites.
The Kentucky internet gambling case first came to life in September 2008 when the 141 domain names were allegedly seized without due process. The Commonwealth’s lifeblood is its horse racing industry, whose pinnacle event is the annual Kentucky Derby, held on the first Saturday in May. The state permits online wagering on horse racing through sites like TwinSpires.com and legalized riverboat gambling exists across the Ohio River in Indiana. The Kentucky Lottery also has an online second chance game.
Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest legal headlines.
Inside Gaming: Gambling Legalized in Sri Lanka, Cake’s New License, and Much More
Phil Hellmuth and UB.com Parting Ways?
Rumors circulating around the poker world have 11-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth potentially parting ways with UB.com. Hellmuth has been spotted at recent live events, including the televised PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Los Angeles Bounty Shootout, void of UB.com logos.
Hellmuth wore Aria and WSOP Academy patches at the NAPT Bounty Shootout, which was filmed in front of ESPN2 cameras. The absence of UB.com patches caught the eye of many in the community, including a wealth of posters on TwoPlusTwo. As to where Hellmuth could end up, one TwoPlusTwo member remarked, “I really cannot see him with Full Tilt because he doesn’t really fit their image, but I can see him on the Cake Network or PokerStars (although if Daniel Negreanu keeps criticizing him, this might be a problem).”
UB.com officials told Poker News Daily that Hellmuth remains a sponsored pro of the USA-friendly online poker site. His likeness still adorns the skinned background of Poker News Daily and Hellmuth is still listed as a member of Team UB on the CEREUS Network’s website.
On his affiliation with Aria, Hellmuth commented in a blog written on August 10th that he met Bill McBeath, President of Aria, and the two hit it off. “While we had a few drinks, we negotiated a deal whereby I would wear an Aria logo on the side of my hat for a year whenever I could,” Hellmuth wrote. “My wife is happy because the Aria is a ‘Green Hotel’ and it has amazing technology.” Hellmuth wore a black Aria hat during the NAPT Bounty Shootout.
Longtime tournament reporter B.J. Nemeth added that Hellmuth was spotted without UB.com logos during a recent taping of “Poker After Dark,” which airs on NBC. In a blog of his own, Nemeth speculated on where Hellmuth could head to if he parts ways with UB.com: “Neither of the two big sites in the U.S. (PokerStars and Full Tilt) really seem like a great match for Hellmuth. Sure, he’d be an asset, but he doesn’t really match up with their current marketing, and Hellmuth, as we know, always likes to be featured front and center – something that wouldn’t happen at either Stars or Tilt.”
The details of Hellmuth’s contract with UB.com aren’t known, but it’s believed to be a five-year deal that was negotiated in 2009. However, regardless of what Hellmuth’s contract situation may be, Nemeth believes that his future could lie with WSOP.com: “I’ve contended before that one of the first sites likely to pass the Commerce Department’s regulation board would be WSOP.com. Harrah’s has done everything ‘right’ in terms of respecting the UIGEA, and as a corporation, they already have legal and regulated casinos scattered around the United States.”
A for-profit WSOP.com online poker site currently makes its home on the 888 Network and does not accept players from the United States. However, if online poker were to be legalized in the USA, then it could seemingly be a short turnaround to open the site to American-based players. Nemeth explains, “With all its history and TV exposure, the WSOP has been pre-sold to the American gambling public. But what the site would need is a face, and a spokesperson. And all-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth would fit that role perfectly.”
Many posters on TwoPlusTwo argued that Full Tilt could be a proper fit as well. One poster summed up the primary arguments for Hellmuth joining the world’s second largest online poker site: “Makes the most sense for Tilt to sign him IMO. They already have the best stable of cash players. They are way behind on tournament players though. Getting Phil is a big step in the right direction from a PR standpoint. Hellmuth is probably the most televised tournament player. FTOPS Main Events would always be hosted by Hellmuth from that point on.”
Hellmuth wore UB.com logos during the 2010 WSOP and in a recent cycle of the PokerStars-sponsored “Big Game,” which airs on FOX.
Tags: 2009, 2010, Daniel Negreanu, legal, Online Poker, Phil Hellmuth, pokerstars, tournament, usa, WSOP
Poker News in Brief: Nov. 15-21
Fortunately, we've compiled them below in our weekly Poker News in Brief feature.
This week Chilipoker comes to the U.S., The Legends of Poker goes back to the Bike, the WPT starts a new series and more.
ChiliPoker goes American
ChiliPoker plans to launch a online subscription poker operation in 2011 that will allow U.S. customers.
The new operation will complement the company's existing gaming businesses. Online subscription poker is legal in a majority of U.S. States.
Chiligaming does not take, and has never taken, U.S. bets and this latest move is expected to position the company well in the event of a regulated U.S. online poker market.
GUKPT Grand Final Begins
The GUKPT Grand Final Festival kicked off inside London’s Victoria Casino this week.
Along with the World Heads Up Championship Nov. 19-22, the full festival runs until Nov. 28, including the £2,500+£125 No-Limit Hold'em main event beginning Nov. 25.
In 2009, the Grand Final was won by Tony Cascarino, beating a field of 183 for £168,800.
Live satellites are currently underway at the Vic.
WPT Signs Bike Extention
Just days inton the PokerStars NAPT event at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, the World Poker Tour announced it had extended its deal with the casino to keep the WPT Legends of Poker at the venue through 2015.
The five-year agreement ensures the Legends of Poker event will maintain its position on the WPT Tour and the WPT televised series as far out as Season XIV.
Held annually in late August, winners of the Legends of Poker tournament include Hall of Famers Dan Harrington and Doyle Brunson, Prahlad Friedman, Mel Judah and John Phan.
The 2010 Legends of Poker was won by Andy Frankenberger, the current WPT Player of the Year points leader.
UKICOOP Satellites Begin
Satellites are now running for the PokerStars UK & Ireland Championship of Online Poker.
The series is set for Dec. 5-12, with satellites now running for all of the Championship events.
$512,000 in guaranteed cash is up for grabs over the course of the 11-event series.
Winner of Player of the Series honors will recieve a UKIPT Passport to the UKIPT events in Nottingham, Manchester, Cork, Newcastle, Brighton, Edinburgh and Dublin.
New WPT Series
The World Poker Tour announced a new series of events this week.
The events will be branded WPT Regional Series Events in the United States and WPT National Series Events in Europe.
No WPT title, Player of the Year points or WPT World Championship buy-in is up for grabs, but the events are branded with the WPT name.
The first WPT Regional and National events include the $4,750+$250 buy-in WPT Regional Series: Florida at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood Florida from Nov. 19–22, the $1,500+$100 buy-in WPT Regional Series: Indiana at the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Nov. 20-21 and the €5000 buy-in WPT National Series: Paris at Aviation Club de France in Paris, France Feb. 9–15, 2011.
Visit www.pokerlistings.com
Tags: 2009, 2010, 2011, Doyle Brunson, Hollywood, legal, no-limit, Online Poker, pokerstars, tournament
November 19th – Weekly Update
Welcome to Poker News Daily’s Weekly Update. I’m Sean Gibson and I’ll be bringing you the top headlines in the world of poker for this past week. So – let’s get right to it!
In an impressive feat, Joe Tehan ran the table in the PokerStars North American Poker Tour Los Angeles finale, eliminating all seven of his opponents to pull in seven hundred twenty five thousand dollars. Tehan’s claim to fame to this point was winning the World Poker Tour’s Mandalay Bay Poker Championship four years ago for one million dollars.
Jason Mercier, Michael Binger, and Anh Van Nguyen also made the final table. Here’s how the final eight cashed out:
1: Joe Tehan – $725,000
2: Chris DeMaci – $440,000
3: Al Grimes – $250,000
4: Anh Van Nguyen – $195,000
5: Ray Henson – $145,000
6: Michael Binger – $114,000
7: Jason Mercier – $84,857
8: Jake Toole – $60,000
In a rather bizarre interview posted on ESPN.com, Margarita Prentice, the brains behind the law in Washington State that makes playing online poker a Class C felony, insinuated that players out of a job should “go pump gas.”
Prentice told ESPN.com’s Gary Wise,
“I just think some of these arguments are utter nonsense. You mean you’re going to move so you can play poker? Gee, lots of luck in your life… I have nothing against card playing. That’s fine. If you want to do that, but I’m sure not going to worry about someone… you know. Let them go pump gas.”
As you can imagine, the response to Prentice’s comments has been less than cordial. Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas told PND on Thursday,
“It’s a complete picture of what kind of a lawmaker she is. Not only is she dismissive of an entire industry of individuals who enjoy poker, but the idea that her law is subjecting people to suffering – she’s totally ignorant of that. She refuses to see that she passed a law that’s unpopular.”
It was announced late last week that Chili Gaming will launch a subscription-based service to bring online poker to USA players. The subscription-based model allows players, for a nominal monthly charge, to play online poker legally in the United States since no actual money is transferred on the tables. The new Chili Gaming American option will complement the global offerings of the company.
New Jersey is one step closer to becoming the first state to regulate, license, and tax the internet gambling industry within its borders. A bill introduced by State Senator Raymond Lesniak in New Jersey cleared the state’s Senate Budget Committee and may now see debate. The committee approved Lesniak’s intrastate internet gambling bill by a ten to one margin on Monday, with two lawmakers abstaining.
If the bill were to become law, all games currently permitted in land-based casinos would be available online, including poker. The State would impose a twenty percent tax on gross gaming revenues and each operator would be required to pay a licensing fee. All told, New Jersey’s format could become the model that other states would follow.
If you have ever wanted to own a piece of poker history, now is your chance. This week, two thousand eight World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate put his gold bracelet up for auction on eBay. But before you wonder if he is busto, it should be noted that the sale is an eBay Giving Works charitable listing and the proceeds from it will benefit UNICEF.
The collectible is quickly approaching fifty thousand dollars and even Tony G has gotten into the act. The PartyPoker pro is purportedly seeking to buy Eastgate’s bracelet for his German Shepard.
While the sale of a WSOP Main Event bracelet may come as a shock, it is not completely out of character for the champ. In July, Eastgate announced that he was taking an indefinite leave from live tournament poker. In a statement, he said in part,
“When I started playing poker for a living, it was never my goal to spend the rest of my life as a professional poker player. My goal was to become financially independent. I achieved that by winning the WSOP Main Event in 2008.”
Maria Ho, the last woman standing in the two thousand seven World Series of Poker Main Event, has joined UB.com. The twenty seven year old becomes the newest face of the CEREUS Network site, which recently saw the departures of Billy Kopp, Matt Graham, and Michael Binger. Ho’s first live event as a sponsored pro of UB.com was at last weekend’s PokerStars NAPT LA stop. Besides her deep run in the WSOP Main Event three years ago, Ho’s poker resume includes a tenth place finish in the World Poker Tour’s Bellagio Cup in July and five in the money finishes in WSOP events over the last two years.
Finally, According to TVByTheNumbers.com, the number of viewers tuned into the World Series of Poker Main Event final table fell thirty percent this year to one point five million. Last year, two point two million viewers watched the spectacle, which airs annually on ESPN. On Tuesday, ESPN aired the final table in the ten PM time slot, whereas past installments had been shown one hour prior at nine.
The final table broadcast scored a point six rating among adults age eighteen to forty nine, a key demographic for mainstream advertisers. In addition, a total of one point one million households tuned into the one hundred twenty five minute broadcast that saw Jonathan Duhamel become the first WSOP Main Event champion from Canada.
That does it for this week’s edition of the Poker News Daily weekly update. Be sure to check back with us every day for the latest in poker news and be sure to follow us on twitter as well at twitter dot com slash poker news daily. I’m Sean Gibson and have a fantastic poker weekend!
Tags: 2008, bellagio, Canada, interview, legal, Online Poker, poker player, Poker Players Alliance, pokerstars, tournament, usa, woman, WSOP
Internet Gambling’s Deficit Reduction Benefits Emphasized
On Monday, the “lame duck” session of Congress kicked off in Washington, DC. The period may mark one last hoorah for the internet gambling industry in the United States, which will see a Republican-led House of Representatives convene in January. Also this week, the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative has been touting the budgetary effects of legalizing and regulating our industry.
Information distributed by the Initiative on Tuesday explained, “A bi-partisan commission created by President Obama is currently working on a plan to help balance our nation’s budget – projected at $1.42 trillion for fiscal year 2009. Their recommendations, due to be released by December 1st, 2010, are being crafted in part based on testimony provided by various experts and interest groups.” Licensed internet gambling, according to projections, could bring over $40 billion in much-needed tax revenue over a ten-year period.
The Initiative is asking concerned online poker players and internet gamblers alike to send an e-mail to the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform at commission@fc.eop.gov. The bipartisan commission is tasked with creating ways to address the budget deficit, and internet gambling may be part of the solution.
Former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson and President Bill Clinton’s Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles serve as the Co-Chairmen of the Commission, whose roster also includes six Democratic lawmakers and six Republican lawmakers. Honeywell International CEO David Cote, former Young and Rubicam Brands CEO Ann Fudge, Service Employees International Union President Andrew Stern, and former Office of Management and Budget Director Alice Rivlin also comprise the eclectic group.
Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative spokesperson Michael Waxman told Poker News Daily on Wednesday, “While the Deficit Commission has many difficult decisions to make, putting to use the revenue generated through online gambling regulation should be a no-brainer.”
The Initiative has crafted a sample e-mail that can be accessed from its website that reads in part, “Given our nation’s economic challenges, it is time to replace a failed attempt at prohibition with a regulated environment that allows online gambling activity, protects consumers, and uses the much-needed new revenue generated to pay off our nation’s debt.” The letter trumpets legislation put forth by Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA) and Jim McDermott (D-WA). Both will return to the next Congress in the New Year.
Frank’s legislation, HR 2267, has picked up 70 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle and was rubber-stamped out of the House Financial Services Committee in July. Now, it awaits its time on the House floor. The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, and other organizations have been pushing for the bill to be acted on during the “lame duck” session. The measure creates a full licensing and regulatory framework for internet gambling companies to solicit U.S. customers.
McDermott introduced HR 4976, the second incarnation of a tax companion bill to HR 2267, in April. The Washington lawmaker’s legislation allocates funds derived from licensed internet gambling to state governments as well as the Federal Government. It has not yet been passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Initiative’s sample e-mail notes that Americans continue to wager “$100 billion annually online in an underground marketplace” despite laws like the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was attached to an unrelated port security bill and passed in 2006. HR 2267 and its tax companion may ultimately be pushed through the current Congress in a similar manner and attached as “pay-for” bills to must-pass legislation.
The Initiative’s endorsers include the UC Group, Baker Tilly, eCOGRA, Secure Trading, the Remote Gambling Association, GamCare, and the European Gaming and Betting Association.
Tags: 2009, 2010, Barney Frank, european, gamble, legal, legalizing, Online Poker, poker player, Poker Players Alliance
Party Gaming Files Motion to Dismiss Kentucky Internet Gambling Case
Party Gaming has filed a motion to dismiss a complaint against it in the Kentucky internet gambling case. According to court documents obtained by Poker News Daily, Party Gaming argues that “insufficiency of service of process, failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and lack of standing” warrant the complaint against the gambling behemoth being dismissed.
Kentucky attorneys are seeking to recoup funds lost by state residents on the virtual felts of several major internet gambling sites. The case was originally filed against Full Tilt Poker owners Pocket Kings in April, but it has since been amended to include Party Gaming and Microgaming. Party Gaming’s counsel argues, “Plaintiff failed to comply with the requirements for service of process set out in the Hague Convention… Nothing in the Hague Convention permits a Plaintiff to effect service of process by sending a copy of the summons and initial complaint via registered mail.”
The motion adds that Commonwealth Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown does not have standing to bring about the lawsuit. Party Gaming explains, “The responsibility to initiate such a lawsuit is vested with the Attorney General, who has not, to date, made an appearance or participated in the filing of this action on the Commonwealth’s behalf.” Jack Conway is Kentucky’s Attorney General. Brown also brought legal action against the owners of 141 internet gambling domain names; that case is still ongoing after being sent from the Kentucky Supreme Court back to the trial court in September.
Furthermore, Party Gaming asserts that attorneys in the Bluegrass State have neither singled out a “loser” nor given an amount lost by anyone in the state: “Plaintiff has failed to identify a single purported ‘loser,’ a single quantifiable loss, and a single date on which an alleged loss has occurred.” It added, “Plaintiff has alleged no facts and, indeed, can allege no facts sufficient to assert that Party Gaming is a ‘winner’ under the statute from which relief can be sought.”
The London-based company argues that in order to be a winner, an entity must also risk becoming a loser. However, “In Plaintiff’s own words, Party Gaming collected only a ‘rake’ or ‘commission’ from participants in poker games… a participation fee that could not be ‘won’ or ‘lost’ and was not affected by the ultimate ‘winner’ or ‘loser’ of the hand.”
If its arguments about standing, the Hague Convention, and winners and losers aren’t enough to sway a court, Party Gaming added that the law involved was not designed to apply to online gaming. The company asserts, “The Complaint should be dismissed because Plaintiff is attempting to invoke a statute that 100 years of authority in the Kentucky courts illustrates was designed to serve a very different purpose – to protect gamblers and their families from becoming wards of the state and to prevent illegal gambling by rendering void and unenforceable the gambling contract itself and certain related agreements.”
Following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006, Party Gaming, a publicly traded company, vacated the U.S. market entirely. The company signed a non-prosecution agreement with the United States Department of Justice in April 2009 and forked over $105 million to settle its past transgressions. Why would Kentucky file suit against it, then? Party Gaming’s court documents note that the litigation is “an aggressive attempt by private attorneys litigating on a contingency basis to utilize an antiquated statute with no applicability to the facts or circumstances of the matter.”
The case is numbered 10-CI-0505. Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest poker legislative and legal headlines.
Full Tilt Poker halts service in Washington state
ChiliPoker Launches Subscription Online Poker for USA Players
It was announced yesterday that the popular European online gaming organization ChiliGaming will enter the United States market at the start of 2011, introducing its ChiliPoker brand to American customers.
The ChiliGaming Network, comprised of its popular online poker, casino, and bookmaking operations, has been in existence since 2006. Since that time, it has been able to expand around the globe, but, as of yet, has been unable to touch the United States because of the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006. The new plan in place by ChiliGaming will allow the company to enter into the American market legally and preserve its ability to be a part of the landscape if the UIGEA is repealed or amended.
ChiliGaming will launch a subscription-based service to bring online poker to USA players. The subscription-based model allows players, for a nominal monthly charge, to play online poker legally in the United States, as no actual money is transferred on the tables. The new ChiliGaming American option will not be a part of the ChiliGaming Network empire per se, but will complement the global offerings of the company.
“We are very excited about this new dimension to our business,” Alexandre Dreyfus, the Chief Executive Officer of ChiliPoker, stated during the announcement. “Our economies of scale will help this be a strong mechanism for further growth and it will help fill the void that exists in markets where online gaming is restricted and consumers want to play poker. In markets where we operate online gaming, this new product will provide consumers with more choice.”
The subscription-based model has been attempted on several occasions in the United States with varying degrees of success. One of the most popular examples of success is the World Poker Tour’s ClubWPT, which was created in 2008. According to numbers quoted in London Stock Exchange documents after PartyGaming bought WPT Enterprises in 2009, ClubWPT has more than 16,000 subscriptions across 37 U.S. states.
With the success stories, however, there are also those that have failed due to economic conditions or a lack of players. In September, the CardPlayer subscription room SpadeClub was shuttered due to the fact that, in the words of Jeff Shulman in a Poker News Daily article, “We just couldn’t make it work from a financial standpoint.” From the end of 2008 through the early part of 2009, other subscription-based services such as Fleet Street Poker, Duplicate Poker, and Zosoz also failed to garner enough players to be profitable.
One person pleased with the move by ChiliGaming is the site’s sponsored poker pro Liz Lieu. The popular female pro, who has worn the ChiliPoker patch in tournaments abroad and in the United States, was giddy with the new changes over her Twitter account on Thursday. In response to a question as to whether Lieu would continue to be the face of ChiliPoker once it hits the U.S. market, “The Poker Diva” responded, “Atm, the answer’s yes.”
The move by ChiliGaming is just the latest in what has been a very successful year for the company. Last year, ChiliPoker teamed with the WPT to sponsor the first ever tournament in North Africa in Marrakech, Morocco and will return as the event’s co-sponsor this year. ChiliPoker was also one of the first licensees when the French government opened up online poker to international companies in June 2010.
Full Tilt Poker Blocks Real Money Play from Washington State
In breaking news, Full Tilt Poker announced that it will no longer accept real money action from players in Washington State. The announcement follows a similar decision from PokerStars six weeks ago.
In an FAQ posted on its website, Full Tilt officials explained, “Due to recent legal developments, Full Tilt Poker has announced it will no longer provide real money games to players located within Washington State.” A law in the Northwest state makes playing online poker a Class C felony. Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Washington State Director Lee Rousso filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the statute, but the state’s Supreme Court upheld it in a September decision.
Washington residents will be permitted to play on Full Tilt if they’re outside of the Northwest State. Similarly, residents from jurisdictions other than Washington will not be allowed to fire up the virtual felts of Full Tilt for real money while they’re in the state. Affected players will be permitted to withdraw their balances from the world’s second largest online poker site. The law in Washington took shape in 2006 prior to the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
For those players who still have tournament tickets and Tournament Dollars on Full Tilt, poker room officials explained the redemption process: “If you have any unused tournament tickets and T$ that you would like to convert to cash prior to withdrawal, please contact wa.state@fulltiltpoker.com. Please note that you must provide proof of Washington State residency.” Full Tilt Points can still be redeemed in the Store and Black Card members can continue to grab items from the Black Card Store. The only caveat for Washington State players is that cash bonuses and tournament tickets won’t be available for purchase.
If the law in Washington were to change by virtue of the state’s legislature passing a pro-internet gambling bill, then Black Card members can be reinstated for 100 days. In the meantime, in addition to being unable to participate in real money cash games on Full Tilt, players from the Evergreen State won’t be able to enter for-money tournaments like the Sunday Brawl and $750,000 Guaranteed.
To un-register from a tournament, click on the “Requests” menu and then select “Registered in Tournaments.” Full Tilt Poker won’t allow Washington State players to participate in upcoming tournaments even if they are already registered for them. However, the site will still keep its doors open for play money games on its dot-com and dot-net portals. In addition, freerolls will remain open for Washington State residents to enter.
Among those reacting to Full Tilt’s decision on Friday was Washington pro Matt Affleck, whose rotating sports jerseys for Seattle sports teams were featured heavily on ESPN’s broadcast of the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Affleck Tweeted, “Sigh, Full Tilt Poker follows Stars’ lead and bans Washington State players… No idea what I’m going to do now.” Affleck finished 15th in the Main Event this year after suffering a bad beat at the hands of eventual winner Jonathan Duhamel. Last year, he took 80th.
Rousso argued that the statute making playing online poker a Class C felony violated the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. However, the Washington State Supreme Court argued that the law affected in-state and out-of-state internet gambling outfits equally and therefore did not trample on the Constitution. Rousso plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Watching the situation with a keen eye is UB.com‘s Paul Leggett, who told Poker News Daily, “We are reviewing the situation and will make a decision shortly based on a full and considered understanding of our legal advice.”
Also weighing in on Full Tilt’s blocking of real money wagers from Washington State was Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Board Member Rich Muny, who told Poker News Daily on Friday, “We’re all saddened for players to lose access to a site. It’s important to keep in mind that laws do have consequences and we’re here fighting for our rights at the local and state levels. Players can count on the PPA being in Washington State during the next legislative session to repeal this egregious law.”
Dave “Devilfish” Ulliott sold his online poker room
The British poker pro Dave “Devilfish” Ulliott has recently sold his own online poker room Devilfish Poker for £330,000. Devilfish Poker operates in Entraction network.
The sale was announced yesterday, and according to the announcement, Devilfish Gaming Plc. sold Devilfish Poker for £330,000.
The buyer remained anonymous, because the poker room is subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence and legal process. The unnamed company pays £40,000 in cash and the rest in shares of the new parent company which is listed on the AIM market in London.
There’s going to be an official announcement later on.
Source: Pokerista.net, Card Player
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Foxwoods Launches Online Gaming Venture
Foxwoods, one of the largest land-based casino operators in the United States, is broadening its horizons. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe’s development arm, Foxwoods Development Company LLC, revealed plans to partner with television and entertainment firm Goodson Gaming to develop an international online gaming presence. The joint venture has been dubbed Velocity Gaming.
In a statement, Foxwoods Development said, “Velocity Gaming brings together industry leaders in casino gaming, television game show production, and global lotteries in order to produce an unparalleled combination that will generate product awareness, drive incremental game play, and create new and exciting customer experiences in the interactive gaming world.”
Gary Armentrout, Foxwoods Development’s President, told the local newspaper The Day on Thursday, “We’re proposing a unique business model combining a live TV game show with an internet gaming site and cross-promoting both to drive customers to the TV show as well as to the gaming site.”
Goodson Gaming is comprised of Jonathan Goodson, producer of such game shows as “Double Dare” and “Card Sharks,” and Gaming Solutions International (GSI), which produces lottery shows like “Make Me Rich,” a program hosted by Christopher Knight of “The Brady Bunch” fame for the Michigan Lottery. The show is broadcast quarterly on a number of television stations in Michigan and offers a select number of Michigan Lottery Instant Game players the opportunity to compete for millions of dollars. Home viewers can also win one of five $1,000 prizes by texting in during the show.
One of Goodson’s state-based lottery game shows, “Illinois Instant Riches” (which was renamed “Illinois’ Luckiest”), was actually broadcast nationally, as it was shown on Chicago’s WGN Superstation. Airing at 6:30pm Central Time, it was WGN’s highest rated Saturday program, but was cancelled in 2000.
Goodson is the son of legendary game show producer Mark Goodson. The elder Goodson produced dozens of game shows, including “The Price is Right,” “Family Feud,” “Match Game,” and “What’s My Line?” After Mark Goodson passed away in 1992, Jonathan took over Goodson-Todman Productions until selling it to All American Television in 1995.
Velocity Gaming will be a true joint venture combing three sets of expertise. Said GSI’s Mark Hutchinson, who will head the new company, “I’m the lottery game guy. My partner, Goodson, is the TV guy, and Foxwoods Development is the land-based casino operator.”
As was the case when Harrah’s created Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment, speculation will begin as to whether this means Foxwoods is anticipating legalized and regulated online gambling in the United States in the near future. “This venture will in no way operate in the United States,” Armentrout told The Day. “We’re going to pursue a license or licenses in those jurisdictions where internet gaming is fully legal, regulated, and taxed.”
Foxwoods Resort Casino is one of the largest casinos in the world, with over 400,000 square feet devoted to gaming. The entire resort, which includes 1,416 hotel rooms, numerous restaurants, and the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, covers 4,700,000 square feet of space.
Foxwoods boasts the largest poker room on the East Coast of the United States, housing more than 100 tables, and serves as host of a number of major poker tournaments, including the World Poker Tour‘s Foxwoods World Poker Finals. Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Bernard Lee serves as Foxwood’s Poker Room Spokesperson.
Poker Players Alliance Welcomes New Board Member
On Monday, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the 1.2 million member strong lobbying voice for poker players in the United States, welcomed a new Board member into its ranks. Patrick “Skallagrim” Fleming, who manages the PPA’s Litigation Network, will bring insight to the Board as the organization heads into 2011.
PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato commented in a press release sent by the lobbying organization on Monday, “Patrick is one of the poker community’s staunchest champions, donating his time and legal expertise to help PPA members navigate the often murky waters regarding poker’s legal status. I am so pleased that he will be joining the Board of Directors as we work together to guide the organization’s efforts to provide a safe, regulated environment for poker players in the U.S.”
Fleming is an attorney by trade and, according to the same press release, got his start in the organization following the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006: “Dismayed at the government’s effort to restrict his right to play online poker by passing the UIGEA, Fleming joined the PPA and began leveraging his legal expertise to post about legal challenges on various poker forums.” Two years ago, Fleming pitched the idea of a Litigation Network, which matches online poker players needing legal assistance with pre-screened local counsel.
PPA Executive Director John Pappas is also looking forward to welcoming Fleming into the fold: “Without Patrick’s guidance and expertise, the PPA would not be nearly as well positioned from a legal perspective to provide support and testimony in the legal cases impacting poker across the nation… It is a true pleasure to work with Patrick and I look forward to the ideas and insights I am certain he will bring in his role on the Board of Directors.”
Fleming’s compatriots on the PPA’s Board of Directors include D’Amato, Pappas, former World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Chris Ferguson, Women in Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson, Full Tilt Poker front man Howard Lederer, 2004 Main Event champ Greg Raymer, and PPA Kentucky State Director Rich “TheEngineer” Muny.
Fleming hails from New Hampshire and will join the Board of an organization that continues to press for licensed and regulated online poker in the United States. The PPA is in the midst of pushing Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, which was marked up by the House Financial Services Committee in July. HR 2267 sports 70 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle, but will be deemed “dead” if not acted on by the end of the current Congress in January.
The PPA’s Litigation Network has been instrumental in arguing poker cases in states like South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Pappas posted on TwoPlusTwo that Fleming was in the midst of attending a charity event in his home state of New Hampshire: “I actually have the privilege of being with Skall at this very moment. We are in Plaistow, NH at the Granite State Poker room for a charity event. New Hampshire native Howard Lederer will be here too, as well as special guest Congressman Paul Hodes, who is running for the U.S. Senate.” Hodes is running against former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, who signed a letter opposing internet gambling legislation in 2007.
The PPA recently released its 2010 Congressional Ratings Guide in advance of next week’s general elections in the United States. The organization assigned letter grades to each Congressman running to give players guidance on who to vote for. In addition, Poker PAC, the PPA’s political action committee, recently announced endorsements of 58 lawmakers. Visit ThePPA.org for more information.
Tags: 2010, 2011, Barney Frank, charity, full tilt poker, legal, Online Poker, poker player, Poker Players Alliance, women, WSOP
Kentucky Internet Gambling Lawsuit Now Targets Microgaming
A lawsuit in Kentucky previously targeting Full Tilt Poker and Party Gaming has been amended to include Microgaming, Poker News Daily has learned. The complaint was re-filed a few weeks ago in the legal matter, which is numbered 10-CI-505. In addition, existing defendants in the case have been recently served.
The lawsuit details that Microgaming is based in the Isle of Man and “facilitates, hosts, operates, and profits from more than 120 online casino sites and 40 online poker sites. Microgaming manages and controls the various partnerships.” It adds that the family of sites hosts more than three million visitors every month and the case against it can be litigated in the Commonwealth of Kentucky because it has “sufficient minimum contacts with the Commonwealth to establish a personal jurisdiction.”
Kentucky lawyers allege that Microgaming conducted commercial transactions, accepted monetary transfers, extended credit, hosted online poker games, set up and maintained accounts, took rake, shared in profits from its family of sites, employed proprietary software, and designed websites with “a purposeful, specific intention to do business over the internet” with players located within its borders. It added, “A clear commercial link exists between Microgaming and residents of the Commonwealth and warrants a finding of personal jurisdiction.”
Microgaming exited the Kentucky market in late 2008. Kentucky attorneys assert, “Microgaming received 25% of the gross revenue from its online gambling business in Kentucky.” The Commonwealth cites the time period of September 29th, 2005 to October 23, 2008 as when Microgaming conducted business in the Bluegrass State and is seeking the amount that Kentucky residents lost during that time period. The amount is not given as a number; rather, Commonwealth attorneys leave it to be “determined at trial.” Additionally, Kentucky is seeking to be awarded pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, and “such further relief as the Court deems just and proper.”
Earlier this month, Party Gaming was served in the case. Jim Ryan, Party Gaming’s CEO, was listed as the recipient of the summons in the documents, which were sent to Gibraltar. Party Gaming previously signed a non-prosecution agreement with the United States Department of Justice; however, Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown filed the legal action in this case. Party Gaming is a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange and is in the midst of finalizing a merger with gaming rival bwin.
Kentucky has continued to take a hard stance against internet gambling. In a separate case that was recently sent back to the trial court from the state Supreme Court, Commonwealth attorneys are seeking the forfeiture of 141 internet gambling domain names, including those belonging to PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. URLs like Microgaming.com are also at risk, even though the network of sites no longer accepts action from the United States.
According to PokerScout.com, which keeps tabs on online poker traffic, the Microgaming Network is the ninth largest worldwide, with a seven-day running average of 1,700 real money ring game players. Its arsenal of rooms includes Betway, Gnuf, Ladbrokes, PokerTime, and Unibet. It is the sixth largest network that does not accept players from the United States and has headquarters in the Isle of Man.
The case against Full Tilt Poker owners Pocket Kings was originally filed in April. Four months later, Party Gaming was added to it. Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest poker legal headlines.
Gaming Revenue Totaled $80.5 Billion in 2009
A new report from consulting firm Richard K. Miller and Associates (RKMA) revealed that gross gaming revenue in the U.S. totaled $80.5 billion in 2009. The company’s “Casinos, Gaming, and Wagering 2010” report provided in-depth analysis regarding the amount of money retained by casinos, racetracks, lotteries, and other gaming hosts.
According to the report, approximately 70% of U.S. adults placed a wager of some type in 2009, with Americans wagering approximately $900 billion at casinos and racetracks, playing lottery games, and on other forms of legal betting like poker. The total did not include the estimated $100 billion to $300 billion wagered annually in the U.S. on sporting events and the more than $100 billion in estimated online bets.
Of the $80.5 billion in revenue, casinos earned the bulk of it, bringing in a total of $57.5 billion – $30.7 billion from land-based/riverboat casinos and “racinos,” and $26.8 billion from tribal casinos. Lotteries generated $17.9 billion, parimutuel wagering (thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing, and jai-alai) totaled $3.0 billion, card rooms (poker) were $1.1 billion, charitable bingo was $826 million, and sports books amounted to $136 million. American Gaming Association, National Indian Gaming Commission, International Gaming & Wagering Business, state gaming commissions, and state lotteries provided detailed information.
All but two states – Hawaii and Utah – allowed some form of wagering in 2009. Forty-one states allowed casinos in the U.S., as Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia do not have any operating casinos. Parimutuel wagering is also legal in 41 states. Meanwhile, 42 states, along with the District of Columbia, operated lotteries last year. Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia were the only states to allow every form of gaming mentioned.
Each casino operation was broken down by state in the report with data provided by the Casino City’s Gaming Business Directory (Winter 2010 Edition), the American Gaming Association, state gaming commissions, and casino websites. The RKMA report presented a statistical review of the casino sector covering gaming establishments of all types: casino mega-resorts, casino-hotels, tribal casinos, riverboat casinos, “racinos,” card rooms, and bingo parlors. Emerging areas such as mobile wagering, server-based gaming, and skill-based gaming were also covered, as well as the latest trends in table games, slot machines, and sports betting.
The “Casinos, Gaming & Wagering” report has been published since 1997 and is considered to be the most comprehensive reference for current gaming and wagering statistics and historical data available from any source. According to RKMA, virtually all major casinos, racetracks, and lottery agencies use its annual handbook across the U.S., as well as dozens of libraries and regulatory agencies.
More information can be found by clicking here.