Poker News

Robert Wexler Speaks at PPA National Poker Week Fly-In Dinner

On Monday night at the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Fly-In held as part of National Poker Week, a working dinner featured Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato, and PPA Executive Director John Pappas.

A host of poker pros were in attendance at the Capitol Room inside the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. They included 2004 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion Greg Raymer, Full Tilt Poker pros Andy Bloch and Howard Lederer, Tournament Directors Association Co-Founder Linda Johnson, former World Poker Tour (WPT) statistician Jan Fisher, and “Celebrity Apprentice” runner-up Annie Duke.

D’Amato kicked off the festivities by noting, “One person at the forefront… and has stood up specifically for… player versus player, and not versus the house, games – No one has been stronger than Bob Wexler.” The audience of about 50 people erupted into a chorus of applause after Wexler’s name was spoken. The Florida Congressman and former author of the Skill Game Protection Act last session called D’Amato a “class act in the finest sense of the word.” Wexler then outlined the goal of National Poker Week and the PPA Fly-In: “To put a face on the issue is very important.” He continued, “It’s an apple pie issue. Poker is a game that has been played in the White House, the Supreme Court, and… by some of the biggest names in American history.”

Wexler also reminded Fly-In attendees, which included 30 of the PPA’s State Directors, that follow-up contact is critical: “When you go meet with your Congressmen, your job is only half done. When you get back home, follow up with your local office. You can’t imagine how important that is. Spend 15 minutes with the director of the local office.” Wexler called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was passed in 2006 and attached to an unrelated port security measure, an “absurd law” and labeled Congressmen Barney Frank an “important ally.” He then hit up the buffet to grab a snack before exiting with a staff member.

D’Amato then returned to the podium to rally the troops: “I’m very hopefully we’ll be able to get one of the staunchest allies we have to be supportive of legislation that will give you the right to play poker on the internet.” He labeled an unspecified meeting this afternoon a “major breakthrough.” The PPA’s Chairman emphasized the importance of letting Congressmen and staffers know how many members the organization boasts. D’Amato added, “This is about civil rights and civil liberties.” A hearty round of applause followed that comment. He also recalled a bad beat story in which he was busted from a seniors’ poker tournament with pocket jacks after an opponent spiked an ace on the river. He concluded with, “Thank you for coming. Don’t get discouraged. We are making progress.”

An overview of briefing packets given out to Fly-In attendees followed. Stats highlighted included that 10 million Americans play online poker, while 70 million compete in poker. Guests were encouraged to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before their scheduled Congressional meetings in order to go through security. Pappas encouraged attendees to convey their personal story and ask support for HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, which was introduced in May. Pappas also gave updates on upcoming Senate legislation to legalize online poker in the United States, over-blocking by credit card companies of internet transactions, and the Southern District of New York seizing over $34 million from more than 27,000 online poker players.

We’ll have more for you from the Fly-In, including complete coverage of Tuesday’s charity tournament, right here on Poker News Daily.

Howard Stern Joins Poker Players Alliance

Representatives from the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the one million member strong lobbying force for the industry, announced that controversial talk show host Howard Stern became its newest member.

The news marks the kickoff to National Poker Week, which takes place until Saturday, July 25th. PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato commented in a press release distributed by the organization on Monday, “I can’t think of a more fitting way to kick off National Poker Week than having my friend, Howard Stern, become a member of the PPA. I thank him for having me on his show this morning and for supporting the PPA’s efforts to protect the freedom of American citizens to play the great game of poker at the time and place of their choosing – a freedom Congress voted to take away.”

D’Amato appeared on Stern’s talk show, which airs on Sirius Satellite Radio, on Monday to discuss National Poker Week in its first media efforts. Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association Executive Director Joe Brennan caught the show during his daily breakfast on Monday. Brennan told Poker News Daily, “It’s good exposure for them. Obviously, Howard has a fairly big and sometimes politically active audience. It would have been good if there was more awareness that D’Amato would be on the show this morning, but it’s a real coup for the PPA.” D’Amato’s spot lasted around 50 minutes, with about one-quarter of that time devoted to the game itself.

The PPA has revamped the website of National Poker Week to include an online letter to Congressmen with the subject, “Please Protect My Right to Play Poker on the Internet.” It can also be sent as a printed letter and editable for submissions to both the Senate and House of Representatives. A person’s first name, last name, e-mail address, mailing address, city, state, zip code, and phone number are required in order to submit a letter to Congress.

Meanwhile, the online poker petition entered National Poker Week with 355,000 signatures after eclipsing 300,000 one week ago. Freerolls for those who have signed the petition have been running on sites like Cake Poker, Full Tilt Poker, and PokerStars to significant fanfare. It calls for the following: “Please: 1) exempt poker from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and 2) license and regulate internet poker in the U.S. 3) Respect the rights of law-abiding Americans who love to play this great game of skill.”

Poker News Daily is onsite at the PPA Fly-In, which is taking place in Washington, DC at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill. “Celebrity Apprentice” runner-up Annie Duke was among those who participated in a panel discussion surrounding proper regulation of online poker. The event kicked off in Room 2237 of the Rayburn House Office Building this afternoon and featured Duke, Wired Safety Executive Director Parry Aftab, Cigital Vice President Stuart Dross, and the former executive with International Game Technology Paul Mathews.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest updates from the PPA Fly-In.

Kentucky Attorneys File Response Brief to Supreme Court in Internet Gambling Case

On Thursday, attorneys for the Commonwealth of Kentucky filed a 20 page response brief to the state’s Supreme Court. The case pits Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown against the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA).

The response brief was actually due on Wednesday, June 17th. Upon submitting the document on Thursday, Commonwealth attorneys were also asked to file a Motion for Enlargement. In it, the state’s legal team expounded on the reason for the one day delay: “In this action, ten separate parties have sought to participate in this litigation as amicus curaie parties, with many such motions still pending, and numerous parties currently litigating this case as Appellees.” The Commonwealth added that, based on iMEGA’s brief being submitted on June 3rd, it “calculated a due date for the filing of a Reply Brief in this action on Thursday, June 18th.”

Despite the confusion, Commonwealth attorneys officially submitted the brief on Thursday to the Kentucky Supreme Court. The highest court in the Bluegrass State is not obliged to take the case and no indication has been given as to when a possible hearing could occur. The brief begins with an argument that Brown has standing to bring a civil suit against the owners of 141 internet gambling domain names that were seized by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet last September at the urging of Governor Steve Beshear. If successful, the seizure and forfeiture would result in the domain names of industry behemoths like PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker being inaccessible not only in Kentucky, but also around the world.

Besides standing, another dispute in the case is whether the State is spearheading a civil trial to prosecute a criminal illegal gambling charge. The brief asserts, “The text of the statute contains no such language. It does not reference a conviction, criminal action, or even person against whom a criminal action might be brought… This case was brought as a civil proceeding, not out of a desire to be creative.” The 141 internet gambling domain names in question were seized on the grounds that they constituted illegal gambling devices, a term that has traditionally referred to tangible objects like slot machines and roulette wheels that would be employed in an underground casino.

On whether the State had jurisdiction to seize the domains, Commonwealth attorneys explain, “The true intention or will of the legislature is the law, not the literal language of the statute… Courts must consider the intended purpose of the statute, the reason and spirit of the statute, and the mischief intended to be remedied.” On the national level in the United States, online poker players have run into a similar dilemma with the Wire Act, which has traditionally applied to local telephone carriers and online sports betting outfits. Based on recent funds seizures by the Southern District of New York, the 50 year-old law has been interpreted by the U.S. Government as potentially covering online poker.

The brief spends considerable real estate on the question of whether Kentucky can seize property like a domain name, which is not located within its borders. One of its main arguments focuses on the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act, which was introduced in the 1990s by current Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Chairman Alfonse D’Amato in the U.S. Senate. The Commonwealth notes that a subsection of the bill “addresses a problem that arises whenever property subject to forfeiture under the laws of the United States is located in a foreign country… It is probably no longer necessary to base in rem jurisdiction on the location of the property if there have been sufficient contacts within the district in which the suit is filed.” Senator D’Amato’s first name is incorrectly given as “Alphonse.”

The brief also alludes to a suit brought by the PPA’s Washington State Director, Lee Rousso, who filed legal action arguing that the State’s harsh stance on internet gambling constituted a violation of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. The Kentucky brief explains, “The Rousso court ultimately concluded that the State’s interests in protecting its citizens from the ills associated with gambling outweighed the relatively small cost imposed on out-of-state businesses.” In Washington, playing online poker is a Class C felony.

iMEGA and the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet now await word on whether the state’s Supreme Court will take up the case.

South Carolina Poker Bills Pass Senate Judiciary Committee

Live and online poker players in South Carolina have been jumping for joy at the news that Senate Bills 535 and 628 have cleared the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee. Both bills explicitly legalize social games of poker.

Senators McConnell, Mulvaney, Ford, Land, Knotts, and Davis introduced senate Bill 535. It outlines what forms of gambling are legal in the state, noting, “Gambling in a private home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where the house receives no part of any of the money or other thing of value that is risked or wagered in the gambling in the private home is social gambling and is not unlawful.” Senate Bill 535 also outlines the process for a non-profit organization to obtain a gaming license, although 90% of the money raised in an event must go directly to the charity. The measure was approved in Committee by a 12-8 vote after being introduced back in March.

Senate Bill 628 and Senate Bill 535 were both amended to include what the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the major lobbying force for the poker industry, calls a “predominance test.” The move follows a decision by Judge Larry Duffy in February that five poker players caught during a raid of a home game were guilty despite “overwhelming” evidence that poker is a game of skill. Judge Duffy noted that no clear direction existed from the South Carolina Legislature as to whether games predominantly determined by skill were considered gambling. The amendment, which was implemented with the help of the PPA, may clarify South Carolina’s position.

On Wednesday of last week, the Associated Press noted that the two bills had “virtually no chance of passing this year” because the legislative session had just five days remaining. PPA Executive Director John Pappas alluded to the time crunch at hand, noting in a press release distributed by the one million member strong organization, “We urge the South Carolina Senate to quickly bring these pieces of legislation to the floor for a vote before the end of the session.” Senate Bill 628 allows players to utilize a defense of social gambling against a charge of “unlawful gambling.” More importantly, it notes that games deemed predominated by skill are “not unlawful.”

The PPA has 10,000 members in South Carolina. In 2006, Bob Chimento, Jeremy Brestel, Scott Richards, Michael Williamson, and John T. Willis were arrested as part of an allegedly friendly home game in Mount Pleasant. Appearing at the trial of the five defendants was World Poker Tour (WPT) Host and Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Mike Sexton, who came armed with videos showing how hands were won via a player’s skill. Also appearing was University of Denver Statistics Professor Robert Hannum, who outlined the results of a study conducted by Cigital and PokerStars which found that, out of 103 million cash game hands on the popular online poker site, three-quarters did not go to showdown. Instead, a player’s skill in betting earned them a win in the hand.

PPA South Carolina State Director John Ridgeway commented, “The thousands of poker players in the state are now one step closer to being allowed to enjoy a game of poker online or with their friends around the kitchen table without the fear of being accused of a crime under outdated state laws.” The gambling law currently on the books is over 200 years old. The PPA notes that the effect of the two bills extends well beyond just poker. Games like Bunko and Bridge would also become explicitly legal.

The two bills’ approval by the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee comes the same week as Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced comprehensive legislation to legalize and regulate the internet gambling industry in the United States. A separate measure introduced by Frank calls for the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to be delayed for one year.

Poker News in Brief: May 4-10, 2009

As an ongoing feature every Sunday, PokerListings compiles a list of interesting stories from around the poker world that didn't quite make the front page.

This week we're looking at some more Tom Dwan and Fullflush1 insults, a surprisingly resilient poker market and the ongoing battle to legalize online poker.

Tom "durrrr" Dwan and __FullFlush1__ trade blows on Poker Show

It was quite a week for Poker Show on Boylesport.com. The show, hosted by Jesse May, was fortunate enough to get both Tom Dwan and arch-nemesis Luke" __FullFlush1__" Schwartz in the same week.

Dwan was the first one to appear on the show and when asked what he thought about __FullFlush1__ he responded by saying, "Who?"

Other than that Dwan was fairly casual about Schwartz in the interview saying he really hadn't played him that much.

The next day Schwartz was the opposite. Schwartz implied durrrr only wins against him when he hits two outers and gets incredibly lucky. Dwan wasn't the only target either as Schwartz also talked trash about Andrew Feldman, Greeks, Italians and even Phil Ivey.

Dwan and Schwartz appear destined for a 50,000 hand battle royale.

You can listen to the shows by going here

New Orleans a bright spot for the WSOPC

Although it's been a slow year for the WSOPC the New Orleans event is off to a spectacular start. The first event of the series drew 572 entries which is the biggest turn out in more than two years for the New Orleans circuit stop.

The eventual winner, Casey Lang Chiasson, won nearly $50,000 for taking part in the $300 buy-in event. The main event of WSOPC New Orleans starts on May 21.

Debate continues to rage over online gambling legislation

It's been anything but dull since Rep. Barney Frank introduced his pro-online gambling bill earlier this week that would essentially repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

Now the author of UIGEA, Rep. Spencer Bachus, is speaking out against Frank's bill, suggesting it will lead to children becoming addicted to online gambling.

"Illegal off-shore Internet gambling sites are a criminal enterprise and allowing them to operate unfettered in the United States would present a clear danger to our youth, who are subject to becoming addicted to gambling at an early age," wrote Bachus on his website.

Earlier in the week, Jeffrey Sandman mentioned that despite the online gambling prohibition there were still millions Americans gambling online. A large part of Barney Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267) is dedicated to limiting underage online gambling.

Florida approves gaming bill

Floridians looking to play some No-Limit Hold'em have finally had their prayers answered.

Earlier this week the legislature for the state of Florida approved the expansion of poker in the state and that includes a removal of the maximum buy-in for No-Limit Hold'em.

The bill was the source of serious debate between the Floriday State Senate and House but they were finally able to reach consensus this week.

The 15-year agreement is subject to approval by the Seminole tribal nation and is estimated to generate at least $150 million in annual payments from the Seminoles to the state.

The legislation also allows all cardrooms located at horse tracks and jai alai frontons to offer expanded No-Limit Hold'em without the buy-in limitations.

Click here to learn more.

Complications for legal poker in Texas

Amazingly Texans are still not legally allowed to play Texas No-Limit Hold'em in their home state and the group looking to legalize it was dealt a major blow this week.

Apparently Texas Gov. Rick Perry changed his position once again and assuming Perry plans to veto it, Rep. Jose Menendez said he has no intentions of bringing a dead bill to the floor.

The two biggest threats to legal poker in Texas, Texans Against Gambling and the Christian Life Association, put out memos regarding the bill this week and the House Committee seems to have taken notice.

It's worth checking out here. as they've been doing extensive coverage on the fight for legal poker in Texas. If you're interested you can also get more information here.

Players sue L.A. casinos over bad beat jackpots

L.A.-area casinos took a bad beat of their own this week as two players filed a lawsuit against them.

Dennis Chae and Jeff Kim are suing the Bicycle Club, Commerce, Hustler, Hollywood Park and Hawaiian Garden Casinos because floor managers would not let them compete in bad beat jackpots unless they played at tables that collected the $1 per pot fees, even though ads said no purchase was required.

It's not exactly a new issue. In 2005, Attorney General Bill Lockyer cautioned casinos that the promotions violated State Law unless players were allowed to win jackpots without paying the fee.

To learn more check out the L.A. Times story here

Visit PokerListings.com

PPA Director John Pappas Appears on Bloomberg

This week, Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Executive Director John Pappas appeared on Bloomberg television to break down Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act.

The bill, numbered HR 2267, was introduced on Wednesday and calls for a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States. Although similar to a bill that Frank introduced during the last Congressional session, HR 2267 focuses on how proper regulation can mitigate the perceived social ills of gambling. Pappas told Bloomberg’s television outlet, “We want to make sure that the Federal Government puts the standards in place so that there is safety for minors, that there are services for problem gamblers, and that adult consumers can enjoy the game without fear of fraud or abuse. A prohibition never stopped a child from getting online. A prohibition never stopped a problem gambler. Regulation is the only way to do it.”

Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) and others have argued that a computer with the ability to gamble online may provide the outlet for children in the United States to begin playing at a young age. Bachus even quoted a non-existent McGill University study during a House Financial Services Committee meeting last July, claiming that one-third of college students who gambled online attempted suicide. Pappas explained that online poker sites currently employ safeguards to combat underage gambling: “Most of the online sites today already are using very high-tech, sophisticated age verification technologies. They have no interest in having children on their websites playing against adults. They want adult consumers playing on their sites. The only way to ensure that all sites have that is to pass a bill like Barney Frank’s.”

Pappas’ appearance on Bloomberg also included a discussion of whether playing online poker is illegal in the United States. Poker players can vividly recall the CBS News program “60 Minutes” stating that the game was against the law on multiple occasions after show producers allegedly contacted the Justice Department. However, Pappas revealed what the legal status of the game in the United States is: “For the U.S. player, it’s not illegal for them to go online and play internet poker. What the law in 2006 attempted to do was to make illegal the transactions. It puts the burden on the financial institutions, not the actual player.” The law in question is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was ushered through Congress in the waning moments of the 2006 Congressional session by then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). The UIGEA’s text gave no indication of what was legal or illegal under it. Instead, it deferred to existing State and Federal laws.

Some would cite the Wire Act of 1961 as grounds that playing online poker is not allowed in the United States. However, the 48 year-old measure traditionally applies to online sports wagering. Pappas told Bloomberg, “The Wire Act states that illegal gambling is being in the business of betting or wagering. An internet poker site isn’t in the business of betting or wagering. They’re simply allowing a venue in which people can compete in games of skill like poker against each other.”

In recent months, the PPA has seen judges in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and South Carolina conclude that poker is a game of skill and therefore should be treated separately from online casinos, Bingo parlors, and sports betting outfits. During the last Congressional session, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which would have exempted poker, bridge, chess, mahjong, and other player versus player games from the UIGEA and Wire Act.

At the time of writing, HR 2267 has 16 co-sponsors, including Wexler, Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Peter King (R-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Ron Paul (R-TX), and Melvin Watt (D-NC).

Barney Frank to Introduce Internet Gambling Legislation on Wednesday

According to a statement released by the office of Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), legislation to exempt licensed internet gaming companies from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) will be introduced on Wednesday.

The legislation is expected to establish a comprehensive licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States. In essence, it will likely be similar in scope to last session’s HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. The press statement sent out on Tuesday morning reads, “Tomorrow, Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) will hold a press conference to unveil legislation that will enable Americans to bet online and put an end to an inappropriate interference with their personal freedom.” The bill would “create an exemption to the UIGEA for operators that are licensed and regulated. UIGEA, which was enacted in 2006, restricts the use of the payments system for Americans who seek the freedom to gamble online.”

The new legislation does not repeal the UIGEA. Also, according to the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, it may not include a provision to tax the industry. During the last Congress, which concluded in December, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced HR 2607, which called for the taxation of 2% of all funds deposited onto regulated internet gambling sites by U.S. customers. The money would then be “deposited in the general fund of the Treasury and treated as revenue,” according to the legislation’s text. Similar companion legislation may be needed once again. A study released by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that similar legislation to McDermott’s combined with Frank’s HR 2046 could generate up to $52 billion in revenue over a 10 year period.

The press conference is scheduled for 10:00am ET on Wednesday morning in Room 2220 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative added, “The legislation is expected to include a number of significant consumer protections, including safeguards against compulsive and underage gambling, money laundering, fraud, and identity theft.” HR 2046 was officially introduced to the world on April 30th, 2007 and attracted 48 co-sponsors. However, it was not passed into law during the 110th Congress, leading to Wednesday’s re-introduction of what appears to be similar legislation.

The UIGEA was passed during the waning moments of the 2006 Congressional session and was attached to an unrelated security measure called the SAFE Port Act. Then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) was instrumental in its passage. The UIGEA deemed financial transactions between U.S. customers and illegal online gambling operations to be against the law, although no clarification was given as to what constituted “illegal gambling.” The UIGEA’s vagueness has led to a lawsuit by the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA) to declare it unconstitutional. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals will hear the case on July 6th following a decision by District Court Judge Mary L. Cooper last March, who granted iMEGA standing, but disagreed with many of the organization’s core arguments.

Last week, internet gambling came under fire in Minnesota, where the state’s Department of Public Safety issued written notice to 11 internet service providers (ISPs) calling for blocking access to 200 websites. The list of sites affected by the order includes USA-friendly rooms Bodog, Full Tilt Poker, and Players Only. It also features a bevy of sites that do not accept players from the United States, including World Series of Poker presenting sponsor Everest Poker, iPoker Network flagship site Titan Poker, and Party Gaming’s casino arm, Party Casino. Party Gaming, a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, pulled out of the U.S. market after passage of the UIGEA in 2006. Its online poker room, Party Poker, is not among the 200 sites.

We’ll have a full breakdown of the bill when it is released on Wednesday right here on Poker News Daily.

Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative Launches New Website

With Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) poised to introduce legislation to clarify or overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) as early as this week, the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative (SSIGI) has rolled out a brand new website.

The organization is among the many involved in the fight to preserve the rights of online poker players in the United States. Its new look was officially introduced last Tuesday. Frank told The Hill that he would introduce legislation favorable to internet gambling before the beginning of May, although as of press time, no indication of if the deadline will be met has been given. SSIGI spokesperson Michael Waxman told Poker News Daily about the impetus for the brand new web portal: “Development of the new site is part of a coordinated effort to educate and engage key audiences, including decision makers on Capitol Hill and our grassroots supporters. For the policy to change, we need decision makers to understand the benefits of regulation.” He added, “We also need supporters to have a voice in the legislative process, which could include using the website to e-mail members of Congress and encourage others to get involved.”

The site is similar in some respects to the look and feel of the Poker Players Alliance homepage. Featured links include “Key Issues,” “Legislation,” “News Center,” and “Action Center.” The latter includes a sign-up form to receive action alerts, access to a special RSS feed for news headlines, and the ability to obtain votes of Congressional members via weekly e-mail. In addition, links to tell a friend as well as insert a “web sticker” on any site are also available. Finally, the Action Center includes access to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate schedules for the current day.

Currently, the centerpiece of the SSIGI website is a link to encourage members of Congress to support Frank’s bill, although the legislation in question is HR 2046, which was last session’s Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. The bill outlined a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the industry. A study by U.S.-based PricewaterhouseCoopers used HR 2046 and a companion tax bill by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) to reveal that up to $52 billion could be raised from internet gambling over a ten year period. The form to e-mail members of Congress allows concerned citizens to insert their own text, but also includes a series of pre-written talking points that can be added. They contain statements such as, “Rather than legislate an individual's leisure activities, Congress should regulate Internet gambling and implement controls to protect consumers and ensure safe Internet gambling transactions.”

Legislative news articles on the site highlight the latest mainstream media attention paid to the internet gambling issue. Current inclusions focus on whether Frank’s legislation will come to fruition with analysis from the Baltimore Examiner and Associated Press. The latest opinion articles to be printed are also displayed prominently and include recent pieces that appeared in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, European Voice, and The Hill. Press releases from the SSIGI are archived on the organization’s revamped website, as are videos linked from the popular social networking outlet YouTube.

The SSIGI is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and endorsed by a variety of industry staples including the UC Group, Baker Tilly, eCOGRA, Secure Trading, the Remote Gambling Association, GamCare, and the European Gaming and Betting Association. The organization utilizes Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to interact with its constituents and focuses heavily on protecting children online, formulating compulsive gambling safeguards, ensuring secure financial transactions, highlighting new government revenue sources, devising regulated and licensed environments, and pointing out international ramifications.

The SSIGI, along with the entire industry, now awaits potential internet gambling legislation from Congressman Frank. Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest from Capitol Hill.

Florida Debates Possibility of High Stakes Poker

Another year, another attempt to change Florida's ever-evolving poker laws. With just weeks remaining in the state's legislative session, the Florida Senate has been pushing hard to expand gaming laws in an effort to generate additional revenue. With a $3 billion budget deficit in the...

PPA Chairman D’Amato Sees Bipartisan Support for Internet Gaming Bill

In a recent letter authored by Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Chairman Alfonse D’Amato to The Hill, the former three-term Senator from New York forecasted bipartisan support for Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) upcoming internet gambling legislation.

In a recent interview with The Hill, Frank alluded to introducing legislation favorable to internet gambling next week after Congress returns from its Easter recess. During the break, the PPA, the main lobbying organization for the poker industry, has gone on the offensive, headlined by D’Amato’s recent contribution to The Hill. The PPA surpassed the one million member mark last year in part due to the visibility and involvement of the former high-profile Senator.

D’Amato claims that both Democrats and Republicans have reason to disapprove of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was attached to the SAFE Port Act and passed during the waning moments of the 2006 Congressional session. He noted in his letter to The Hill, “It does nothing to prevent children and problem gamblers from playing online; it overly burdens the banks, making them, not the federal government, policemen of the internet; it costs the taxpayers billions in unearned revenue, not to mention the loss of capital and jobs when these companies are forced to move out of the U.S.; and it’s simply unenforceable.” The UIGEA was not debated in the Senate; instead, the SAFE Port Act was passed by unanimous consent.

Frank was originally slated to introduce internet gambling legislation in March. However, a faltering economy has delayed the announcement of a bill that may outline a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the industry. The previous version was HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. It was introduced in 2007, but was not enacted into law. According to D’Amato, “Both conservatives and liberals alike know that UIGEA was simply a bad bill turned into worse policy, and it must be redone in order to put a more effective system in place.”

Frank’s two previous attempts to clarify the UIGEA both came with bipartisan support. The Massachusetts Congressman and former Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul sponsored HR 5767, the first version of the Payments System Protection Act. The bill was struck down in the House Financial Services Committee, of which Frank is the Chairman, last June. An amendment introduced by Congressman Peter King (R-NY) that called for a list to be developed of what was illegal and legal under the UIGEA failed by virtue of a 32-32 tie vote. The bill itself was then put to an oral vote, where the “Nays” outweighed the “Yays.”

HR 6870 marked the second version of the Payments System Protection Act. It was passed by a 30-19 vote in Committee last September. King once again spoke on behalf of the bill in its mark-up hearing, as did Congressman William Lacy Clay (D-MO). King was its lone co-sponsor, but despite bipartisan support, HR 6870 did not see time on the House floor due to the then-emerging financial crisis. A study recently released by PricewaterhouseCoopers noted that up to $52 billion could be generated by regulating and taxing the internet gambling industry over a 10 year period, although that figure relies heavily on the involvement of professional sports leagues.

The PPA held fundraisers at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions prior to the general elections in the United States last year. In addition, the organization hosted a booth at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February. D’Amato concluded his call for bipartisan legislative support saying, “Now is the time to do what’s right for all interested parties, not based on party politics. That means protecting internet freedom and the public interest through taxation, licensing, and regulation - not prohibition.”

Barney Frank to Introduce Internet Gambling Legislation after April 20th

In a recent interview with The Hill, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) stated that he plans to introduce internet gambling legislation after the Easter recess. The Hill noted that the week of April 20th is a likely time frame.

Frank’s bill, which may create a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry, will not be a rider to critical legislation, according to The Hill, which claimed, “The main proponent of a bill to regulate Internet gambling will introduce his legislation as a standalone bill and will not seek to add it to must-pass legislation.” Frank told the Washington, D.C. publication, “I want to do this with hearings, discussions, and votes.” The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in the waning moments of the 2006 Congressional session. It was not discussed in the Senate and instead approved by unanimous consent and attached to the SAFE Port Act.

Frank had originally indicated that he would introduce internet gambling legislation in March. However, an ongoing economic meltdown has hindered other bills from being introduced and addressed. Frank is the Chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, whose industry members like banks and credit card companies have been ravaged by the struggles on Wall Street and around the world. Consequently, the timeline for the introduction of a standalone internet gambling bill has been delayed. Frank told The Hill, “After the break, definitely in April.”

Frank has long been a proponent of internet gambling on Capitol Hill. He was the author of HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, which was introduced in April of 2007, but was not acted upon and now must be reintroduced for consideration. The bill attracted 48 co-sponsors. Last September, the House Financial Services Committee approved HR 6870 by a 30-19 vote, the second version of the Payments System Protection Act, which would have clarified what was legal and illegal under the UIGEA. However, the collapse of the global economy occurred shortly thereafter and the bill was placed on the backburner.

Although a final text of Frank’s new legislation has yet to be released, The Hill speculates on what it may entail: “Frank’s bill would remove the ban on Internet gambling, which Republicans fought hard to institute after heavy lobbying from conservative Christian groups when they controlled Capitol Hill. His legislation would regulate the practice as well as tax it, providing new revenues for the federal government.” A recent study released by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that taxing and regulating the internet gambling industry may yield up to $52 billion in revenue for the U.S. Government over a 10 year period. The figure is ultimately contingent on whether professional sports leagues choose to allow betting on games.

Some have argued that a bill that legalizes only online poker would stand a better chance of being passed than would a multi-faceted approach like Frank’s. In July of 2007, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which would have exempted poker, bridge, chess, mah jong, and other player versus player games from the UIGEA and Wire Act. The bill created an important distinction between online casinos, where the action is primarily player versus the house, and online poker, where contestants battle against each other. Like HR 2046, HR 2610 was not acted upon during the previous Congressional session and must now be reintroduced.

The regulations of the UIGEA went into effect on January 19th as a “midnight rule” by the outgoing Bush Administration. Banks and other financial institutions must come into full compliance with the law by December 1st. In the meantime, over-blocking of transactions by Visa and MasterCard has led to complications for state lotteries in North Dakota and New Hampshire, where customers attempting to purchase tickets online are being declined.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest legislative news from Washington, D.C. and around the world.

Barney Frank to Introduce Internet Gambling Legislation after April 20th

In a recent interview with The Hill, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) stated that he plans to introduce internet gambling legislation after the Easter recess. The Hill noted that the week of April 20th is a likely time frame.

Frank’s bill, which may create a complete licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry, will not be a rider to critical legislation, according to The Hill, which claimed, “The main proponent of a bill to regulate Internet gambling will introduce his legislation as a standalone bill and will not seek to add it to must-pass legislation.” Frank told the Washington, D.C. publication, “I want to do this with hearings, discussions, and votes.” The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in the waning moments of the 2006 Congressional session. It was not discussed in the Senate and instead approved by unanimous consent and attached to the SAFE Port Act.

Frank had originally indicated that he would introduce internet gambling legislation in March. However, an ongoing economic meltdown has hindered other bills from being introduced and addressed. Frank is the Chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, whose industry members like banks and credit card companies have been ravaged by the struggles on Wall Street and around the world. Consequently, the timeline for the introduction of a standalone internet gambling bill has been delayed. Frank told The Hill, “After the break, definitely in April.”

Frank has long been a proponent of internet gambling on Capitol Hill. He was the author of HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, which was introduced in April of 2007, but was not acted upon and now must be reintroduced for consideration. The bill attracted 48 co-sponsors. Last September, the House Financial Services Committee approved HR 6870 by a 30-19 vote, the second version of the Payments System Protection Act, which would have clarified what was legal and illegal under the UIGEA. However, the collapse of the global economy occurred shortly thereafter and the bill was placed on the backburner.

Although a final text of Frank’s new legislation has yet to be released, The Hill speculates on what it may entail: “Frank’s bill would remove the ban on Internet gambling, which Republicans fought hard to institute after heavy lobbying from conservative Christian groups when they controlled Capitol Hill. His legislation would regulate the practice as well as tax it, providing new revenues for the federal government.” A recent study released by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that taxing and regulating the internet gambling industry may yield up to $52 billion in revenue for the U.S. Government over a 10 year period. The figure is ultimately contingent on whether professional sports leagues choose to allow betting on games.

Some have argued that a bill that legalizes only online poker would stand a better chance of being passed than would a multi-faceted approach like Frank’s. In July of 2007, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which would have exempted poker, bridge, chess, mah jong, and other player versus player games from the UIGEA and Wire Act. The bill created an important distinction between online casinos, where the action is primarily player versus the house, and online poker, where contestants battle against each other. Like HR 2046, HR 2610 was not acted upon during the previous Congressional session and must now be reintroduced.

The regulations of the UIGEA went into effect on January 19th as a “midnight rule” by the outgoing Bush Administration. Banks and other financial institutions must come into full compliance with the law by December 1st. In the meantime, over-blocking of transactions by Visa and MasterCard has led to complications for state lotteries in North Dakota and New Hampshire, where customers attempting to purchase tickets online are being declined.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest legislative news from Washington, D.C. and around the world.

South Carolina Holds Hearings on Legalizing Poker

Senate Bill 535 is making waves in South Carolina. Fresh off the trial of five poker players in Mount Pleasant in which the defendants were found guilty due to a lack of direction by South Carolina state law, S 535 would legalize “social gambling.”

In addition, during tough economic times, S 535 would pave the way for the introduction of “casino night events conducted as a fundraising activity of limited duration by a non-profit organization.” The bill specifically legalizes home games provided that no rake is taken. S 535 reads, “Gambling in a private home where no house player, house bank, or house odds exist and where there is no house income from the operation of the game is social gambling and is” acceptable should it be passed.

State Senator Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston) is the brains behind S 535, which was introduced on March 5th and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. According to the Post and Courier newspaper, bills that are introduced in South Carolina carry a life span of two years, “which means that if the bill does not pass by the end of the 2009 session in late May or early June, there's always time in 2010, which is an election year.”

A public hearing on S 535 was held on Monday in Greenville. A separate bill introduced by McConnell, S 560, was also discussed. That bill, although not related to poker, would legalize certain forms of raffles for churches and other non-profits. According to the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the main lobbying organization for the poker industry, about 150 people showed up for Monday's hearing, with the audience split evenly between opponents and advocates of the bills. Among those calling for their passage were the American Legion and former Appeals Court Judge Billy Wilkins, who spoke on behalf of the PPA. On the other side of the aisle were parties such as the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

John Pappas, Executive Director of the PPA, told Poker News Daily that about 40 of its members were in attendance supporting the bill. He explained, “The folks from our side represented a variety of people from lawyers to Average Joes.” In addition to legalizing traditional poker home games with no rake, S 535 also allows dice games, billiards, backgammon, and chess where no betting takes place and no cash or other prizes are awarded to its winners. The law in question was passed in the early 19th Century.

At a hearing in front of a South Carolina Senate panel, Bob Chimento, one of the players arrested as part of the Mount Pleasant poker case, recalled the scene when his home game was abruptly broken up in 2006: “Guns were drawn and pointed at us. They weren't pointed at the ground; they were pointed at us over a $100 fine. Someone could have been seriously injured that night or someone could have been killed.” Chimento was among five defendants (along with Jeremy Bristel, Michael Williamson, Scott Richards, and John Willis) who were found guilty in February of illegal gambling. The poker players were allegedly playing in a benign home game and, if S 535 had been on the books, they would be in no hot water legally.

Although Judge Larry Duffy found overwhelming evidence that poker was a game of skill, he deferred to an appellate court to determine whether the “Dominant Test” should apply. In other words, under current state law, it is unclear whether a game dominated by skill is legal in South Carolina. The game took place in Nathaniel Stallings' home in Mount Pleasant in April of 2006. The PPA sent World Poker Tour Host Mike Sexton to testify that poker was a game of skill using video evidence from past tournaments. Dr. Robert Hannum, a statistics professor at the University of Denver, presented results from a recent study showing that out of 103 million hands of Texas Hold'em on PokerStars, three-quarters did not go to showdown. Instead, they were won by the betting of players. Of the 24.3% of hands that went to showdown, the player holding the best hand won just 50.3% of the time. In the other 49.7% of cases, the player who had the best hand folded by the time the cards were flipped over.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest legislative news from South Carolina and around the world.

Florida Considers Legalizing No-Limit Poker as Part of Gaming Expansion

If a new proposal in the Florida Senate prevails, true no-limit poker will soon be available at Seminole Tribe resorts and parimutuel outlets across the state. Last week, the Senate unveiled...

New NFL Lobbyist Seeks to Protect UIGEA

Recently, the National Football League (NFL) enlisted the services of Jeff Miller, who will serve as its chief lobbyist on Capitol Hill. According to an article authored by the Associated Press, Miller seeks to preserve the ban on internet gambling in the United States.

In 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was ushered through Congress at the last minute by former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). Although the UIGEA did not define what was legal and illegal under its jurisdiction, its effect was driving some of the world's largest online poker sites out of the U.S. market. Now, only a handful of rooms, such as PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Ultimate Bet, and Carbon Poker, accept U.S. residents. In addition, the UIGEA also eradicated payment processors such as Neteller and Citadel Commerce from the market.

On January 19th, the regulations of the UIGEA finally came to fruition as “midnight rules” passed by the outgoing Bush Administration. Many in the internet gambling industry questioned the role of Special Assistant to George W. Bush William Wichterman, who had also served as an NFL lobbyist. Whether the urging of Wichterman resulted in the UIGEA's regulations being pushed through remains unknown. However, his involvement prompted a letter by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN).

The NFL's newest hire, Miller told the Associated Press, "I'm a lifelong NFL fan, grew up in Wisconsin, [and] rooted for the Packers at my father's knee every Sunday. I had had opportunities in the past to leave the Hill and do other things, such as work at a law firm and lobby firm. But when the NFL calls, you can't turn that down." When asked about the upholding the existing internet gambling legislation, which consists of both the UIGEA and Wire Act of 1961, Miller responded, "We want to maintain the integrity of the game, and gambling threatens that."

The Associated Press article added that Miller will be at the forefront of sports leagues' efforts to preserve the status quo with regards to internet gambling. Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) has led the effort to overturn the UIGEA, or at least clarify it for the benefit of the financial services industry. HR 6870, the second version of the Payments System Protection Act, was passed out of the House Financial Services Committee, of which Frank is the Chair, by a 30-19 vote last September. However, due to the then-emerging economic crisis in the United States, it did not see time on the House floor.

According to the Associated Press, the NFL previously sought outside counsel. Miller's hiring bucks that trend. He explained, "The emphasis is to have a full-time person spending every waking moment thinking about how what Congress or the administration is doing is going to affect the NFL's business model." The NFL held its annual owners' meetings last week in California, instituting a number of rule changes as well as adjusting the draft order based on a team's finish in the playoffs. Fantasy sports received a specific exemption from the UIGEA, although the law forced industry websites to guarantee prize pools and not allow a manager to have all of his players come from the same team.

Joe Brennan, Chairman of the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association (iMEGA), told Poker News Daily why sports betting has received such a bad rap: “It's the only type of betting where the courts have been explicit. The Wire Act arose out of a couple of sports betting scandals back in the 1950s. It always comes back to trying to protect the integrity of the game.” iMEGA is suing to declare the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional. The case has been assigned to Chief Judge Garrett E. Brown, Jr. of the New Jersey District Court.