Bet On Poker

State not alone in pursuing online gambling

Brian — Sun, 20 May 2012 20:34:13 +0000

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois is not alone in the rush to expand legalized gambling to the Internet.

According to U.S. Internet Gambling Regulatory Tracker, nine other states are reviewing legislation dealing with Internet poker and online casino gambling.

That’s up from seven states in 2011 and the number could grow, the tracking service noted in an advisory issued last week.

“With 19 state legislatures and Congress still in session, this calendar year, during which more states have considered Internet gambling legislation than any other in history, could yield even more legislative activity,” noted Chris Krafcik, research director for GamblingCompliance, which operates the tracking service.

The growing number of states hoping to reap the potential billions of dollars from online gambling is one reason Senate President John Cullerton is urging quick action by the legislature on a plan he unveiled Monday.

Cullerton, D-Chicago, wants the state to become an international hub for internet gaming. He wants to create a new Division of Internet Gaming within the Illinois Lottery.

“To further capture new revenues available in the iGaming marketplace in a manner that protects consumers, provides logical and responsible regulation,” Cullerton stated in a news release.

The push comes just two months after Illinois became the first state to sell lottery tickets on the Internet. And, it comes as Illinois is working to bring video gambling to bars and truck stops.

In addition, gambling expansion proponents remain hopeful they can forge an agreement on a massive expansion of gambling, with new casinos in Chicago and four other cities and slot machines at the state’s financially ailing horse racing tracks.

“We will do something before we leave May 31,” said state Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat who is leading talks about the gambling expansion proposal.

But, Gov. Pat Quinn is suggesting that there may not be time to deal with Cullerton’s Internet plan before lawmakers go home for the summer at the end of the month.

With a bevy of major issues still facing the General Assembly, Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said the governor is focused on reforming public employee pensions and slashing Medicaid spending.

“We need to keep our eye on the ball — and that is solving these two major issues that are consuming 39 percent of taxpayer dollars while squeezing out every other area of state government,” Anderson said.

That delay could give opponents time to rally lawmakers against Cullerton’s plan.

The Illinois Church Action on Alcohol Addiction Problems issued a two-page primer on Cullerton’s proposal Wednesday, arguing that making gambling more accessible will result in more people losing money on gambling.

“Gamblers could empty their bank accounts and run up huge credit card debt without leaving their home, office or dorm room,” the organization noted.

In a release touting his proposal, Cullerton said the state could implement the plan in an “ethical and socially responsible manner” while still bringing in money for the state.

The legislation is House Bill 4148.

kurt.erickson@lee.net

217-782-4043

Article source: http://thesouthern.com/news/local/15908d6a-a232-11e1-9a62-001a4bcf887a.html

Online gambling may be up to states

Brian — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:58:59 +0000

A federal loophole and a divided Congress means individual states will start approving Internet gambling within the next two years, but Michigan likely won’t be one of them, experts say.

Speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City, N.J., casino and political leaders said Thursday that online gambling will become a reality on a state-by-state basis but not in Congress.

“Those who think the U.S. government will pass a law, a federal Internet gambling law, that’s naive,” said Richard Bronson, chairman of US Digital Gaming. “In a Congress that can’t agree on what day it is, the thought that they’re going to agree to put casino gambling in every living room in America is ridiculous.”

He and others at the conference predicted that individual states will pass their own online gambling laws, approving it in much the same way that state lotteries have since they spread to 43 states in the absence of a single national lottery.

“Within the next year, one or two states will do it,” Bronson said.

But “it’s not going to happen in Michigan,” said Jake Miklojcik of Lansing-based Michigan Consultants. There isn’t a big enough constituency for Internet legalization because the casinos and most of the evangelical community oppose it, he said Friday.

When some states do approve it, Michigan might follow, Miklojcik said. The problem with Internet gambling within a state is it is unlikely to be extremely profitable and would require particular software to ensure the online betting is done within the state, he said.

New Jersey’s Legislature passed a bill last year that would have made it the first state in America to approve in-state online gambling, but Gov. Chris Christie vetoed it, voicing concerns about its constitutionality and the possible proliferation of illegal computer betting parlors.

Lawmakers are moving toward passing another bill by the end of next month with changes they hope will mollify Christie’s concerns.

A form of online betting already exists in Illinois because a U.S. Department of Justice legal opinion sought by Illinois and New York on the 1961 Wire Act created a loophole, said Frank Fantini, publisher of Fantini’s Gaming Lodging Reports in Delaware. “The state of Illinois already has walked through it and is now selling some lottery products online,” he said Friday in an email.

Fantini sees online betting becoming more widespread.

“With a major state like Illinois already online, and other major states to follow, it would not be surprising if every state doesn’t move toward online sales within the next year,” he said.

Bronson sees huge potential market for online gambling.

The Associated Press contributed.

Online betting

No state has fully legalized Internet gambling.
Illinois sells some lottery products online.
The Internet can reach more gaming customers. Forty million people visited Las Vegas in 2011, while 40 million people visit Facebook every five days.

Article source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120519/BIZ/205190322/1001/rss21

Panel: Individual states likely to pass laws on online gambling

Brian — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:06:51 +0000

Atlantic City, N.J.— The U.S. Congress is too badly divided to act on Internet gambling, so individual states will start approving it on their own within the next two years, panelists at a major casino conference predicted Thursday.

Speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress, casino and political leaders predicted online gambling will become a reality on a state-by-state basis. New Jersey hopes to become the “Silicon Valley of Internet gambling,” and its legislature is working on a bill to legalize it.

“Those who think the U.S. government will pass a law, a federal Internet gambling law, that’s naive,” said Richard Bronson, chairman of US Digital Gaming. “In a Congress that can’t agree on what day it is, the thought that they’re going to agree to put casino gambling in every living room in America is ridiculous.”

He and others at the conference predicted that individual states will pass their own online gambling laws, approving it in much the same way that state lotteries have since they spread to 43 states in the absence of a single national lottery.

“Within the next year, one or two states will do it,” Bronson said.

New Jersey hopes to be one of them. Its legislature passed a bill last year that would have made it the first state in America to approve in-state online gambling, but Gov. Chris Christie vetoed it, voicing concerns about its constitutionality and the possible proliferation of illegal computer betting parlors.

Lawmakers are moving toward passing another bill by the end of next month with changes they hope will mollify Christie’s concerns.

“We lost a whole year and hundreds of millions of dollars that could have been coming in to our casinos in Atlantic City,” said state Sen. Raymond Lesniak.

Bronson said there is a huge potential market for online gambling in the U.S.

“Forty million people visited Las Vegas last year; 40 million people visit Facebook every five days,” he said. “Why wouldn’t our industry want to take advantage of the bright opportunities facing the casino industry?”

Eugene Johnson, a senior associate with Spectrum Gaming Group, an Atlantic City-area casino consulting firm, said his company has been approached by numerous firms wanting help to position themselves for the eventual legalization of online gambling.

“I can attest to the Internet frenzy,” he said. “We’ve been involved with European operators, U.S. commercial gaming companies, Native American tribes, and state lotteries. It’s definitely a matter of when and not if. It is incredibly apparent that within a few years, state-by-state Internet gambling will become a reality in the U.S.”

Eamonn Toland, president of the European online betting firm Paddy Power North America, said his company wants in on Internet gambling in America.

“We believe this market will open up,” he said. “Whether it’s state or federal, there’s going to be a tremendous opportunity for land-based operators to partner with the online market.”

Johnson called Internet gambling the wave of the future for traditional brick-and-mortar casinos, particularly as their traditional customers age.

“If you walk into a casino in Atlantic City and look at people playing slots, how many young people do you see?” he asked. “Internet gaming is the future of the casino business. It’s strongly tied to mobile gaming. Young people are particularly tied to their mobile devices. If you don’t evolve with the future, you’re going to be left behind.”

Article source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120518/BIZ/205180399/1001/rss21

Johnny Lodden: "Thinking about stop playing after scoop…"

Brian — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:37:52 +0000

Johnny Lodden might be Norway’s biggest poker star ever, and he used to be among the top High Stakes cash game players in the world on the Prima Poker network back in the “good old days”. However, he hasn’t been running so good in the past few years and it’s not very often he hits the headlines with a big win.

In fact, he said that he was broke and had to borrow money in an interview already back in 2007. Now it seems like Lodden is about to end his career. Well, at least if we should believe what he tweeted the other day…

“Can remember the last time I had a winning day in online poker… Thinking about stop playing after scoop…”

Just 2 days after he tweeted…

“new day with playing and a new day with just unreal things happening..”

Now the question is if Johnny Lodden will retire from poker with some money in the bank or if he will go for an ordinary 9-5 job. If he quits both live and online poker, he will also lose the sponsor money from PokerStars.

Article source: http://www.bankrollmob.com/poker-news/2012518/johnny-lodden-thinking-about-stop-playing-after-scoop/rss

Online betting bill advances in Delaware House

Brian — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:37:49 +0000

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A bill authorizing online betting in Delaware and allowing more venues for sports wagering and other types of gambling is on its way to the state House for a vote.

The House Gaming and Parimutuels Committee voted Thursday to release the bill, despite objections from anti-gambling advocates and complaints from the state’s harness racing industry that it would not get its fair share of gambling proceeds.

In addition to offering online slots and table games, Gov. Jack Markell has proposed expanding keno beyond Delaware’s three existing casinos to at least 100 sites throughout the state, and authorizing betting on NFL football in at least 20 more sites.

Officials say the money generated from the expanded gambling would allow them to eliminate the $4 million in slot machine fees paid by the existing casinos and cut their table game fees from $6.75 million to $3 million.

In return for those financial breaks, the casinos would pledge to spend an equal amount on traditional business expenses such as marketing, capital improvements and debt reduction.

“This is key to making sure that this industry stays competitive for the years to come,” state finance secretary Tom Cook told the committee, noting that Delaware’s gambling industry has faced increased competition from neighboring states in recent years.

The administration’s presentation to the committee included testimony from industry officials intended to assure lawmakers that online gambling would include proper safeguards to keep minors from betting.

“Nobody wants underage gaming activity,” said Melissa Blau, an online gambling consultant who has worked with the industry in Europe.

Blau said systems can be set up to monitor every computer keystroke made by someone who goes to an online betting site, and that registration and account information, and the monitoring of betting behavior, can help officials determine whether someone is underage.

Peter Murray, head of gaming and consumer services at GB Group, an identity monitoring and management company based in the United Kingdom, said Social Security numbers and other personal information collected from potential gamblers would help ensure legitimacy of the online betting system.

But Rep. Clifford “Biff” Lee, R-Laurel, told the administration witnesses they had not allayed his concerns about underage gambling.

“If you were trying to sell me a new pickup today, you probably wouldn’t have sold that vehicle,” said Lee, who nevertheless voted to send the bill to the full House.

Lee and other lawmakers also questioned whether the 4.5 percent share that the harness racing industry would receive from online table games such as blackjack is adequate. The horsemen get an equivalent percentage now from casino table games, but those games do not require the use of third-party vendors who would be paid for providing online games.

In addition to the vendor payments, the state would take $3.75 million off the top from online gambling proceeds to recoup the money lost by cutting the casinos’ existing table game fees.

Sal DiMario, executive director of the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association, said the bill as currently written is not fair to the harness-racing horsemen.

Michael Barlow, Markell’s chief counsel, said DiMario has asked for a cut of 12.5 percent from online table games.

Rep. John Viola, chief sponsor of the bill, urged administration officials to continue negotiations with the harness racing officials while the legislature takes a two-week break for budget markup.

“Online gaming is coming, … and we need to decide in this building whether we want to be on board with that or not,” said Viola, D-Newark.

But opponents of the proposal urged lawmakers to carefully consider the impact of expanding the availability and accessibility of gambling in Delaware.

“This legislation is at the first a moral piece of legislation,” said Jon Boulet, pastor of Hockessin Baptist Church.

Boulet said the bill was nothing more than a recommendation to “devise and implement a temptation of vice” that would be wielded to extract money from people by taking advantage of their “loneliness, weakness and idleness.”

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/online-betting-bill-advances-delaware-house-123415849--finance.html

States' Approval Of Internet Gambling Likely

Brian — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:29:58 +0000

The U.S. Congress is too badly divided to act on Internet gambling, so individual states will start approving it on their own within the next two years, panelists at a major casino conference predicted Thursday.

Speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress, casino and political leaders predicted online gambling will become a reality on a state-by-state basis. New Jersey hopes to become the “Silicon Valley of Internet gambling,” and its legislature is working on a bill to legalize it.

“Those who think the U.S. government will pass a law, a federal Internet gambling law, that’s naive,” said Richard Bronson, chairman of US Digital Gaming. “In a Congress that can’t agree on what day it is, the thought that they’re going to agree to put casino gambling in every living room in America is ridiculous.”

He and others at the conference predicted that individual states will pass their own online gambling laws, approving it in much the same way that state lotteries have since they spread to 43 states in the absence of a single national lottery.

“Within the next year, one or two states will do it,” Bronson said.

New Jersey hopes to be one of them. Its legislature passed a bill last year that would have made it the first state in America to approve in-state online gambling, but Gov. Chris Christie vetoed it, voicing concerns about its constitutionality and the possible proliferation of illegal computer betting parlors.

Article source: http://www.thirdage.com/news/states-approval-of-internet-gambling-likely_05-17-2012

Panel: States approval of Internet gambling likely

Brian — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:29:57 +0000

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The U.S. Congress is too badly divided to act on Internet gambling, so individual states will start approving it on their own within the next two years, panelists at a major casino conference predicted Thursday.

Speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress, casino and political leaders predicted online gambling will become a reality on a state-by-state basis. New Jersey hopes to become the “Silicon Valley of Internet gambling,” and its legislature is working on a bill to legalize it.

“Those who think the U.S. government will pass a law, a federal Internet gambling law, that’s naive,” said Richard Bronson, chairman of US Digital Gaming. “In a Congress that can’t agree on what day it is, the thought that they’re going to agree to put casino gambling in every living room in America is ridiculous.”

He and others at the conference predicted that individual states will pass their own online gambling laws, approving it in much the same way that state lotteries have since they spread to 43 states in the absence of a single national lottery.

“Within the next year, one or two states will do it,” Bronson said.

New Jersey hopes to be one of them. Its legislature passed a bill last year that would have made it the first state in America to approve in-state online gambling, but Gov. Chris Christie vetoed it, voicing concerns about its constitutionality and the possible proliferation of illegal computer betting parlors.

Lawmakers are moving toward passing another bill by the end of next month with changes they hope will mollify Christie’s concerns.

“We lost a whole year and hundreds of millions of dollars that could have been coming in to our casinos in Atlantic City,” said state Sen. Raymond Lesniak.

Bronson said there is a huge potential market for online gambling in the U.S.

“Forty million people visited Las Vegas last year; 40 million people visit Facebook every five days,” he said. “Why wouldn’t our industry want to take advantage of the bright opportunities facing the casino industry?”

Eugene Johnson, a senior associate with Spectrum Gaming Group, an Atlantic City-area casino consulting firm, said his company has been approached by numerous firms wanting help to position themselves for the eventual legalization of online gambling.

“I can attest to the Internet frenzy,” he said. “We’ve been involved with European operators, U.S. commercial gaming companies, Native American tribes, and state lotteries. It’s definitely a matter of when and not if. It is incredibly apparent that within a few years, state-by-state Internet gambling will become a reality in the U.S.”

Eamonn Toland, president of the European online betting firm Paddy Power North America, said his company wants in on Internet gambling in America.

“We believe this market will open up,” he said. “Whether it’s state or federal, there’s going to be a tremendous opportunity for land-based operators to partner with the online market.”

Johnson called Internet gambling the wave of the future for traditional brick-and-mortar casinos, particularly as their traditional customers age.

“If you walk into a casino in Atlantic City and look at people playing slots, how many young people do you see?” he asked. “Internet gaming is the future of the casino business. It’s strongly tied to mobile gaming. Young people are particularly tied to their mobile devices. If you don’t evolve with the future, you’re going to be left behind.”

____

Wayne Parry can be reached at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/panel-states-approval-internet-gambling-likely-204934634.html

Ilari Sahamies: "I don’t have any money left"

Brian — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:54:35 +0000

If all is ok ,with the experience he got ,he should easely be able to find him a good staker and work from there on to get back where he was once…
if only i could find me a way to get staked,,,it would help me a lot.

still working on it ,,and yes rome is not build in 1 day ,,so ill have to be patient and work on my

stats and gameplay even more …

Article source: http://www.bankrollmob.com/poker-news/2012517/ilari-sahamies-i-dont-have-any-money-left/rss

Viktor Blom in new interview about his SCOOP titles, his first WSOP, and more!

Brian — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:54:30 +0000

In a brand new interview, Viktor “Isildur1″ Blom talks about his two SCOOP titles, his very first World Series of Poker this year, how the high-stakes scene online has been after Black Friday, and more.

Viktor Blom on…

his very first WSOP this year
I’m really looking forward to going to Las Vegas, playing in the Main Event, and just experiencing what it’s like to be there. I haven’t quite decided which events I’m definitely going to play yet, but I’m under pressure to decide. I talked to a lot of other players in Monte Carlo recently about what it’s like over there and it sounds full on, so it will be cool to actually experience it myself.

how the high-stakes cash games online have been after Black Friday
There is great high-stakes action every day at PokerStars, so for me, everything has been good.

his two 2012 SCOOP titles and the remaining events
I was very happy to win the two SCOOP titles. It’s nice to win, of course. I take each day and game as they come, try to play my best, and try to keep up the momentum.

the $1,000,000 buy-in tournament One Drop
I think it’s too much money for one tournament. Maybe it also takes away the prestige from the other smaller tournaments to have one with such a large buy-in.

having so many loyal followers online
I think it’s fun that people are following me. It makes me want to do my best for them and give them something good to follow.

what new players on PokerStars should think of when playing poker
Just play as much as you can if you enjoy it. If you like something, you’ll get good at it as long as you put in the time.

source: pocketfives

Article source: http://www.bankrollmob.com/poker-news/2012517/viktor-blom-new-interview-about-his-scoop-titles-his-first-wsop-more/rss

Research and Markets: Asia-Pacific Online Gaming Report 2012

Brian — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:54:27 +0000

DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Dublin – Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/24vqb4/asiapacific_onlin)
has announced the addition of the “Asia-Pacific
Online Gaming Report 2012″ report to their offering.

Online Gaming Market continues to grow in the Asia-Pacific Region:

The new “Asia-Pacific Online Gaming Report 2012″ by Hamburg-based
secondary market research firm yStats.com compiles up-to-date
information on the online gaming market in the Asia-Pacific region,
excluding online gambling aspects. This includes a brief introduction
about the region as well as an analysis of the markets China, Japan,
South Korea and Australia.

The online gaming market is rapidly growing in the entire region of
South East Asia. Revenue generated in this market is expected to more
than double between 2011 and 2015. Especially social gaming has become a
significant trend, drawing more and more new users and generating more
revenue.

Massively Client Games Spur Growth of Chinese Online Gaming Market:

The value of the online gaming market in China is predicted to grow
annually by double digit percentage figures between 2012 and 2015.
Furthermore, spending by online gamers is projected to increase between
2012 and 2013 – despite slowing growth rates. In the fourth quarter of
2011, Tencent had the largest market share in the Chinese client-based
online gaming market, followed by Netease and SNDA.

Key Findings:

– Online gaming revenues in Southeast Asia are expected to more than
double between 2011 and 2015.

– In the fourth quarter of 2011, Tencent had the largest market share in
the Chinese client-based online gaming market, followed by Netease and
SNDA.

– In 2011, the largest share of the total online gaming market value in
Japan was generated by mobile gaming, followed by social gaming.

– Online gaming addiction is a major problem in South Korea, where more
than half of all inhabitants played online games in 2011.

– In 2012, about a fifth of the total digital goods and online
subscriptions spending in Australia is forecasted to be generated
through online gaming subscriptions and digital goods sales.

Companies Mentioned:

– Obscene Jeans Corp.

– Peak Games

– Perfect World

– PopCap Games

– RockYou

– Rovio

– Spil Games

– Wemade

– Wooga

– Zynga

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/24vqb4/asiapacific_onlin

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/research-markets-asia-pacific-online-124000053.html