Lack of Consensus among Tribes Kills Bill

The debate on whether online poker should be legalized has been going on for months. While supporters believe that such a bill would only benefit the state, critics vehemently oppose it. One of the major issues is the adverse effect of the bill on the Indian tribes. Supposedly, if the online poker legislation is approved, it will hurt the business efforts of the tribes. Players will prefer to indulge in online real money gambling than spend money on traveling to a casino.

While some tribes have recognized the revenue potential of the bill, others have staunchly refused to support it. As such, the lack of consensus between the tribes affected the number of votes in the session. However, supporters declared that the online poker legislation is not being created to benefit the tribes or the casinos but enhance the revenue of the state.

According to sources, the California budget is experiencing a serious deficit. Regulating intra-state online poker would significantly increase the revenue. Critics, on the other hand, are listing out the disadvantages and perils of such a bill. According to them, legalizing online gambling would encourage a gambling addiction among players.

Also, there is no feasible and fool-proof way to determine whether a player who has registered an account at a casino site is of legal age to do so. As many casino sites have introduced mobile casinos and many youngsters own and have an affinity towards handheld gadgets, underage gambling is also a serious problem.

Bill Supporters Set Hopes on Next Year’s Session

Although the bill has not been turned down officially, it is has been revealed that it will not make it to the session this year. However, supporters have not given up hope and believe that the dialogue should be kept open on the subject so that it receives its due in the next session which will take place in 2013.

Earlier, the online gambling legislation included all forms of casino games. But, the bill has been amended to include only online poker. Senator Rod Wright has authored the bill in California and continues to garner support for it in the slim chance that it may be heard this session. Although some firms in California have agreed to partnerships with gaming operators, launching an online poker site will be illegal as the bill has not been passed.

Californians Keen on PokerStars US Re-Entry

Earlier, a bill was introduced in Nevada to help regulate online poker NV and allegedly, PokerStars was one of the supporters. Nevadawas promised a cut from the profits of PokerStars. However, after the events of Black Friday, the Nevada Gaming Commission, which has offered preliminary license approvals to IGT and Bally Technologies, distanced itself from the online poker operator.

Today, the PokerStars situation has drastically changed as it has made a successful settlement with the US DoJ to exempt it from further charges. The online poker operator has also acquired Full Tilt Poker and made a massive payment of over $700 million to settle the claim of the latter’s players.

Although some Californians are keen on PokerStars to include players from their state, it is unlikely to be so sue to legal technicalities. This means in the event that PokerStars is allowed to re-enter the US online poker market, it will not be allowed to offer its games in California. As a part of PokerStars now, neither will Full Tilt Poker.

Black Friday Events Serve as a Reminder – Critics

Last year, the US federal government seized the operations of several leading online operators in the country including Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars. The companies were charged with running a Ponzi scheme where millions of dollars were embezzled. The sites were shut down and players lost their money.

The money was, supposedly, transferred to offshore accounts by cheating the US banks. The deal with PokerStars was made after more than a year of arrests. The US DoJ is now concentrating on its search for a claims administrator which will help in settling the claims of Full Tilt Poker’s players. According to the DoJ, the claims will exceed almost $200 million.

Critics of the internet poker bill in California uphold these events as a testament to their belief that regulating online poker will only increase the number of such incidents. However, sources say that the bill, despite countless objections, has made considerable progress. When the DoJ made an amendment to the Wire Act and declared that save for sports betting, online gambling was legal, it proved to be a major source of encouragement and inspiration to those who support online gambling in the US.

All that is required is a mobile phone with an internet connection. As long as players fulfill the legal criteria of age, they can access and wager real money on these games. Big Fish has realized the revenue potential of mobile gambling and is in the process of developing the software.

Betable Ltd to Partner with Big Fish Games Inc.

To help make a smooth transition for iPhone players, Big Fish had signed a partnership deal with Betable Ltd. The latter is the partner of Big Fish Games in the United Kingdom and will help process the real money wagers in the mobile gambling program. The software will be available in Apple’s App Store within a few weeks.

Players in the UK can avail this option for iPhone users in theUK. At present, only William Hill and Betfair offers mobile gambling options. The market gets competitive every few month with the launch of new technologies, games and player-friendly features at online casinos.

Betable Aims to Release Real Money Casino Games before Year-End

The UK-based partner of Big Fish is on the lookout for other gambling operators to release more real money games before the end of this year. One of the reasons for this is the figures released in a study conducted by Juniper. According to the report, over $100 billion will be wagered every year on real money games at online casinos in the next few years.

Although, releasing such games in the United States will be a hassle, the UK is a more potential-rich zone. At present, federal regulations on online gambling will take more time and US states have taken steps to provide intra-state online gambling facilities to its residents. States such as Nevada and Delaware are some of the first to do so. The Nevada Gaming Commission has already started to accept internet gambling licenses form leading gaming operators such as William Hill.

According to industry pundits, real money gambling games are one of the most important milestones in the world of online gaming. Some officials such as the CEO of Betable, Christopher Griffin stated the option of mobile gambling is one of the lucrative opportunities offered to gaming operators since the invention of the internet.

Big Fish Finds Competition in Zynga Inc. and Facebook

Big Fish Games is not the only gaming operator recognize the vast revenue potential offered by real money gambling. Real money casino games will be released by Zynga Inc. within a few weeks. Zynga is well-known for its famous Farmville games that are offered on Facebook, a leading social network.

Zynga has invested significant sums of money in federal and state lobbying initiatives for online real money gambling. The leading gaming operator has launched an investment plan to appease its unhappy investors. The financial performance of the company has not been up to the mark for several months.

Facebook is also stepping into the real money gambling market. A few days ago, the site launched its first real money bingo game in the UK. Although the company is based in the US, legal technicalities forced Facebook to release its real money games in Britain first. Another reason was that bingo is already one of the favorite games in that country and is highly regulated.

Facebook intends to launch its real money games in other countries within the next few years. Many gaming experts believe that Facebook will be a tough competitor for other online gambling operators as the former has a varied and vast audience from all across the world.

Apple to Stay Away from Middleman Position in Real Money Online Wagering

Apple, based in California, offers a host of casino game applications to its customers in the Apple Store. Despite this, the company is reluctant to take a cut of the revenue earned from these gambling apps. According to Apple spokesman, Tom Neumayr, the App Store will offer casino games that adhere to the local laws.

Neumayr did not comment on the Big Fish development and mentioned that Apple is not interested in being a middleman in the real money wagering operation. Big Fish was prevented by Apple from allowing iPad users to play several video games for a monthly subscription.

Players can use their credit cards to place real money wagers at Big Fish Casino. The revenue or take earned by each game will be divided between Big Fish and Betable. With revenue of almost $200 million in 2011, Big Fish intends to double its figures with the introduction of these new games.

Black Friday Confirms Worst Fears of Online Gambling Critics

The issue of security, or the lack of it, has always been the primary factor mentioned by critics whenever talks emerged of regulated online gambling. According to them, it would be virtually impossible to determine whether Players were providing accurate information. Furthermore, they claimed that the US cyberspace would be under considerable threat. The events which took place in 2011 only confirmed their worst fears.

In April last year, US federal authorities seized several well-known poker operators including Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and Absolute Poker on embezzlement charges. It was revealed that the gaming operators had transferred millions of dollars to offshore accounts using fraudulent methods to trick US banks.

The event, which has since been referred to as Black Friday, was one of the darkest days in the history of online real money gambling. In the past year, several arrests were made including that of Raymond Bitar, the CEO of Full Tilt Poker. After more than a year of trials, the matter has finally been closed.

Last week, it was announced that PokerStars would acquire Full Tilt Poker and pay off all its customers provided that the former be exempted from all embezzlement charges. The US government agreed to this deal and PokerStars made a massive payment of almost $750 million. Although the lump sum includes the money owed to players of PokerStars, more than $500 million of it will be paid to the players of Full Tilt Poker.

US Players Undeterred by Black Friday Event

After the events of Black Friday, the online gambling market in the US was in a state of shock. Never before had such an elaborate Ponzi scheme been planned to this intricate in detail. However, within a few months, US players were looking at other gambling sites to invest their money.

The fact remains that although players were furious and worried about the status of their money, they were undeterred in their passion for the pastime. But, by then, only a handful of sites would accept US players. Nevertheless, players still wagered real money on casino games at these sites.

Poker Enthusiasts Hire Lobbyists to Reverse Anti-Gambling Act

In 2006, the US Congress put into effect a law known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Since then, poker enthusiasts have employed the services of well-known lobbyists to reverse the act. According to unnamed sources more than $7 million dollars have been spent in this endeavor.

To appease federal candidates, almost $200,000 was spent on their election campaigns. Although no considerable progress had been made, a surprising announcement in December last year turned the tide. The US DoJ declared that online gambling, other than that of sports betting, is legal.

US Government Stalling on Federal Online Gambling Bill

A jubilant online gambling industry eagerly awaited the news of a federal bill that would create a regulated market for online real money gambling. However, the wait has proved to be a long one as there has been no positive movement from the Congress. As such US states are in the process of regulating intra-state online gambling.

Those that would be most hit by such a legislation would be the large number of land-based casinos in the country. If players were given the option of playing their favorite casino games from the convenience of their own homes, there would be a significant decrease in the number of players at land-based casinos.

Indian Tribes Dread Online Gambling Legislation

Indian Tribes have also vehemently opposed the regulation of online gambling on a federal level for the same reason as land-based casinos. Although some tribes have voiced their support, several others are adamant on their stance. Most of the tribes recognize the myriad of possibilities offered by such a legislation. State senators are working furiously to garner their support which will provide considerable credence to the bill.

The US Congress is waiting for possible solutions to the numerous issues brought up by critics. The launch of mobile platforms by online casinos has only added fuel to the fire. The idea that anyone with a handheld device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, would be able to wager real money on casino games has caused uproar among critics.

Such devices are now common among the youth and will only tempt them to try their luck at such sites. Although casino sites adhere to strict security validations, there will be no way to effectively prove that players are of permissible age when they register for a real money account at the sites.

Last year, the US Department of Justice amended its ruling on the Wire Act and announced that save for sports betting, all other forms of online gambling was legal. This led to an unprecedented turn of events where several US states clamored to be the first to issue online gambling licenses to appropriate gaming operators as and when a bill is passed at a federal level.

However, with a lack of progress on a bill for the regulation of online gambling, US states are in the process of sanctioning and regulating intra-state gambling. As expected, states have encountered several roadblocks. While supporters declare that an online gambling bill will significantly increase revenue, critics are worried about security issues.

Zynga Unveils New Investment Plan to Attract Disgruntled Investors

Zynga’s decision to invest real money to push an online gambling bill at the state or federal level comes at a sensitive time. The gaming operator recently took a beating when its stock prices plummeted to an all-time low. Zynga, whose financial performance has not impressed investors, stated the investment was a response to the legal alterations and the increase in online gambling players.

To appease the diminishing confidence of its investors, Zynga, which has made lobbying investments in California and Washington D.C. views the move as a timely and smart business opportunity. At present, the gaming operator, which is based in San Francisco, offers poker games which allow players to win only virtual currency and not real money.

Zynga in Talks for Real Money Gambling Games

According to sources, Zynga has already had several talks with a number of potential gaming operators who will be available for a partnership. With a highly popular network, Zynga stands to earn a considerable amount of income if its games are converted to a real money format.

Although several lawmakers mentioned that an online gambling bill may not materialize on a federal level in the near future, several US states continue to be hopeful. The prominent senators from each state have already announced their opinion of the regulation of such a bill.

2013 will be a Profitable Year – Zynga CEO

While Zynga is putting in large sums of money, industry pundits are extremely wary about a regulated online gambling market in the US as they believe it may take more time due to the legalities and technical difficulties involved. After Zynga announced its quarterly results a few weeks ago, Mark Pincus, it’s CEO, held a conference call with several business analysts.

According to Pincus, if all goes well, Zynga will launch its real money gambling games within the first six months of next year. Pincus further stated that although US will provide one of the most profitable online gambling real money arenas, Zynga will concentrate on other international markets for the time being.

When the quarterly results were announced, public documents showed that Zynga had spent almost $100,000 on internet gambling lobbying efforts at the end of June. Realizing that it would need outside assistance, the gaming operator has employed the services of Jones & Stewart Inc., Peck Madigan and Bay Bridge Strategies Inc., which is primarily based in Washington.

Zynga’s Lobbying Efforts in California

The firms will keep a close watch on any events related to the taxation and regulation of an internet gambling legislation in the Senate and House. Zynga had also employed Platinum Advisors to push a bill in California, which was looking to provide licenses to online gambling operators. The state offers possibility as the California Governor has given his approval for the legalization of online gambling.

The legislation, which is known as the Internet Gambling Consumer Protection and Public-Private Partnership Act of 2012, was introduced earlier this year in California. Although it faced a few problems, it is expected to make a comeback. Zynga has disclosed that it has not spent the same amount of money for its lobbying efforts at the state and federal level.

Although the regulation of an online gambling market will assuredly produce great financial results in the US, it will also create several problems. Critics have questioned the feasibility of regulating such markets as there is no way to determine the age of the users involved. As a result, a legislation will encourage underage real money gambling and cause an addiction to it.

Another important reason why the bill is not moving forward at federal and state levels is because of the Indian Tribes. They believe that their current real money gambling operation will suffer in an extreme manner as if online wagering is legalized, there will be a proliferation of online casinos.

Julien Cadoriou, Europe’s gaming head said that gambling is a well regulated and widespread sport in the UK. There are millions of bingo players, who use gambling as their social experience, he mentioned. So, it is best that they offered what players want, he added. There has always been a lot of debate as to whether social networking sites will introduce online gambling to enhance their revenues. Zynga, which is Facebook’s gaming partner, is planning to launch real-money gambling variants of its slot machine, bingo and poker games by 2013.

Who can access the bingo game?

Since regulations regarding online gambling vary from place to place, markets that are outside the United Kingdom can pose legal risks. Facebook gets most of its revenue from the US, where real money gambling is closed as of now. The regulators in the US have just started legalizing certain types of online gambling within the states, posing a great technical challenge to keep all the gambling operations legal.

Why bingo games?

Clive Hawkswood, who is Remote Gambling Association’s (online gambling organization in London) Chief Executive, said that Facebook’s attempt in the UK is definitely an important development. In the online gambling spectrum, bingo occupies the milder end and since online bingo usually consists of chat rooms, it is the best thing that can happen to Facebook, he mentioned. He also said that many people have asked why Facebook did not introduce online gambling before, but they do not realize that it is very tough to monetize their funds. Launching a gambling site can bring in good revenues to the social networking site, he added.

Who will provide the gaming software?

Facebook will introduce Bingo Friendzy application along with Gamesys, which is a leading online gambling service provider, so that it can attract larger online audience. Mr Codorniou said that that Facebook has been discussing on expanding the online gambling offer with gambling companies. It can include games like roulette and blackjack, he added.

After Facebook announced its decision about launching Bingo Friendzy, online players are very excited. But, since Facebook is used by people of varying age groups, offering gambling games on the site can be dangerous. The main thing is to observe if Bingo Friendzy will offer something different to the players since many sites already use Facebook for their promotional campaigns.

Zynga Slingo Bingo

Bingo games like Zynga Slingo Bingo, which has more than 6 million users, are available on Facebook. Though the Slingo Bingo game is not played for real money, it exposes children below 18 years of age to “soft gambling”. Even Facebook fan pages have no age related restrictions on who views them.

How is Bingo Friendzy safe?

Nobody can stop a person below 18 years of age from clicking the “Like” button and then follow a bingo website. The Bingo Platform, which is provided by Facebook, to Bingo Friendzy has to implement age controls like age-gating, geo-location technology. This should be done so that children below 18 years cannot view the website or even access twitter or Facebook Fan pages. The company will also give the users an opportunity to set their own gaming and spending limitations.

The online slots and Bingo sites have agreed to the required regulations on the social media. But, people have forgotten that there are many bingo advertisements even on the television. It is believed that Facebook will be launching more games like Slots Friendzy on the UK App Center. The games are provided by Gamesys, which also offers games like Caesars Casino, Caesars Bingo, Heart Bingo and Sun Bingo. This company is in Gibraltar and does not belong to the UK gambling jurisdiction.

How to play the Bingo Friendzy game?

To play Bingo Friendzy, you have to complete your age verification procedure and then fill in the details of your bank account. You then have to deposit an amount between £10 and £500 and then wager cash in the slot machine and 90 bingo games. The game has cartoon graphics with characters that can be compared to Moshi Monsters, which is a famous social network for children.

The game is mainly for young audience and Facebook is sure that the appealing animal imagery on the site will definitely attract more and more people. A business insider said that online gambling, which involves real money, might be the leap that Facebook requires to achieve “a $100 billion company” tag.

In such a challenging environment, it is common for some sites to enter or exit a particular gambling market owing to certain factors. While most of them avoid the US due to legal issues, a large number of casino sites are flourishing in Europe. One of them was a key online casino operator – Bodog.

Players Receive E-Mail Notifications from Bodog Europe

Calvin Ayre launched the Bodog brand and it quickly rose to become a favorite among online gamblers for its superior offering of games and bonuses. The Europe sector of the brand is one of the few elite casino operators that have a special license for offering online gambling activities in Europe.

One of the reasons for the success of the site is that it offers fair games and secure transactions. However, from next month onwards, not all players will be able to enjoy playing at Bodog casinos. Several players have received e-mail notifications n the past weekend.

Due to certain legal issues, Bodog will no longer offer its services to players who reside in particular jurisdictions. By the end of the month, these players have been requested to withdraw any money that is left in their accounts. If they do not, the site will forfeit the money and the account balance will be zero on September 1.

Bodog Europe to Target Regulated Jurisdictions

Players are in a state as no particular reason has been given for the turn of events. In due time, several rumors started doing the rounds, some claiming that Bodog has decided to make a graceful exit of the online gambling industry due to financial reasons. The rapid spread of the rumors forced Bodog to release a statement immediately detailing its predicament.

In its official statement, Bodog apologized to its customers for the inconvenience and declared that, from next month, it would only be providing gambling services in jurisdictions that have national regulations in place. One of the main reasons for this decision was attributed to the prevalence of internet fraud in some jurisdictions.

Furthermore, the statement announced that Bodog prides itself on providing premium gaming entertainment and a dedicated customer service. By functioning in several countries, it is becoming difficult for the brand to pay the required attention to its players. As such, the site is preparing to withdraw services from a number of countries including Croatia, Israel, Ukraine, Hungary and Bulgaria.

Online Gambling Market gets New Entrant – Facebook

Although the online gambling market is highly competitive, it is also extremely lucrative. One of the newest entrants in the market is Facebook, the social media giant. There has been wide-spread speculation about when exactly Facebook will step foot into the online gambling arena.

A day ago, Financial Mail published a report which declared that Facebook is all set to offer online gambling services to its customers. However, these services can be availed only by players in the UK and those who are above the legal age limit. Rumors surrounding the social networking site’s entry to the gambling arena started to rise when pages were allowed to be opened up on the site by online casinos.

The decision to offer real money gambling services will significantly enhance the revenue of Facebook. This can be attributed to the massive number of customers on Face book and the general inclination towards online gambling. Bingo will be one of the first casino games to be offered by Facebook.

Social Media Giant to Offer Games via Joint Venture with Gamesys

According to the Head of Gaming in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Julien Codorniou, bingo has been selected as the first game as it is already a favorite among players in the UK and is regulated. In a joint venture with Gamesys, Facebook will launch the Bingo app. Gamesys has been chosen by the social networking giant as it is one ofUK’s leading online gaming operators

Codorniou stated Gamesys is the ideal choice as it has the technology and Facebook has the audience. Today, customers are more attracted towards innovations such as 3D technology adopted by other online casino gaming operators as they offer a unique gambling environment. Along with bingo, Facebook plans to include slots and other table games within the next few months.

The social networking giant is in talks with other online casino operators so as to offer a variety of casino games to its customers. Although Facebook is based in the US, the current legal scenario considering online gambling is not suitable for launching the plan at that location. For the time-being, Facebook is content with the idea of releasing bingo games as it complements the site perfectly owing to chat forums.

Survival of Industry at Stake – Casino Owner Tom Brietling

While land-based casino operators sigh in relief every time the bill is pushed back, online gambling operators are getting tired of the waiting game. Most of them have become unconcerned about the legalization process. Instead they are worried that the government does not care about their ability to make significant contributions to the revenue of the country.

According to Tom Brietling, head of an online gaming company, Ultimate Gaming, online gambling plays a crucial role in shaping the economy. If the bill is not passed, it could adversely affect the industry’s survival. There are many online gambling operators that share this view.

Although the last session of the congress is a few months away, the online casino operators are starting to make as much noise as they can. This will ensure that they draw some notice to the issue at hand before the hustle and bustle of the presidential elections goes underway by the end of this year.

Nevada Senators Heller and Reid Approached to Garner Support

At present, the main intention of the casino operators is to get Nevada senators Dean Heller and Harry Reid to convince their co-workers to allow the online gambling bill to piggy-back on another bill meant for the protection of the country’s security in cyberspace. This is one of the best ways to get approval for the online gambling, as it, by itself may not stand a chance.

The two senators may stand divided on how appropriate the cyber security bill is, but they are forced to be teammates so that they can achieve the ultimate victory for their home state – an online gambling bill to revive the gaming sector in Nevada. Sen. Heller and Reid also have separate viewpoints on the 2012 Senate race of Nevada. However, they are working together for the purpose of this bill.

Reid admits that amassing Republican votes is the best way to ensure that the bill sees the light of day. Heller makes pointed references to Reid’s take-it-easy approach and the lack of support from his Republican counterpart to the press whenever he is questioned about the issue.

As time passes, gaming operators are getting frustrated over the lack of progress. Some of them say that they do not particularly care whose responsibility it is to garner the votes. As far as they are concerned, there is a senator and a majority leader supporting the cause. All that is required is competent leadership skills to push the bill through. If not, it is the gaming industry in Nevada that will be in danger.

US States in the Process to Conduct Intra-State Online Gambling

Ever since the US Department of Justice amended the Wire Act and declared that online gambling, except on sports was legal, the issue of its legalization has sparked debates all over the country. Several US states have already begun procedures to approve intra-state online gambling. While many welcome the change and looking forward to the significant increase in revenue, others seem wary.

One of the main issues that critics are voicing is about the security, or lack of it, that such a bill will pose to the country’s cyber space. Another factor which has come up in debates is the proliferation of underage gambling and gambling addiction. Although there are several US senators who are pro-online gambling, there are others who vehemently oppose it.

Divided Opinions of Senators over Online Gambling

It is now clear that US states will start to move the process of offering online gambling on their own if steps are not taken by the federal government. Several major online casino operators such as William Hill and IGT have applied for license approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission.Nevada gaming business owners are in a state of angst as they realize if and when the bill passes, it could prove fatal to their business on the Vegas strip.

With online casinos offering a wider variety of games, bonuses and exciting promotional offers, it could very well bring to an end the monopoly and magnetism of the casinos in Vegas. When one ponders over the advantages offered by online casinos along with the comfort and convenience of accessing these games from home, it would not make sense for a gambler to spend extra money and travel all the way to Vegas.

Some senators such as Kentucky’s Rand Paul claim that he will support the bill if it comes up in session. However, several Republican senators still oppose the legislation such as Oklahoma’s Senator James Inhofe, who has strong opinions about the pastime. According toFlorida’s Sen. Marco Rubio, he would never support the bill even if it means an increase of revenue for the states concerned.

Talks are on to sanction a major metamorphic alteration to the gambling program that currently exists in Maryland. Just like the federal online gambling legislation bill, many fear that such a legislation may adversely affect the state’s cyber security and aggravate gambling addiction and underage gambling.

Speaker Keen on Including Online Gambling in Future Legislative Discussions

Matters seem to be moving in a positive manner as several members of the House of Delegates are looking forward to discuss the possibility in next week’s session. According to Michael Busch, Speaker, members of the Democratic Party have been informed that online gambling should one of the topics in the subsequent legislative session.

Martin O’Malley, Governor, allowed his spokeswoman and communications director, Raquel Guillory, to mention to the press that the internet gambling proposal is a crucial issue. According to Guillory, the overall casino expansion bill may, in all likelihood, contain a section requesting the inclusion of online gambling for the state. She further added that there has been several discussions regarding the matter, but as of yet, there is no decision and the bill is still being put together.

May Be Too Late To Discuss Online Gambling

While some are toasting the news, there are others who feel that it is too late in the year to approach such a matter. According to a political science professor in Maryland, Todd Eberly, it may not be late to include online gambling in the final draft of the casino expansion bill. However, he believes that too much time is being wasted in pointless hesitancy and that the matter may not be discussed as it should be.

Critics are vehemently opposing the thought and constantly spew the dangers of including online gambling in such a bill. The main concern seems to be that of the possibility of increase in underage gamblers who are otherwise denied access to the games in a land-based casino in the US.

Cordish Proposal Sparks off Debate

The matter of internet gambling came to light when David Cordish, who owns a casino inMaryland, requested permission to include online gambling as one of the provisions for his yet-to-be-opened casino. The special session which will convene on Wednesday will discuss the fate of the casino and the possibility of sanctioning table games at every casino in Maryland.

It was after reading the Cordish proposal that Busch sent an e-mail to the members announcing that internet gambling would be discussed in the upcoming session. One of the main factors why Busch is keen on a discussion is that the inclusion of internet gambling could well place Maryland at par with its neighboring states.

Busch states that Maryland voters allowed the sanction of the gaming and gambling program almost four years ago. In this time, many US states have expanded their gaming program with online casinos, inclusion of several table games and super bonus promotions. According to Busch, Maryland should seek to create a competitive and healthy gaming environment.

State’s Well-Being is Key Concern for Speaker

The inclusion of online gaming will do wonders for the state. It will not only significantly increase the revenue of the state but will also encourage people staying outside Maryland to play at its online casinos. According to Busch’s spokeswoman, Alexandra Hughes, one of the primary items on the Speaker’s agenda for the meeting is the drafting of an appropriate gaming program.

The Speaker seeks to develop a program that will bring result in considerable benefits to the taxpayers in Maryland. Busch reminded members that internet gambling is just an option. If it has to be presented to the residents of the state, it will have to be in their best interest. Else, such a matter will not be considered.

Delaware Gambling Program Sets Expectations

Two months ago, Delaware approved intra-state gambling which allowed customers to legally play slot games, blackjack and poker. The legislation also permitted players to remotely access these games form their PCs and handheld device. Maryland hopes to follow in Delaware’s footsteps.

But, the program is not without its flaws. According to an analyst for the Legislative Services, Warren Deschenaux, the gambling program of Delaware has not been instigated properly. Deschenaux believes that the state cannot verify whether the players access these sites and games actually live within the borders of the state.

A business professor at the Illinois University, John Warren Kindt, stated that US states are moving too fast by misinterpreting the DoJ amendment to the 1961 Wire Act. As long as States do not have the technology to verify the credentials, age and location of customers playing at casino sites, internet gambling is a dangerous arena.

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This is another bonus available to first time depositors. It is a 100% bonus that can be a maximum of $100, and it can be redeemed 10 times. WinPalace Casino also has various weekly bonuses on slots and table games, as well a new and exciting slots game called Polar Explorer.   

The High Roller Bonus

The WinPalace Casino offers big bonuses to players who make big wagers. If you make a first deposit of $750 or more, then the online casino gives you a 200% bonus. The High Roller bonus can go up to $2000. Again, players are required to make a wager and deposit at least 30 times before making any cash withdrawals from their account.

High Roller – Terms and Conditions

An important point for players to remember is that wagers made in Poker, Bingo, Sic Bo, Pai Gow Poker, Baccarat, Roulette and Craps do not fulfil the wagering requirements. Hence, any winnings from these bets will be considered void. Winnings from Multi Hand Video Poker, Texas Holdem Bonus Poker, Blackjack and Perfect Pairs will count as one fourth of their original value.    

A welcome bonus worth $1000

WinPalace gives its new customers a big hearty welcome with a $1000 bonus. New customers need to sign up at the site and make a deposit into their account. Upon making their first deposit, the site offers a 200% bonus which may amount to $1000. Unlike other gambling websites that only give a welcome bonus to their customers on their first deposit, WinPalace Casino rewards their customers with a welcome bonus worth $1000 on their second deposit as well. This means that customers have a fantastic in-flow of cash after signing up at the site, so that they can bet more and win big.

To avail the welcome bonus, you must make a minimum deposit of $21 into your account. The bonus is called a ‘Play Bonus’ because players are only allowed to use it to place bets. Players can only cash out the winnings from the bonus but the not the bonus itself. In fact, if the player wins with the bonus then the bonus money is deducted from the total winnings. Despite these deductions, a 200% allows a new player to bet in a lot of different games. Players can make small bet in multiple games, or make a huge bet on a single and, thus, increase their chances of winning big.

New players can register directly at this site. Players who had been previously registered at ChiliPoker can also have all their personal details and deposits transferred to their new accounts quickly and easily. The integration has been smooth and glitch-free so far, and the customers are the real winners because they get access to a number of amazing promotions.

The Team 770 program helps players become professionals

Team 770 is the cream of the crop; it keeps track of all its players’ performances. In this way, they are able to identify the players who show promise and potential with the most number of wins and money earned. Imagine being able to make a living doing what you love. That’s what Poker 770 offers its players. The best players on the site are invited to join the Team 770. Here they get to show off their skills and compete in tournaments for big money. It doesn’t matter where you come from. If you have the necessary skills and know-how, then you too can become a professional. Team 770 players also get the chance to face-off against the Pro770 players. Winners get their names written in history and find the short road to poker stardom.

The chance to win $50,000 every month

Every day players get the chance to win up to $1000 for free. Freerolls are offered to all players regardless of their level of expertise. In fact, players have the chance to take part in these tournaments every hour, and sometimes every half hour. Players can enter these tournaments from the “Freerolls” section of the “Tournaments” tab.

Terms and conditions of the “Freeroll” tournaments

The “Freeroll” tournaments are open to all Poker 770 players and ChiliPoker players as part of their promotions. In the “Bounty Pro free € 16.50” freeroll tournament the top three players win token worth € 5.50 for the tournament. In the “Bounty Pro Free €25” free roll tournament, the top 4 players get a token worth €5.50 while the 5^th player gets a $5 cash prize. In the “$40k Tokens” freeroll tournament the top 5 players receive tokens worth $8.80 for the Saturday satellite tournament and are guaranteed $35,000.

All Poker770 players receive sufficient tokens every month to participate in three “$30 Daily Freeroll” in a week. The tokens are credited to their accounts at the beginning of the month. Eligible players are chosen based on a selection criteria, and they automatically receive their token at the start of the month.

The WSOP Pro Team Challenge

Players who are part of the Team770 get the chance to jet off to Las Vegas and participate in tournaments as Poker770 representatives. Players are given the chance to win big cash and a name for themselves in the world of professional poker. Players get the chance to join this illustrious team by facing off with Pro770 players every week. If they can beat the Pro770 players in four Heads up tournaments then they become part of Team770. The buy-in limit for the tournament can range from $1 to $109. Therefore, regardless of your level of expertise, you can still get the chance to face a Pro770 player and get a chance to go to Las Vegas for the 2012 World Series of Poker.       

The Poker770 VIP Club

As an added bonus players who were part of the ChiliPoker VIP club can now have their membership transferred to the Poker770 VIP club. Every player at the site earns point after playing games. The points determine a players VIP status. Points can also be spent on cash or to buy tokens into tournaments and other promotions. You can also shop at Poker770 store for anything from headphones, books and CDs to the latest laptops and Nintendo Wii. It’s an exclusive offer open only to Poker770 members who are part of the VIP club.

Play in the MegaPokerSeries

Players who enter the MegaPokerSeries get a chance to win big money and travel to exciting locations. You don’t need a lot of cash to buy in to this tournament. Every player gets the chance to develop a complex strategy over several levels that allows them to play their best game. Players can also become a MegaPokerSeries VIP. With a VIP pass they get to attend the Poker770 MegaPokerSeries party, play Team770 and many more exciting opportunities.