Family Values Group Want UIGEA Strengthened
Despite close to a dozen states pushing forward to legalize online poker, some groups are looking to further strengthen existing prohibition such as the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
UIGEA essentially makes it illegal for US banks to process payments for online gambling companies. The US Justice Department, meanwhile, has given the green light to states to regulate Internet poker.
From the Huffington post:
Family-centric groups in 13 states are calling on Congress to block states across the nation from legalizing Internet gambling, saying the societal costs will far outweigh the benefit to tax coffers.
They want Congress to strengthen the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act "to ensure its clear intent that the Internet not become a giant online casino."
The groups are from Wisconsin, Kentucky, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Hawaii, Georgia and Tennessee.
The U.S. Justice Department ruled in December that in-state online bets not involving sports teams do not violate federal law. That has touched off a race by cash-strapped state governments to try to legalize Internet gambling.
Several national family groups expressed similar concerns last month.
"The bottom line is we are The Family Foundation, and expansion of gambling through casinos or online is targeting one group only: moms and dads," said Kent Ostrander, founder of The Family Foundation of Kentucky. "It's an effort to separate a family from its assets. The family is the building block of any society, and yet it is the most vulnerable institution in that society."
Massachusetts and Ohio are two states that have considered legalizing Web poker over the past few months.
Jason Mo vs. Brian Hastings at Event #12: Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em (512 player max)
5 pm PST and Event #12, the Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em, featured a showdown between Jason Mo and Brian Hastings to determine the bracelet winner and who walks home with $371,498. Update 8:52 pm EST - Brian Hastings has won it and his first ever WSOP bracelet.
Alabama’s own Hastings is a popular online player who has one live win at the Summer Splash Poker Open / WPT Regional Series Season 10 - WPT Main Event - No Limit Hold'em from last August. He’s looking for his first World Series of Poker bracelet.
Missouri’s Jason Mo has 4 cashes in live tournaments including a second place finish at the Harrah’s St. Louis WSOP Circuit Event WSOP Circuit No Limit Hold'em Championship in April of 2010.
Event #12 of this year’s World Series of Poker will yield Mo his biggest cashout to date even with the 2nd place finish.
Nevada Approves Two Online Poker Company License Applications
Nevada is one step closer to joining the Internet poker world after recommending two companies for interactive gambling licenses including one on Thursday, International Game Technology.
The Board approved Bally Technologies and its partnership with Chili Gaming on Wednesday.
The companies are the first to be considered for a license since authorities approved regulations on interactive gambling.
The license recommendations will go before the Nevada Gaming Commission June 21 for final approval.
45 Players Confirmed for World Series of Poker Big One For One Drop
Here is a look at the players who have committed to the event thus far:
Guy Laliberté
Bobby Baldwin
Phil Ruffin
Andy Beal
Patrik Antonius
Gus Hansen
Daniel Negreanu
Johnny Chan
Tom Dwan
Tony Guoga
Jonathan Duhamel
Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier
Giovanni Guarascio (Montreal private citizen group)
Arnaud Mimran
Cary Katz
Paul Phua
Paul Newey
Richard Yong
Bob Bright
Justin Smith
Erik Seidel
Dan Shak
Carlos Nahas (Loto-Québec/Casino Montreal satellite)
Anonymous (U.S. Venture Capitalist)
Anonymous (European Hedge Fund Manager)
Anonymous (U.S. Hedge Fund Manager)
Frédéric Banjout (French businessman)
Caesars Entertainment seat
Caesars Entertainment via June 30 $25,300 satellite at Rio
MGM Mirage Satellite seat
Anonymous (U.S. Hedge Fund Manager)
John Morgan (CEO, Winmark Corporation)
Eugene Katchalov
Jens Kyllönen
Jason Mercier
David "Viffer" Peat
Vivek Rakjumar
Andrew Robl
Nick Schulman
Noah Schwartz
Roger Teska
Sam Trickett
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
