Politics
Social Security Payroll Tax Extension Bill Could Carry Online Poker Measure
Harry Reid this past week confirmed he is in talks with Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona to draft legislation that would essentially override the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and make online poker legal at the federal level. Kyl was the architect of UIGEA, which requires banks to halt transactions related to Internet gambling, with some exceptions. Financial institutions have, however, chosen to ignore those exceptions, opting instead to block nearly all gambling-related transactions.
Poker News: Zynga Shares Up 6.1 Percent on News of ‘Real Money’ Play: Reid i-Poker Insertion Plan
The world’s largest online poker room, Zynga, witnessed a 6.1 percent surge in its share price on Friday following news it was in talks with another party to provide a “real money play” platform. Zynga, which also produces popular games like Farmville, is currently free to play on Facebook.
Zynga already claims to have some 30 million monthly users.
A statement released by the company on Friday read:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Postpones Vote on Antipiracy Bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has delayed vote on a controversial antipiracy bill originally set for consideration this coming Tuesday.
A massive protest by hundreds of Internet websites including Wikipedia, Reddit.com and Google resulted in a number of the bill’s co-sponsors bailing on Wednesday.
Reid did not offer an explanation for the delay.
The Senate Majority Leader said he still hopes a compromise can be reached "in the coming weeks."
Joe Biden in San Fran: “Giants on Their Way to Super Bowl” (Video)
Appearing in San Francisco Wednesday before a crowd of crazed San Francisco 49ers fans readying for their team to take on the New York Giants this upcoming weekend, US Vice President Joe Biden boldly proclaimed: “The Giants are heading to the Super Bowl”.
Can you say “Major League Gaffe”.
Biden was already thinking baseball apparently. The Giants are San Fran’s baseball team.
He was then showered with boos and quickly corrected himself.
The “49ers on their way” to the Big Game, Biden said.
Newt Gingrich Ex ‘Open Marriage’ Claims, Rick Perry Out and the Latest South Carolina Primary Odds
Appearing on ABC’s ‘Nightline’, GOP US Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich’s ex wife claimed the candidate desired an “open marriage”. The network released excerpts from the previously recorded show scheduled for airing Thursday night at 11:30 pm EST.
Marianne Gingrich said her ex conducted his affair with current wife Callista "in my bedroom in our apartment in Washington."
"He always called me at night and always ended with `I love you,' " she said. "Well, she was listening."
Poker News: DOJ Unlikely to Change Recent Stance on Internet Poker: ACR 1-3 Day Payouts
Here is a recap of today’s poker news for January 19, 2012 (AM/Early Afternoon Edition) including I. Nelson Rose’s insistence that the Department of Justice will remain firm with its latest stance on Internet poker and how states should have little concern jumping into the fray.
Harry Reid: ‘We Cannot Have a Series of Laws Around the Country Related to Gambling’
Following an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press” this past Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was confronted by Tony Batt of GamblingCompliance.com. Reid told Batt that a recent change in stance by the US Department of Justice should help push to get federal legislation through that legalizes online poker.
“It’ll give us an incentive to get something done,” Reid told Batt as he departed the studios.
Poker News: Phil Galfond Wins $400K in Less Than 7 Days, Maine Looks at Internet Poker
Here is a recap of today’s poker news for January 18, 2012 evening edition including Phil Galfond’s big week and Maine becoming the latest state to explore legalizing online poker.
Iowa Multi-State Online Poker: Could Combine Players With Nevada, Washington DC
Iowa lawmakers were discussing the possibility of legalizing online poker as part of a multi-state platform that would tap into the populations of other states considering the option such as Nevada and the District of Columbia.
Senate Leader Harry Reid Back Working With Jon Kyl on Internet Poker Bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada on Sunday said December 23’s legal opinion by the Department of Justice will accelerate efforts in Congress to pass a bill authorizing federal regulation of Internet poker, according to subscription-based GamblingCompliance.com.
Reid said he is working with Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl and that they “are making progress”.
Lawmakers: Act Now or Never to Legalize Online Poker at Federal Level
With a handful of states already announcing their intentions to begin offering online poker to residents and the potential for multi-state pacts, Poker Players Alliance (PPA) President John Pappas has sent out an urgent plea to lawmakers in Congress.
“The writing is on the wall. The states are going to do this,” John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, told Politico this past week. “The first three or four months of the year is going to be pretty important for Congress to act.”
Ron Paul Gambles on Nevada: Will Skip Florida
GOP candidate Texas Congressman Ron Paul will bypass Florida and focus in on the next state to hold a caucus, Nevada. Last time Paul ran for President of the US in 2008, he finished a distant second in the state of Nevada. It was one of his best showings during the 2008 campaign. The Congressman has so far come in a very close third in Iowa and second in New Hampshire.
From Time.com:
Former Tribal Casino Lobbyist Jack Abramoff Doubts Federal Legislation Will Pass (Video)
Infamous and once imprisoned Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff has his doubts as to whether a bill to legalize online poker at the federal level will pass.
If anybody should know a thing or two about casino lobbying, it would be Abramoff. He was once considered among the most powerful of the Washington lobbyists, assisting the Tribal casinos.
He served more than three years behind bars for mail fraud and conspiracy and even worked briefly at a Washington DC area kosher pizza shop while on parole.
Ohio Open to Internet Poker: Nevada Permitted Private Testing of Poker Sites
Ohio has become the latest state exploring its options to allow residents of the Buckeye State the opportunity to play “real money” Internet poker.
“We’re exploring this topic,” Dennis Berg, interim director of the Ohio Lottery Commission, told The Cincinnati Business Journal on Wednesday. “We want to be in the forefront of being able to generate revenue for the lottery commission. But it’s a policy decision that we will not make on our own.”
Sununu Takes Aim at Sheldon Adelson: “Not So Bright” (Video)
If ever there was a time when US citizens could cry foul over big businesses and campaign donations influencing politicians, that time might be now.
Ron Paul Pays 1 to 3 Odds With 2nd Place Win in New Hampshire
Ron Paul has been declared as the 2nd place finisher in the state of New Hampshire for their Republican Primary Tuesday night. Paddy Power had been offering the Texas Congressman with 1 to 3 odds of winning without Mitt Romney, who easily won the state he calls his second home.
At press time, Paul appeared to be grabbing over 20 percent of the state vote after finishing a very close third in Iowa (only four percentage points behind the co-winners, Romney and Rick Santorum). Santorum was not a major factor in the New Hampshire race.
Ice, Ice, Baby - Bigger and Better ICE Online Gambling Affiliate Party January 2012
The Sports Betting Community (SBC) in association with iGaming Super Show announced that its second Ice, Ice, Baby party will be bigger and better than last years.
New Jersey Approves Sports Betting in Final Minutes
With only hours to go before a legislative session deadline, the New Jersey Assembly approved legalized sports betting in the state.
Early in the day, the Senate had approved the measure.
Last November, voters gave the approval for legalized sports betting in the state by a 64/35 margin. Bets could be placed on professional sporting events at Atlantic City’s 11 casinos and 4 racetracks.
Online Poker Tournament $100,000 Guaranteed, Newt’s New Money Man is Adelson
There is an amazing online poker tournament going on at Carbon Poker, a Sunday $100,000 Guaranteed Freezout. We also have some important news related to Sheldon Adelson, Chairman of the Sands of Las Vegas, and his efforts to ensure President Barack Obama is not a two-term President. First, he had to get frontrunner Mitt Romney out of the way.
New Jersey Measure to Legalize Sports Betting Approved by Senate Lawmakers Monday
A measure to legalize sports betting in New Jersey was sent to the legislation on Monday and approved in the Senate. New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved the referendum by more than 65 percent this past November.
The measure would allow casinos, racetracks and some restaurants and bars to take bets on sporting events.
A legislation vote was seen as highly likely since a similar measure was approved last year prior to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoing it. He now has offered his support for the bill.
Casino Billionaire Sheldon Adelson Behind Super PAC Ad Blasting Mitt Romney
The casino billionaire magnate Sheldon Adelson is reportedly spending $5 million to a Super PAC group supporting Newt Gingrich. Adelson is said to be a huge supporter of the former House Speaker.
Odds to Wn the New Hampshire Primary Have Ron Paul Winning (Without Romney)
So certain are the oddsmakers at Paddy Power that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will win Tuesday’s Republican Primary in New Hampshire, they are offering odds without him and have Texas Congressman Ron Paul as the 1/3 favorite.
Paul finished a strong third in Iowa last week, just a few points behind the co-winners, Romney and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.
For most pundits, New Hampshire is about who will finish second and Santorum appears to be losing some steam while Paul gains.
Person-to-Person Fees Waived at Americas Card Room, Christie Favors Online Gambling, More
A popular method now for transferring money at online poker rooms is via person-to-person. Americas Cardroom has just made life easier by waiving fees on such transfers.
Lesniak Working With Governor Christie to Bring Internet Gambling to New Jersey
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak is wasting little time in getting a bill drafted that would legalize Internet gambling in the Garden State and he may have a very powerful ally.
Lesniak advised that he met with Governor Chris Christie and the two seem to be in agreement: Internet gambling in New Jersey could prove lucrative for the state’s stagnant economy.
No Political Betting For Nadex… For Now
If last night was any indication, the political betting arena should be an exciting one. Too bad the North American Derivatives Exchange (Nadex) won’t be able to take part, at least for the time being.
Three-Man Race in Iowa Caucus Overnight
It was Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul winning in the Iowa caucus overnight. All three were essentially favorites to win coming into Tuesday.
As of 10:30 pm EST, Santorum was winning by a very slight margin. Mitt Romney came in second. Ron Paul came in two percentage points behind but was still very much in the race. By 11 pm EST, Paul was determined to have finished in third place.
On Tuesday, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum were engaging in a nasty little tift.
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak Not Wasting Time With Online Gambling Move
Following his success at getting a referendum to pass legalizing sports betting in the state this past November, State Senator Raymond Lesniak was quick to jump on the Internet gambling bandwagon even before most of us were through nursing our New Year’s Eve hangovers.
Iowa Caucus Odds of Winning Have Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney in Dead Heat
Rick Santorum has become the “new flavor of the week” at just the right time with the Iowa Republican Caucus taking place Tuesday evening. The former Pennsylvania Senator is in a dead heat among the oddsmakers with Ron Paul and Mitt Romney to win it. This promises to be one of the most exciting Caucuses to watch the results flow in. Paddy Power, which does not accept bets from US citizens, had Santorum and Paul at 15/8 odds while Romney was listed at 5/4.
American Tribal Casino Industry: DOJ Stance No Big Deal
The US Department of Justice decision not to apply online poker to The Wire Act had the Indian Tribes greeting the news with a shrug of the shoulders, claims Gail Courey Toensing of the Indian Country News.
Toensing referenced Indian gaming expert Joe Valandra.
Kelly Clarkson Twitter Endorsement of Ron Paul
GOP candidate Ron Paul got an unusual endorsement from none other than American Idol Season One winner Kelly Clarkson.
She tweeted on Thursday:
"I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination and no one gave him a chance. If he wins the nomination for the Republican party in 2012 he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't."
Clarkson fans don’t appear to be Ron Paul fans. She came under their wrath for her endorsement.
