Politics
Odds of Hurricane Isaac Hitting Tampa During Republican Convention at 2 Percent
Meteorologist Jeff Masters of WeatherUnderground.com is keeping a watchful eye over newly formed Tropical Storm Isaac in the Atlantic Ocean, giving the storm a 2 percent chance of directly affecting the Republican Convention August 27-30 in Tampa, Florida.
Professional Poker Player Nancy Todd Wants Control Over Arkansas Casinos
Professional poker player Nancy Todd is looking to control casinos in four Arkansas counties via a ballot proposal, the Associated Press was reporting on Monday.
Todd said that she was required to submit a new proposal after Secretary of State Mark Martin found that the measure improperly omitted a reference to a state gambling law that would be repealed.
The ballot wording was ruled to be “unfit” by Martin’s office last week and will issue a new ruling on the amended ballot wording within the next 15 days.
Obama Still Winning Wisconsin in US Presidential Race: Romney-Ryan Close (Latest Odds)
Sportsbook.com has US President Barack Obama still leading in the odds to win the state of Wisconsin at 5/7 though the Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan GOP ticket is getting much closer at 11/10 Monday.
Will Julian Assange Be Arrested by British Police: Latest Betting Odds (Video)
Intrade.com has just released a new market over the weekend on whether Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will be arrested by British police following word that the nation of Ecuador has granted the controversial activist/publisher political asylum in its London embassy.
Vice Presidential Hopeful Paul Ryan Meets With Republican Donors at Adelson Property
US Vice Presidential hopeful Paul Ryan has scheduled to meet with deep-pocketed Republican donors at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. That property just happens to be owned by the granddaddy of GOP donors, casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
The Wisconsin congressman will meet with members of the Nevada finance team on Tuesday evening - his first such event as part of Mitt Romney's campaign - but members of the media will not be allowed to attend, according to Reuters.
Maryland Senate Passes Prince George’s County Maryland Expansion Measure
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Associated Press) Members of the Maryland House of Delegates are starting to define proposed changes to a measure to expand gambling in the state.
Baltimore lawmakers met Monday morning to discuss amendments.
They are concerned about when a Prince George's County casino could open.
A bill approved by the Senate says the casino could open July 1, 2016 or 30 months after a casino opens in Baltimore in 2014. Baltimore lawmakers want to specify opening at 30 months after the Baltimore casino opens.
Paul Ryan and Online Gambling: When it Was Time to Put Up, He Shut Up
Mitt Romney on Saturday tapped Paul Ryan, a seven-term congressman from Wisconsin, to be his Vice Presidential running mate on the Republican ticket.
Delegate Wants Legislative Oversight On Gambling in Maryland
(Associated Press) - A Maryland lawmaker said Saturday he will propose changing a measure to create a joint House and Senate panel to oversee gambling.
Delegate Eric Luedtke, D-Montgomery, indicated his plans during a meeting with about a dozen members of the House of Delegates. Luedtke said he will submit the proposal on Monday, when delegates come back to work during a special session.
Paul Ryan was 10 to 1 Long Shot to be Chosen Romney Running Mate in Veepstakes
Back in April, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan was listed at 10-1 odds of being chosen as GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s running mate. Ahead of Ryan at Sportsbook.com, Marco Rubio at 3/1, Rob Portman at 5/1 and Chris Christie at 8/1.
Maryland Senate Gives Preliminary OK to Gambling Bill
Brian White, Associated Press
The Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval to expanding gambling to allow table games like blackjack and a new casino near the nation's capital.
The Senate, which took a recess on Friday until 6 p.m., planned to take a vote in the evening.
Senators spent much of the afternoon rejecting amendments, including one that would have lifted a provision in the bill to ban political contributions from casino owners.
California Online Poker Bill Near Dead
Don’t bet on Internet poker in California. A bill to regulate the activity is about to die a quick death in the California legislature. The man who helped draft the measure has said it himself.
Co-sponsor of the bill, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg had this to offer: "Three-to-one odds that that bill has a 50 percent chance of passage. And I would bet the under."
Maryland Lawmakers Gather in 2nd Special Session to Consider Gambling, Pit Bulls
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — (Associated Press) - Maryland lawmakers convened for the year’s second special session Thursday to consider a significant expansion of gambling in the state to raise more revenue and create jobs.
The measure, which is tailored to make Maryland more competitive with neighboring states with a larger variety of gambling options, would allow table games like craps and a new casino in Prince George’s County near the nation’s capital.
Plans for Maryland Casino Expansion Unveiled
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — (Associated Press) - Casinos could be able to collect more revenue than currently allowed under the long-awaited details of a bill released Tuesday by Gov. Martin O’Malley’s administration ahead of a special session on gambling.
Maryland’s 67 percent tax rate on casinos is considered unusually high. Under the bill, casinos could get a lower tax rate if they buy or lease expensive slot machines instead of the state and, in some cases, to make up for added competition from a new casino site in Prince George’s County.
Lesniak on Major League Sports, NCAA NJ Sports Betting Suit: ‘Bring It On’
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak, who co-sponsored a bill to legalize sports betting in the Garden State, laughed off reports that the four major sports leagues and NCAA had filed a suit to prevent his bill from moving forward.
No Internet Gambling for Maryland
As quickly as the topic arose, the plug has been pulled just as fast on the topic of Internet gambling in the state of Maryland.
Legalized Online Poker in California Faces Long Odds in Final Weeks: Bill Not Likely to Pass
The deadline to get an online poker measure passed in the California legislature is looming.
That August 31 date leaves little wiggle room to pass such legislation that would make the activity legal online within the Golden State.
Indian Tribes More Willing to Back Internet Gambling Though Some are Screwed
Indian Tribes see the writing on the wall. When it comes to Internet gambling, if they can’t beat ‘em, they might as well join them.
Case in point, Washington State’s Tulalip Tribes condemned the idea of legalizing Web gambling just eight months ago. On July 26, the Tulalip Secretary, Glen Gobin, told a Senate panel that tribes "must have equal footing to participate".
Congressman John Tierney May Face Ethics Probe in Connection to ‘Bookie-Gate’
Eight-term Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney continues to fight for his political career after it was revealed that three nonpartisan open-government groups want the Democrat investigated by the House Committee on Ethics.
Tierney is accused of failing to publicly disclose more than $200,000 that his wife received while managing a bank account with money that came from her brother’s illegal gambling business.
Allowing Internet Gambling in Maryland Would Ease Opposition
Maryland Live Casino owner David Cordish listed permission to offer Internet gambling as one of the conditions that could persuade him to ease his opposition to a proposed casino in Prince George's County, according to a report in the Baltimore Sun on Friday.
Lawmakers in Maryland Gather for Special Session Next Week to Discuss Internet Gambling
ANNAPOLIS -- (Associated Press) - As the battle for gamblers' dollars intensifies in the mid-Atlantic region, the possibility of developing Internet games in Maryland will be considered when lawmakers gather for a special session next week to expand gambling, the House speaker wrote in a memo.
Maryland Indicts Bodog for Internet Gambling and Now Wants Piece of the Pie, Oh My
For those of you who have been reading the Gambling911.com website in recent days, you may have been following coverage of Maryland’s decision to institute a special session for the sole purpose of expanding its casino industry.
Oh the hypocrisy! It’s so thick you can cut it with a knife. It’s thicker than the smog in my native India.
Romney Obama Neck and Neck in Nevada: President Still Favored at 1-2 Odds
LAS VEGAS – (Associated Press) - They're called "the cooler crowd," and Las Vegas is greeting them with ambivalence: A stream of post-recession tourists ready for fun but watching their wallets.
[Obama was coming in at 1-2 odds to take Nevada while Romney was at 8/5 odds at Sportsbook here]
Maryland Governor O'Malley Calls for Special Session in August re Gambling Expansion
By BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Gov. Martin O'Malley has called for a special session to expand gambling in Maryland to begin in about two weeks.
O'Malley said at a news conference Friday in Annapolis with House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller that the session will begin on Aug 9. O'Malley says expanded gambling will create more revenue and jobs for the state.
Tribes Want Federal Government to Stop States From Legalizing Online Gambling
WASHINGTON — (Associated Press) - With some states readying to start online gambling, Native American tribal leaders are calling on the federal government to step in as it did with brick-and-mortar gambling and establish regulations that ensure tribes get a piece of the action without having their revenue taxed and their sovereignty compromised.
Friday Decision Likely on Maryland Special Session to Talk Gambling Expansion
ANNAPOLIS — (Associated Press) - A spokeswoman for Gov. Martin O’Malley says a formal announcement on whether a special session will be held in Maryland to expand gambling is likely to be made on Friday.
Raquel Guillory declined to say definitively on Thursday whether a special session will be held next month. She says details are still being worked out.
On Wednesday, House Speaker Michael Busch met with House Democratic leaders to tell them to be prepared for a special session because he believes the governor will call one.
Richard Tisei Could Become First Openly Gay Republican in Congress With Tierney Loss
One of the more interesting outcomes of a John Tierney loss in Massachusetts could be that the first ever openly gay Republican gets elected to Congress. And Tierney’s job is far from secure following ongoing allegations he knew of his two brother-in-laws “illegal” gambling business based in Antigua.
Massachusetts State Senate Considers Gambling Compact With Tribe
BOSTON -- (Associated Press) - The state Senate is expected to vote soon on a casino compact signed by Gov. Deval Patrick and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe.
John Tierney Claims Challenged Court Order Comforted Him re Relative’s Gambling Biz
Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney continues to insist he had no idea his relatives were involved in an illegal gambling ring, citing a court order allowing his brother-in-law Robert Eremian to return to the Caribbean in 2002 to serve as a software consultant to a legal offshore betting operation.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: Meadowlands Casino Talk a ‘Waste of Time’
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Associated Pres) While New Jersey lawmakers heard pros and cons Thursday on the prospect of casino gambling at the Meadowlands, Gov. Chris Christie, who opposes the idea, called the discussion futile.
"I think any conversation about extending gaming to the northern part of the state or any place else in the state is a waste of time," Christie said at an unrelated bill-signing in Trenton. "As a practical political matter, it's not going to happen."
