Former Full Tilt Poker chief pleads guilty

October 15, 2014

The at one time high profile and high riding former chief executive of Full Tilt Poker during its spectacular failure several years ago, Raymond Bitar (41) (see previous reports) pleaded guilty on Monday to contravening US anti-online gambling laws, but will not go to jail due to ill health. Bitar is suffering from severe heart […]

MGM behind new online poker legalisation drive

October 14, 2014

In what appears to be a campaign channeled primarily through social media like Facebook and Twitter, MGM Resorts International is reportedly pushing for legalised online poker in New York, reports the New York Times. The central message of the “Let NY Play” drive is that if people in New Jersey can play poker online legally, […]

Another New Jersey political attack on Pokerstars

August 29, 2014

In what is increasingly starting to look like a coordinated attack on Pokerstars as it awaits the licensing decision of the New Jersey regulator, another state politician has attacked the company and opined that it should not be granted a licence. Following an assault in the media last week by Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (see previous […]

I´ll be back, says California poker bill lawmaker

August 22, 2014

Barely a week after withdrawing his bid to seek the intrastate legalisation of online poker in California (see previous reports), California Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer has issued a statement explaining his decision and outlining his plans for the future. Some cliff notes from the statement: * Jones-Sawyer will be back in the next session with a […]

Online poker federal solution unlikely, says PPA exec

August 13, 2014

Writing in an op-ed for Yogonet this week, John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance opines that a federal legalisation of US online poker is increasingly unlikely, and a state-by-state process is probably the way forward. “Fractured by ongoing partisanship and the typical stagnation of an election year, the United States Congress today […]

Second California poker legalisation bill pulled

August 8, 2014

Barely a day after California state Senator Lou Correa announced the demise of his bill SB1366 seeking to legalise online poker in the Golden State (see previous report), a second and similar bill has been withdrawn by proposer Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer. Members of the Assemblyman’s staff said Thursday that the reasons for the withdrawal were […]

Online poker bill pulled in California

August 7, 2014

For the fifth year running it appears that the prospect of legalised online poker in California is fading following the announcement by Sen. Lou Correa that he has pulled his legalisation bill due to too little time in which to reconcile the competing and vested interests of cardrooms and tribal groups. Our readers will recall […]

California legislative deadline looms closer

July 11, 2014

Two online poker intrastate legalisation bills that have been languishing at committee stage for months could be running out of time, reports the publication California Gambler. The reason is the absolute state legislative deadline of August 31, which could mean that bills not passed by Senate and House by that date are scrapped and have […]

Morongo-Pokerstars alliance responds to draft online poker bill

June 6, 2014

It has not taken long for the Californian online gambling legalisation coalition formed between the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Commerce Club, Hawaiian Gardens Casino, Bicycle Casino and The Rational Group – Pokerstars to respond to attempts by other tribal groups to draft an intrastate law banning “bad actors” from any legalisation moves in California […]

Another online poker legalisation bill for Pennsylvania

June 4, 2014

Senator Edwin Erickson’s soon-to-launch bill seeking to legalise online poker in Pennsylvania (see previous  reports) is to be supported in the state Assembly by a similar bill sponsored by Republican Representative Nicholas Miccarelli. It is understood that both bills will include anti-competitive “bad actor” clauses barring operators like Pokerstars who continued to supply US services […]