Connecticut Forum

One of the first states to venture into online gambling is Connecticut, with a forum planned for Thursday February 9^th. Located at the Connecticut legislative office building and organized by State Senator Joan Hartley and Democrats State Representative Stephan Dargan, the meeting will be an opportunity for individuals to gain information about the pros and cons of the industry and what the market could offer both companies and residents. A range of speakers have been invited, including Mohegan Sun Casino’s Chuck Bunnell, Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Bill Satti, Sportech Inc’s Brooks Pierce and Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s Anne Noble. Meanwhile, Carlos Reinoso, the representative from Connecticut on Problem Gambling and Bob Clark, State Attorney General Office’s representative, will also be present.

Connective Governor D. Malloy has already stated that, whether individuals like it or not, online gambling is coming to the state. He revealed that the problem now was to ensure that legislation was created carefully and considerately.

Hawaii Seeks to Create Gambling Corporation

As Connecticut looks set to embrace online gambling, authorities in Hawaii have put forward a bill to the state House to create a gambling regulatory body. The Hawaii Internet Lottery and Gaming Corporation (HILGC), if it goes ahead, will be able to offer online games of skill and chance, ranging from lottery and casino slots to poker games. Whilst real money wagering will only be available for intrastate gambling, the HILGC will also provide free-to-play titles which both residents from Hawaii and visitors to the state will be able to enjoy. In addition, the gambling corporation will be able to host two land based gambling events during each year as a way to attract a number of gambling tourists to the state.

Sponsored by House Speaker Emeritus Joseph Souki, Representative Angus McKelvey and Representative Faye Hanohano, the bill also sets out that the HILGC will have tender its online gaming provider services to a company who can prove that they have haven’t previously offered internet gambling services to American citizens.

Increasing Nevada Casinos Bid for Licenses

It has previously been revealed that many land based casinos in Nevada have already made submissions to have their online gambling activity legalized. Though some casino experts are concerned that the small pool on online gamblers in the state would mean that any internet activity would simply not be viable, this has not stopped bricks and mortar casino owners from putting forward applications.

The latest in this line of application submissions is Fertitta Interactive, who has sought to gain their own online casino license. Fertitta Interactive has a team of experienced gambling experts at its helm, with the company partially owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta; the owners of Station Casinos and the Ultimate Fighting Championship brand. Tom Brietling and Tim Poster, previous owners of the Golden Nugget, also have a stake in the company. And, with Fertitta Interactive having bought software provider CyberArts earlier in 2011, they are fully prepared to move into the intrastate online gambling arena.

One of Fertitta Interactive’s founders, Lorenzo Fertitta, spoke of the online gambling regulation, saying that he fully welcomed plans to allow residents to play on the internet. He added that Nevada was known around the world as a leader in gambling regulation, and that they were therefore very happy to file their application within the state. In addition, Fertitta explained that CyberArts had a great track record with complying with global jurisdictions.

Nevada Licenses Gain Steam

The announcement by Fertitta adds to the long line of Nevada based casinos that have already made applications for online gambling licenses to authorities. The extensive list of bricks and mortar venues who have already applied include South Point, Monarch Casino, Caesars Entertainment, Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts. Meanwhile, software provides including IGT, Shuffle Master, Cantor Gaming, 888 Holdings, Bally Technologies and Aristocrat Technologies have also made submissions.

Washington Buck’s the Trend

Whilst many states look into ways that they can start their intrastate online gambling, authorities in Washington are set to buck the trend. Though a previous bill was passed allowing online gambling to go ahead, members at the council have revealed that they plan to repeal the previous Districts proposal for online gaming. Chaired by committee member Jack Evans, individuals will review how the first United States bill for online gambling was passed. There is concern that the bill was included on a mandatory budget bill, and was allowed to pass without discussion. Whilst leading online gambling proponents Marion Barry and Michael A. Brown are set to push for the bill to remain, undecided voter Muriel Bowser and critic David A. Catania could see Washington having to start on their online gambling legislation from scratch if the bill is repealed.

Online Gambling Remains Uncertain

Whilst the hype around intrastate online gambling remains, many are still uncertain on how quickly any bills will be passed. Many casinos were expecting to be able to start operations within the first quarter of the year, allowing their bricks and mortar venues’ to offer gambling online as an entirely new industry. However, there remains a lot of conflict between critics and proponents, meaning that ultimately legislation and legalizing bills will not be pushed through with any speed. And, though many companies and gamblers are chomping at the bit to be able to access their footie games online, it seems that residents may be waiting far longer than a mere few months before they can start gambling from the comfort of their own homes.

New Jersey Renews Online Gambling Attempts

In 2011, New Jersey was set to be one of the first US states to regulate and legalize online gambling after the Senate and the Assembly agreed and passed an appropriate bill. However, Governor Chris Christie stepped in and vetoed the bill, stopping the legalization process in its tracks. New Jersey seems not to have lost its enthusiasm for the bill though, and officials from the state are still looking for ways in which they can allow residents to access online gambling facilities.

DoJ Change of Policy

One of 2011’s key persons on pushing through the bill, Senator Ray Lesniak, revealed that a new change in the US Department of Justice (DoJ) gambling policy means that there may be certain advantages which can be taken. The change means that the law will not be broken via intrastate online casino gambling, offering individual states the chance to begin their own gambling practices. And, with no time to waste, Senator Lesniak has revealed that he intends to get a bill in front of Governor Christie within the next few weeks.

Lesniak’s Bill

Senator Lesniak’s bill was first introduced during August 2011 after Governor Christie raised concerns over online gambling. New additions were created, including a $1,000 fine per player per day for individuals who were found to be using online gambling operations which were illegal. An additional $10,000 fine was applicable for advertising of such operations. Meanwhile, the only people able to utilize the New Jersey online gambling websites would have to be state residents, over 21 years old and physically within the boundaries of the state to be able to actually place wagers at online casinos. The carefully developed bill is expected to find support in all areas, with a number of steps to ensure that customer and casino safety is kept. Online gambling licensees would have to pay $20m a year for the first three years to subsidize the horse racing tracks, whilst $100,000 of revenue would fund compulsive gambling programs. Revenues would also see tax increased from the 8per cent on land casino revenue, to 10per cent, whilst players would be able to set limits on maximum bets or losses over a certain time to help minimize problem gamblers. With the bill set to be voted upon during January there is no clear indication whether Governor Christie will accept the bill, but New Jersey are hoping that they can become one of the first states to offer legalized online gambling.

New Table Games for Omni Casino

Whilst bills and legislation processes continue to rumble in the US as state’s try and push measures to legalize online gambling, Omni Casino has revealed that it is to bring back a number of popular table games. After Black Friday, table games in particular suffered online, with popular land casino games such as poker disappearing from online venues. However, Omni Casino has sought to correct this, revealing that it was bring back Let-Them-Ride, Casino War and Three-Card Poker.

Three-Card Poker

Named Poker Three, three-card poker has returned to Omni Casino. It involves ‘Pair Plus’ and ‘Ante and Play’; two independently played games within the Poker Three game itself. Players can participate in both games at the same time, or choose to play just one, offering interesting gaming whether people are starting out or are seasoned enthusiasts. During Pair Plus, player’s first place wagers before the cards are dealt. If dealt cards then fall into the Pair Plus hand rankings, wagers is won accordingly, with payouts even money for pairs and increasing to 40 to 1 if players receive a straight flush. Meanwhile, the Ante and Play option sees players place an ante wager before the cards are dealt. Players can then fold at this time or place an additional bet by calling. Qualification by the dealer needs a Queen or more, and if the dealer does not have these, the ante wins 1 to 1. If dealers do qualify, payouts are determined on highest rank hands.

Casino War

Casino War is an online casino table game which is easily learned and played. Both the player and dealer draw a card, and if the player card is higher, even money is won. Likewise, if the dealers card is higher, the player wager is lost. However, if the cards are equal, the player can either lose half their bet by surrendering, or go to war. In this exciting component of the game, two cards are once again drawn. If the dealer’s card is higher then both bets are lost. However, if the player’s card is equal to or higher than the dealers, then even money is won on the raise and the original bet is returned.

Table Games Set to Increase

Whilst slots have become a popular pastime for many people due to the unavailability of table games over the past few months and years, table games are once again set to increase as more casinos’ bring the traditional games from land casinos online. With Black Friday becoming an important, but past point in the online casinos history, many venues will be looking to once again start up their table game wagering facilities to draw fans of the games into their online casinos. Meanwhile, with changes in DoJ policy offering means to circumnavigate previous gambling restrictions, and many state’s looking to take advantage, 2012 may see numerous U.S states start offering intrastate gambling opportunities for those wanting to play online.

Online Money Services

Whereas in a real casino you have to buy chips to play with, with online gambling you’ll need to deposit cash into your account so that you can enter games. Many online casinos will accept a range of credit and debit card transactions so that you can fund your account directly from your bank. However, there are often fees which are charged for such deposits in addition to a range of restrictions which can include minimum payments. A great way to fund your account is by using online money services such as Paypal, Moneybookers or Neteller. These services often avoid fees and restrictions and, with most being widely accepted by online casinos, can often be the preferred method.

Free Money

Though it is inevitable that you’ll have to make payments at some point, a great way of maximizing your money is by utilizing online casino deals and offers. With competition high, most online establishments will offer to match or give bonuses on deposits, allowing you to get more money to play with than the sum that you added to your account. Bonuses may have qualification requirements including playing a certain number of games or earning enough points, but you can get far more to play with by taking advantage of these schemes.

Online Security

Security is always going to be a concern if you’re playing online and having to deposit money, which is another reason that money services are often the preferred. The majority of respected casinos take security very seriously, and you can be promised safe payments. And by making the right choices when it comes to online transactions, you can ensure a protected and positive gambling career.

Sedo Remains the Leading Domain Marketplace

In the latest move, Sedo, the planets leading marketplace for the sale of domain names, has been instructed as the broker of Casino.net, Sports.net and Poker.net. With the rare chance to sell the three domains together, competition for the names is expected to be high, with any purchaser able to get all three domains due to do extremely well for online search terms.

Casino.net’s Current Occupation

Currently, Casino.net is powered by Boss Media software and is registered and licensed to the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta. Including the Poker.net domain, operations are run by Dot Net Gaming using software provider licenses from GTECH G2. As part of the sale option, purchasers will be able to retain the Maltese operating firm if they wish, in addition to the Class 3 on 4 license on Poker.net and Casino.net’s Class 1 on 4 license. Meanwhile, Sports.net is not currently live, whilst Bingo.net is not included in the sale due to it being operated by Gamesys as a way of increasing traffic to their free games on Facebook.

Sedo’s Brokerage Success

Sedo has already proven themselves as a high stakes broker for domains, with the sale of Poker.org in February 2010 noting a $1million transaction. Having been bought by PokerCompany.com the domain has become extremely active and successful for the company, being led largely by some of the most experienced poker players in the world. Meanwhile, with Sedo also conducting a $2.5million sale of Gambling.com to KAX Media earlier this April, the company is perfectly placed to make the latest .net sales.

High Interest Expected

With the internet a highly competitive place for online casinos, interest in the Casino.net, Poker.net and Sports.net domains is likely to be exceedingly high. And as legislation around the world is set to allow more online gambling than ever before, the industry is set for a fight to the end for the domain names.

The Comprehensive Problem Gambling Bill of 2011

Bill HR 2334 entitled, “The Comprehensive Problem Gambling Bill of 2011”, was re-launched by a Democratic Representative on June 23^rd, 2011 with a Republican co-sponsor. The same bill was brought to the table in the previous session of Congress but was unable to be discussed. A statement from the U.S. National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) urged Congress to pass the bill in order to improve education and protection for problem gamblers.

More specifically, the bill provides the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration the authority to address the problem and gives them additional Federal funding for the illness. A spokesperson for the group stated that they are excited about working with advocates to pass this historic bill.

The Poker Only Bill

Also in June 2011, a Republican representative from Texas introduced HR 2366 to the House of Representatives. This bill is known as the “Poker Only” bill as it is intended to legalize and regulate only online poker instead of all casino games. This bill was introduced under the Energy and commerce Committee and was co-sponsored by another one other Republican representative and three Democrats.

Since the introduction of this bill, the number of co-sponsors continues to rise. In the past week, five additional names have been added to total 25. Although the bill was introduced by a Republican, only six of the 25 are co-sponsors.

Media Support for Online Gambling

The most recent newspaper to publish an editorial article with support for the legalization of online gambling is the New York Observer. The article discusses how the taxation is likely to solve many state’s revenue problems. Furthermore, the author attacks local and state governments for making less wise and less creative decisions with regards to new revenue streams.

As support for the legalization of online gambling in the United States continues to grow, it is likely a bill will eventually be passed and a federal system developed. Online gambling could be kick start the U.S. economy needs to fall back into place.

An Opportunity at Additional Revenue

Every American state that runs a lottery has proven it is a successful method of generating additional revenue. However, at this time lottery tickets are only sold in physical retail outlets. An article on NJ.com discusses the pros and cons of implementing an online lottery. The bill was introduced by Legislator Annette Quijano in the State Assembly. The bill has already been presented to the Assembly Gaming Committee and easily passed.

Terms of the Bill

The lottery bill will permit New Jersey residents to purchase state lottery tickets through the Internet, email, text messaging and other electronic channels. The winners would be paid by the lottery commission through direct deposit into their bank accounts.

Opposition from Civil Groups

As with most gambling bills, opposition has arisen from civil society groups. The group’s primary concern is the purchase of lottery tickets by minors and the potential for an increase in problem gambling. However, the bill offers a variety of built-in measures to counter negative social effects. For instance, payments can only be made through debit cards which would eliminate the potential for purchase without the required funds.

Opposition from Convenience Store Owners

Opposition also originates from convenience store owners that claim they will lose sales on coffee and food from customers that purchase these items while buying lottery tickets. Apparently, convenience store owners profit a nickel on lottery tickets but at least a dollar on a cup of coffee. This opposition has been countered by the measure in the bill that distributes five percent of online sales to lottery retailers to compensate lost business.

The New Jersey Lottery Commission has not released a statement with regards to this proposal. Commission members are scheduled to meet in the near future to discuss the bill. Minnesota started offering online ticket subscriptions in November 2011 and New York and Maryland are considering a similar proposal. The legalization of the sale of online lottery tickets could be the first step toward the complete legalization of online gambling in the future.

The Proposal

On April 15^th, 2011, 15 for the German states forwarded a single proposal to be considered by the European Commission. The proposal delivered the opening of online sports betting within the country on a limited basis. This would be based on a 16.66 percent tax. At this point the group received flak from the gambling industry due to the high tax rate. The European Commission is expected to publicize its ruling on July 18^th.

Deferment by the Prime Ministers

The deferment will give the German states extra time to study the various implication of the potential verdict of the European Commission. One private operator that has considerable interest in the German market is Betfair. The company has commissioned research by German law professor Bernd Grzeszick of the University of Heidelberg. The Professor gave his opinion about the current proposal stating that they would be turned down.

A Violation within the Proposal

He came to this conclusion because the draft violates Articles 49 and 56 of the European Union Treaty. Also, H2 Gambling Capital, a leading online gaming data company, indicated that if Germany continues with the proposal, it would only capture 7 percent of the market due to citizens preferring to access offshore sites.

A Statement from Betfair Representatives

Betfair representatives released a statement confirming that they are hopeful the prime ministers utilize their time to agree upon an airtight treaty allowing reputable private companies a fair chance at the market which will help protect citizens against black market operations. At the same time, the proposal was applauded by the gambling industry as it was viewed as being less restrictive toward private casino operators.

The drafted proposal aimed at issuing licenses to private operators for all online casino products. The proposal also originally called for a 20 percent gross tax profit. This draft was received by the European Commission in May 2011. The Betfair representative hopes to see this proposal adopted by all states in Germany. The decision made by the European Commission could be a major advancement of hindrance to the online gambling industry.

The Inevitability of Online Gambling in the U.S.

Although several online poker rooms were seized by U.S. authorities, the majority of Americans believe that online gaming is inevitable. The primary issue in question is whether online gaming will be regulated at the federal or state level. Many experts opine that the regulation will involve both bodies.

Internet Gambling: The Game Changer Discussion

Sponsored by the Global Gaming Business and the Senior Associate of Market Research at the Spectrum Gaming Group, the East Coast Gaming Congress included a discussion entitled, “Internet Gambling: The Game Changer.” Four nationally-recognized experts on the subject addressed a variety of questions related to the popular activity.

The Speakers included; Melanie Brenner, President of the U.S. Online Gaming Association; Honorable John Burzichelli, New Jersey State Assembly; Richard “Skip” Bronson, Chairman of U.S. Digital Gaming and Jan Jones, Senior Vice President of Communications/Government Relations of Caesars Entertainment. The selected speakers offered well-rounded expertise in gaming and government.

The East Coast Gaming Congress

The Congress has always been a popular even for the online gambling industry with over 600 gaming operators, regulators, attorneys, architects, public officials, analysts, investors, equipment manufacturers and other related professionals in attendance. The event began with a reception at The Pool at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City.

Land-Based Casino Discussions

Although the focal point of the Congress was online gambling, several land-based gambling issues were also discussed. For instance, the economic condition of the land casinos in Atlantic City was an important topic. The entire conference schedule is available at the East Coast Gaming Congress website.

New Jersey was selected as the location for the Congress due to the chance (until late 2010) that the state could be the first jurisdiction to legalize and regulate online gambling. Unfortunately, Governor Christie vetoed the bill on the final day. The Congress was an excellent chance for many citizens and law-makers to learn more about the positive and negative effects of online gambling. This will perhaps allow them to make a more informed decision.

In July 2010, Norwegian legislature placed a block on financial transactions to and from foreign gaming sites. The Culture Minister Anniken Huitfeldt has publicly stated that tougher measures will be developed to punish those engaging in unregulated online gambling. The strongest measure the government plans to enact is ISP filtering to block foreign internet gambling operators which include poker rooms and online gaming sites. This has been successful in other European Union countries.

The proposal for ISP filtering is not popular among the liberal political segment and the media. Ove Vanebo, a liberal leader, opposes the idea stating that citizens cannot be shut out of overseas gambling sites by politicians. The publication, Liberalen, indicated that such an act is Internet censorship which breaks the bipartisan consensus in Norway.

In Sweden, the acting CEO of the online and land gambling monopoly confirms the decline in gaming revenue is a result of the measures implemented to alleviate problem gambling in the country. The processes to curb problem gambling essentially limit the amount of gaming in Sweden. The CEO has suggested that in order to remain competitive, a broader range of games should be offered at casinos which would bring new licenses for new games in demand.

Some of these measures enacted by Sweden in 2010 include:

• Responsible gaming awareness and education
• The acquisition of responsible gaming company Playscan AB
• Imposing an age limit of 18 to purchase lottery tickets

However, it is clear these same measures used to help those with a gambling addiction or who are developing a problem is decreasing the amount of gaming revenue earned by the country. Sweden is in the midst of finding the correct balance between expanding revenues from online and land-based gaming and enacting measures to help those with gambling problems.

To limit the access of foreign online gambling sites, Norway must find a creative way to please all parties. Unfortunately this is typically a difficult task. The measures enforced by Sweden to minimize problem gaming are doing exactly that, decreasing the number of players at online and land-based casinos. However it is performing a necessary function. Both countries need to find the same balance other European nations have between the government and their players.

Standard Banking Methods

Microgaming and Playtech use the standard version found in some casino games. The player’s balance is temporarily based on the game in which they are playing. Once the player selects the specific betting amount, those chips are deducted from their in-game balance. Meanwhile, the total casino amount remains the same because the chips for each game are deducted once the game begins.

If the player closes out a game, the amount left in their temporary account appears back in the casino account. Therefore if it is less than the amount they began with, the player has lost; if it is more the player has won. However, once a bet is submitted within the game, that money cannot be refunded. The only way is to win or break even (only in some games).

Realtime Gaming Banking Methods

On the other hand, Realtime Gaming using a mechanism commonly found in live slot machines. The player’s balance is displayed on the screen but cannot be used to place wagers. Instead, players must purchase coins or credits and add them into the video poker game. For instance, if the player purchases $25 worth of tokens within the game, the casino balance decreases by $25. If the credits are worth $0.01 the player will receive 2500.

If the player decides not to play this game, they can cash out. Since 2500 credits is equal to $25, that money is transferred back into their account. The betting during the game has no effect on the overall casino balance only the in-game balance. When a player loses all credits or coins, they must transfer more from the casino balance in order to continue playing. If the casino balance is empty, the player must redeposit into their casino account then transfer that into their in-game account.

Financial management for all games is consistent within the specific casino. Although there are different methods, they all make it easy to deposit, withdraw and transfer money within the casino platform. Online gaming sites strive to make these transactions as easy as possible to all players.