POKER/GAMBLING NEWS

[blueday]

A bit of a mexican stand-off!

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[wnanhee]

Could this be a good beginning?

New Jersey Online gambling is coming to the US. That is the opinion of Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman. Although the treasurer does not agree with the online gambling movement, he is prepared to back a push in the Massachusetts legislature to allow the state lottery to sell tickets online.

Massachusetts does not yet even offer its residents land-based casino gambling, and at a time when House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Governor Deval Patrick cannot find common ground on that issue, other legislators are looking to move on to the Internet gambling issue.

In New Jersey, a similar scene is about to play out between lawmakers. State Senator Raymond Lesniak has already passed one bill through the Legislature that would have regulated online casinos in New Jersey. The bill was vetoed by Governor Chris Christie, and now Lesniak is readying an effort to try again.

Lesniak believes he understands what Christie did not like about the original bill, and he has plans to fix those issues and bring a new bill to the table by the end of the fall. If Lesniak’s bill passes and the governor signs it, New Jersey would become the third jurisdiction to authorize Internet gambling.

Washington DC, the same place where federal lawmakers are still prohibiting online gambling, is set to open their first online casino later this year. The casino was originally slated to be open by September, however, the City Council has delayed the launching of the casino until a series of public hearings are held.

Nevada lawmakers have already passed online gambling legislation. In Nevada, online casinos will not become a reality until the federal government signs off on the issue. That could take more than a year, but when the federal laws do change, Nevada will be ready.

[wnanhee]

I am not sure if any of you heard of this news but I thought it was very interesting.

Bet24 has revealed that arrests have been made over a security breach which it says resulted in customer information being “stolen”.
The breach relates to accounts registered before 31 October 2009, and data stolen includes player names, addresses, dates of birth and account usernames, and credit card details, although those who registered accounts between 28 April 2007 and 31 October 2009 are said to be affected to a lesser degree than those who registered earlier.
Bet24 has issued advice on its website to players who may have been affected, urging them to change passwords and review bank statements...

Whoa...just one more thing to worry...

[blueday]

Yes Nan - you can find the article in the Sportsbook News.

A bit of a shocker!

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[orren]

Yes Nan - you can find the article in the Sportsbook News.

A bit of a shocker!

blue

I have been known to be blind, but where is it hun? I cant find it. Is this new news or old news that I have to go back and locate?

[blueday]

Yes Nan - you can find the article in the Sportsbook News.

A bit of a shocker!

blue

I have been known to be blind, but where is it hun? I cant find it. Is this new news or old news that I have to go back and locate?

It is in Sportsbook News - here is the link HERE. <===click

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[blueday]

Full Tilt Poker License Reinstated in Kahnawake

Kolyma’s secondary license renewed for two years

Finally some good news came for the troubled Full Tilt Poker. Namely, this week the Kahnawake Gaming Commission decided to grant an application to renew the Secondary Client Provider Authorization (“Secondary CPA”) held by Kolyma Corporation A.V.V. , operating as “Full Tilt Poker”.

The license has been granted for a period of two years, and the decision was explained as follows:

"To maintain a Secondary CPA, a licensee must maintain a valid licence to operate interactive gaming that has been issued by a comparable jurisdiction (the “primary jurisdiction”).

"Accordingly, the Commission is closely monitoring the proceedings being conducted by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (the “AGCC”) concerning the eGambling Licences held by Filco Limited, operating as “Full Tilt Poker”.

"The AGCC has confirmed to the Commission that, although the eGambling Licences held by Filco Limited are presently suspended pending the outcome of a hearing, these licences are still considered to be valid.

"Presently, Full Tilt Poker is not offering gaming to the public, or accepting player deposits, from servers that are located within Kahnawake or under the Commission’s supervision."

Such a decision will most likely cause criticism, especially among players who haven’t been paid by the company due to its limited financial resources.

In related news, the KGC decided to suspend a license of a poker operator - Four Aces Poker Room without disclosing the reasons and only stating that it may not operate until the license is reinstated.

It was specified that the KGC has also "...issued to Four Aces a Show Cause Notice giving Four Aces thirty (30) days to show cause as to why its Poker Room Licence should not be revoked.

"The Commission’s decision to suspend the Four Aces was based on a number of operational and management concerns, each of which have been clearly conveyed to the licensee."

[wnanhee]

Greece approves egaming legislation.

An advertising war is set to be unleashed in Greece as the country's government pushed through egaming legislation which would authorize all forms of advertising by applicant operators ahead of licenses being granted.

Under changes introduced into the legislation by the Greek government yesterday and passed by its parliament, EU-licensed operators entering the licensing process in Greece will pay 30% GPT and players a 10% tax on winnings during a six-month transitional period.
This will commence once the Control Committee to be established under the law has been formed, allowing operators to offer products and advertise freely across all online and offline media, including TV. A date for the establishment of the Committee has not yet been set.

The last-minute changes introduced by the Greek government yesterday were aimed at bringing its legislation into compliance with EU law ahead of the expiry on 8 August of the statutory standstill period set aside for review of Member State gambling legislation, and to allow it to force through the proposals as part of a mammoth financial package designed to appease Greece’s international lenders.

Some confusion remains however among operators as to how far back the Greek government will be able to retrospectively apply the taxes contained within the new legislation. The Greek Constitution provides that “a tax or any other financial charge may not be imposed by a statute that has effect prior to the fiscal year preceding the imposition of the tax”, the Greek government would however reserve the right to apply the tax provision retroactively as far back as 1 January 2010, once operators had agreed to place themselves under the tax regime of the law.

EU-based operators will be able to target Greek customers from servers based outside of Greece during the six-month transitional period, it remains unclear as to whether they will be required to locate servers within the territory once licences have been granted.

[blueday]

Pro Poker Player Cheats In Online Poker Scam

Lock Poker and Poker Strategy gave Josh “Girah” Macedo the boot after he openly admitted he was involved in a scandalous cheating operation.

The poker community is shocked at a statement the “Portuguese Poker Prodigy” Macedo made over the weekend on a online poker forum 2+2 involving high stakes poker players on the iPoker and Merge Networks.

"A while ago, I did something stupid. A friend of mine, who I introduced to poker, made a suggestion to me which was, I'm not going to sugar coat it, cheating.

"I had introduced this friend to poker and he was losing money, badly. He asked to play some of my poker friends and said why don't you sweat them and we'll see their hands. I don't know why I agreed. I don't know why I did it. I guess it was a mixture of guilt and stupidity for getting him involved in something which seemed to be bad for him."

With a reputation that online poker players trusted, Macedo manage to connive players into online sessions via Skype. Here is where he revealed the players hole cards to opponents scamming $30,000 out of unknowing players. Although he has promised to pay it back including compensation, it will have little effect on his now tarnished reputation.

Jennifer Larson, Owner/Ceo of Lock Poker released an official statement:

"All of us at Lock are horrified and incredibly disappointed by Jose's actions. Within 10 minutes of finding out about the fraudulent behavior his LockPRO contract was terminated and his account was banned permanently.

"At Lock our philosophy is based on building a deep relationship with our players and at the core of this is trust, legitimacy and loyalty. Jose has defrauded the players, the art of poker and the basic human relationship. LockPRO is a strong team of great people and will continue to find like minded, trust worthy, passionate players who will make us proud to be in this industry."

Poker Strategy dropped him as their coaching staff and officially stated  "Given the current situation, we will end our cooperation with him with immediate effect".

Macedo took the biggest gamble of his poker career all in the name of cheating and as a result ruined any chance of ever playing professionally again.

Source LPB News

[Rosebud]

What a dumb azzzzzzzz If he felt guilty about introducing his friend to poker,that was probably the worse thing he could do.

[blueday]

Absolutely Rosebud.  A total idiot who has ruined his career in so many ways.

Unbelievable.

blue

[blueday]

US Poker Players Welcomed Back

Merge Poker Network became the new poker playground for US players after Full Tilt was forced to ban them on Black Friday. With a high volume of players moving to the network it was more than Merge could handle and stopped accepting US players until modifications were made to better accommodate them.

Pokerscout is a independent site that monitors poker announced that Merge is ready to welcome new US players very soon back to the tables. 

Traffic has increased 75 percent for Merge Gaming Network and are now one of the largest poker sites to accept US players.

Source: LPB news

[blueday]

Poker Bill In Califorina Causing Concern

A conflict of interest between Washington lobbyist Pace LLP and Morongo Band of Mission Indians raises important questions whether or not to employ the firm by the California House of Assembly.

Senator Lou Correa’s proposal bill SB40 for online poker in California has Morongo as an interested party. A bill that would give exclusiveness card rooms and tribes including Morongo has alarmed other groupings over the exclusive provisions.

Other tribes are saying it doesn’t give them an opportunity for an online poker business according to the Capital Alert publication.

"They support online gambling but want a bill that gives more tribes the opportunity for a piece of the pie," the publication comments. "And they're the ones concerned about the Assembly hiring Morongo's federal lobbyist."

Pace’s managing partner Jim Wise testified at a hearing on Internet gambling after a $15,000 contract was signed to represent it before the federal government. Monrongo has employed Pace for over ten years and currently pays $280,000 a year.

California Tribal Business Alliance lobbyist David Quintana opposes the bill saying it is difficult for tribes to have a fair hearing.

"It really concerns me that the state Assembly decides to hire a firm at which the partner testified on behalf of the Morongo card room deal," Quintana said.

Pace disagrees that there is any conflict and the contract with Morongo precludes anything questionable.

"It really concerns me that the state Assembly decides to hire a firm at which the partner testified on behalf of the Morongo card room deal," Quintana said.

Assembly Speaker John A. Perez spokesperson gave assurance that the contract with Pace would not prevent the evaluation to be considered fairly on Internet gambling.

"Lobbyists always have multiple clients, and if there's ever a conflict of interest, they can remove themselves from the situation," she pointed out.

[blueday]

The Online Poker Rush Is On In California

California Online Poker Association laid all the cards on the table with only one month remaining in Senator Lou Correa’s SB40 by airing a television and radio campaign this week.

The COPA draws on the biggest card in the deck with a compelling ad that appeals to Californians to contact their local representatives to support Correa bill.

In the radio announcement: "Unfortunately, nurses, police, fire and services for the poor and disabled will all be cut again if California doesn't find $4 billion in new revenue by December.

"There is a solution. By approving online poker, California has the ability to tap $250 million in new money immediately and billions in years to come.

"California needs the money and Californians need the jobs."

The California Tribal Business Alliance is urging legislation to not pass the bill because of the exclusive limitations of licenses that may prevent them from getting one.

"Even though there have been hearings on the matter of intrastate internet poker, many fiscal, legal, technical and policy related questions must be resolved before adoption of any intrastate internet gaming legislation," the letter asserts.

"There are numerous stakeholders who stand to be irreparably harmed should legislation be 'ram-rodded' through this legislative year and this surely would be a disservice to all Californians, Tribal and Non-Tribal, alike," says the letter, which is signed by Robert H. Smith, chairman of the California Tribal Business Alliance.

"For these reasons, we believe the Legislature should not take any action on intrastate internet poker legislation during the final month of the legislative year and should instead opt to utilize the Interim to work with all interested parties to develop a consensus bill."

A hearing on Internet gambling will take place with the Governmental Organization Committee on August 24th at the state Capitol.

Source: LPB News

[blueday]

Update: New Difficulties for Full Tilt?   

Another class action initiated against the troubled company

There seems to be no end to the troubles of Full Tilt Poker, which after Black Friday actions, cancellation of its Alderney license, and wide-ranging class action, now faces another, second and more focused class action in the United States.

The action has been initiated in the US District Court by two Canadians, Zayn Jetha and Donald Whelan, and it involves various companies associated with Full Tilt, and three individuals - Ray Bitar, Howard Lederer and Nelson Burtnick.

It has been specified that the suit has been filed on behalf of any player - within or outside the USA - who held accounts on FTP and who “has not been paid back any or a portion of [account] balance.” In line with this, the plaintiffs seek the return of players' funds and the payment of costs and legal fees, as well as punitive damages.

This comes after the first action, initiated in June by Todd Terry, Nick Hammer, Steve Segal and Robin Hougdahl, again on behalf of players, but only the ones from US in this case, involving FTP associates like Pocket Kings and Pocket Kings Consulting, Tiltware, Filco, Kolyma Corporation, Ranston Ltd. and Mail Media Ltd. In this case too, FTP was requested to return funds and damages.

Apart from the fact that the first case is making progress, the two cases also differ in the inclusion of a RICO claim in the Terry suit, which thereby exploits a law provision that allows for a claim of thrice the damages suffered.

Source: LPB news