Calm Online Poker Hearing for New York

Sep 10, 2015
Calm Online Poker Hearing for New York
A hearing regarding online poker in New York was chaired by the New York state Senate's Standing Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering head Sen. John Bonacic, resulted in some positive feedback but the lack of interest was evident by the attendance of just two legislators from the committee of eleven, who ducked out early. Evidence was provided by seven witnesses including: Poker Players Alliance executive director John Pappas James Featherstonhaugh, president of the New York Gaming Association Michael Pollock of the Spectrum Gaming Group John McManus, general counsel of MGM Resorts Caesars Entertainment government relations VP David Satz Borgata president Tom Ballance Kevin Cochran, a legal analyst for the publication Gambling Compliance Richard Schwartz, president of Rush Street Interactive Among the topics discussed was the proposed $10 million licensing fee. David Satz from Caesars disagreed with New York Gaming Association's James Featherstonhaugh and his previous recommendation to hold decision for three years. Statz said that a lengthy delay could be disastrous if the Restoration of America's Wire Act is passed by the federal government. "I think it's critical everyone understands the federal threat and effort by a certain individual to ban Internet gaming in all states is very real," Satz said. "There were hearings in March, and there's rumor of more hearings this fall. Sitting and waiting as one witness suggested I think could be a mistake. What's at stake here is the 10th amendment rights for a state to determine its fate." Tom Ballance of the Borgata also gave his opinions on underage and criminal activity in terms of online gambling. "There's no such thing as an anonymous bet in legal, regulated online gambling," Balance said. "One of the key elements is when you sign up, first you have to give us your name, then your address, then your social security number. We've got three-to-four different databases to match up and guarantee everything matches up to that name, address and social security number and that you're 21 years old. Then it goes out to the IRS database to make sure that it's not a deceased person's social security number. If you're not using your ID, you have to be using someone else's perfectly and their credit card as well." Negative comments have submitted in written form and will be reviewed in addition to further submissions by the deadline at the end of September.
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