Author Archives: jnewell

PokerStars to Reimburse All PKR Players

For two months, PKR online poker players awaited word about their funds trapped on the site upon its abrupt closure on May 3. But their answer finally came from an unlikely source, as PokerStars stepped up to reimburse all PKR players. The announcement came on July 6. PokerStars notified the poker industry that all former PKR players who had pending balances when the site closed will be able to claim those funds through PokerStars. The site will not will not

US Should Take Note of European Liquidity

Most states in America have yet to understand or embrace the potential of legal, regulated online poker. Some European countries have been slow to realize the possibilities, but recent developments show that they now understand. The segregated markets of France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal are prepared to come together for online poker liquidity, sharing player pools in order to expand the industry and enable more profitability for everyone from operators to countries. US legislators often view poker as a live

Pennsylvania: Online Poker Hinges on VGTs

Only two states really remain in play for legalizing online poker in the United States this year. Illinois has a slim chance, while Pennsylvania remains closer than ever before. Everything points to Pennsylvania doing the deed. The state’s casinos support online gambling, as New Jersey’s success with the burgeoning industry shows a complimentary and beneficial relationship between online sites and land-based casinos. Pennsylvania is also in desperate need of a new revenue stream. Online gambling would provide that, as well

Pennsylvania Online Gambling Included in Budget Talks

Online gambling is still on the table in Pennsylvania. The state legislature did fly by a deadline on June 30 and depart to enjoy a long holiday weekend. However, despite the official state calendar showing the legislative session over on June 30, members will be returning in July to hash out budget details. The House and Senate did pass a spending bill on June 30, and the bipartisan package is a $32 billion piece of legislation. The problem is that

US Online Gaming Safe for the Moment

United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions will recuse himself from the issue of online gambling. This includes any activity surrounding the 2011 Department of Justice ruling that reinterpreted the 1961 Wire Act to allow states to legalize and regulate online gambling. Bloomberg reported the news on June 30, barely weeks after Sessions’ close ties with anti-online gambling billionaire Sheldon Adelson became too clear for officials to ignore. This is good news for states that have already legalized or are considering

Illinois Plays Games with Online Gambling Bill

Earlier this week, Illinois was in the spotlight for online poker players and fans. An online gambling bill was not only in play, but Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas was asked to testify before the House Executive Committee. Hope lived. However, days later, online gambling supporters are back in limbo. The hearing never took place, Illinois seems to have emerged from its special session no closer to a state budget, and the online gambling possibility somehow lives to

Pennsylvania Online Gambling Legalization in Limbo

Weeks have passed since any significant update on a gambling expansion bill in Pennsylvania that will legalize and regulated online poker and casinos. Action is expected in some form this week, however, as deadlines loom for the state legislature. Pennsylvania was on a solid track in 2017. A gambling expansion bill found some success in 2016 when it passed the House of Representatives in late June, but the Senate failed to act on it. Even so, the positive momentum propelled

Could Illinois Be a Summer Online Poker Surprise?

The online poker community has put a great deal of focus on states like Pennsylvania and New York in 2017, as they have shown the most promising indications of legalizing and regulating online gambling. Meanwhile, however, Illinois was working on some bills of its own. Illinois crashed the party in May of this year with not one but several online gambling-related bills. Boom! In fact, only one of the initial four Senate bills looked promising to online poker fans, and one

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Vetoes a Bill to End Gambling Raids on Slots

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson voted a bill which would have stipped regulators of the ability to enforce laws on video slot machines. The move is designed to stop the proliferation of Mom-and-Pop gas stations across the state which allow VSLs. Cody Hiland, the prosecutor for the 20th Judicial District, spoke of the video slot machines which have appeared at convenience stores in Faulkner County. Hiland said, “The problem is this violates the public policy of the state of Arkansas.” Allows

Carl Icahn Accused of Federal Lobbying Rules Violations

Tropicana Casino owner Carl Icahn is accused of violating federal lobbying rules of by a consumer advocacy group. The group, known as Public Citizen, filed a complaint to the United States Congress on Wednesday, saying Icahn violated rules by advocating a change to the federal ethanol regulations. If found to have to violated the Lobbying Disclosure Act, Carl Icahn would face a stiff fine and be barred from lobbying in the future. President Donald Trump would be forced to rely