Casino News Blog
Law Professor Assuages Concerns Over N.J. Legislation
March 23rd, 2012 by
John B. Wefing is a law school professor with the Seton Hall University testified before Congress about the future of the online poker in New Jersey. Although many people speculated that lawmakers would put the question to voters during the next election in November, Wefing said that may not happen.
According to the state’s constitution, gaming systems operators can only operate in Atlantic City. Many experts questioned whether or not online gaming would violate that law. Wefing said that the proposal to legalize online poker would not violate that law.
However, in order to stay within the bounds of the constitution, Wefing said the servers would need to be centralized in Atlantic City. Payments could not be processed until an Atlantic City agreed to process the payment.
The amendment giving Atlantic City a monopoly on gaming in the state was approved 36 years ago. The intent of the bill was to help encourage growth in Atlantic City. Wefing said that passing the online gaming bill would not violate the state constitution if lawmakers agree that online gaming would benefit Atlantic City.
One of the reasons that Governor Christie vetoed the last online gaming bill was because he felt online gaming would violate the constitution. Other lawmakers have since debated how regulating online poker would impact the online gaming market. Wefing’s opinion may provide hope for a new online gaming bill.
Despite the positive assessment issued by Wefing, some lawmakers are still concerned about the future of the bill. Most lawmakers hope that New Jersey would be the first state to legalize online poker, which would give them the opportunity to create a number of high paying technology jobs.
In order to maximize the likelihood of online gaming legislation passing through legislation, some lawmakers argue that it is still a good idea to make the proposal to voters during the next polls. Ralph Caputo is an Assemblyman and a former gaming executive. Caputo argued that putting the measure before voters in November would increase the chances that New Jersey would be the first state to pass legislation legalizing online gaming.
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N.J. Lawmakers Approved Revised Bill
March 22nd, 2012 by
The New Jersey Senate has approved a revised version of an online gambling bill. Although this was encouraging to members of the gaming community, some were hoping a vote would actually go through last Monday.
A couple of complications forced lawmakers to postpone a vote on these measures. The biggest problem was that they couldn’t agree as to whether or not a referendum would be necessary to legalize online betting. The panel announced that it will need to consult with a state constitution expert before they can move forward. A consultation is expected to take place this coming week.
Lawmakers want to make doing their due diligence a priority. Last year, both the state Senate and the Assembly voted to pass bills that would legalize online gambling in New Jersey. While the support in both branches of the legislature was overwhelming, Governor Christie vetoed the bill.
Christie’s primary concern was that the bill had constitutional and legal problems. Although he has changed his position on legalizing online gambling in the past few months, he still insists that lawmakers carefully consider all risks and legal concerns before they move forward.
One of Christie’s chief concerns with the previous bill was that it defined all Internet based gambling to take place in Atlantic City. He stated that gambling could take place anywhere and the location of the servers was irrelevant. New Jersey law prohibits gambling outside of Atlantic City, which makes it more difficult to create a legal framework that would be consistent with the state’s laws.
This means lawmakers will have to consider creating a referendum to expand gaming laws outside of Atlantic City. Christie said he is waiting for guidance from the state attorney general’s office before lawmakers can decide whether or not a referendum is necessary.
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Roll into Mr. Green’s Pot of Gold Promotion!
March 21st, 2012 by
Springtime is almost upon us! Sometimes this time of the year brings along with it rainbows. However, if you want to find a pot of gold, you have more chance of finding a lucky pot of gold at the Interactive Pot of Gold promo at Mr. Green than at the end of a real rainbow!
In this spring-like month of March and also noting St. Patrick’s Day, the Mr Green online casino site has introduced a special promotion that boasts its own Pot of Gold page! There are free spins up for grabs every day of this promotion that is rolling through the whole of the month until the last day of March.
If you would like to spin with some great slots and keep rolling so that you earn your 5 free spins bonus in a daily offer during the promotional period, then check out what is going on during March at Mr Green! Each day of the month if you access the site’s Interactive Pot of Gold page, you will find that this presents an entertaining way to guide you to the day’s game that possesses the pot of gold! The interactive page reveals clues that are intended to lead players in their quest to find the name of the game with the free spins for that particular day.
Once you have found out which is the game of the day, you are then required to play a minimum of 20 rounds in order to reach your 5 free spins. A player is entitled to play for 5 free spins each day of the promo that totals an amazing 125 free spins!
This promotion is spinning at Mr Green until 31st March 2012, so look out for the pot of gold!
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Ladbrokes Casino Offers Chance to Win Free Spins
March 20th, 2012 by
How do you fancy trying out your Irish luck or your luck at Irish themed games at the Ladbrokes Casino this month? This popular online casino site has launched a special promo that is based on Irish themed slots at the site. Join in the fun at the Ladbrokes Casino and you too can have the opportunity to win up to 200 free spins at Gold Factory!
This free spins promotion is spinning at the Ladbrokes Casino from the beginning of March through to the end of the day on 31st March 2012. So, what do you have to do? Well, first of all you do need to be a registered real money player at the Ladbrokes Casino. Following this, it is required to make a deposit of a minimum of ?100 and then turnover this amount or more at participating games. The exciting pursuits that are involved in this promotion each have an Irish theme or connection and are Rainbow Riches, Irish Eyes and Treasure Island.
Please note that it is necessary to opt in at the site in order to be eligible for the promotion benefits. As with any special offer, it is highly recommended to check out the details and terms of the promo before beginning to spin. The number of free spins you may win depends on the amount of money deposited and then placed on the qualifying slots. If you turnover between ?100 and ?199, you may receive 60 free spins. Turning over between ?200 and ?399 may get you 80 free spins, while spending at least ?400 may earn you 200 free spins. The free spins are all for the Gold Factory game.
Get spinning at the Ladbrokes Casino and you may earn some free spins at Gold Factory!
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Nevada Tribes Concerned Over Online Poker Regulations
March 19th, 2012 by
Native American tribes continue to question the impact online poker laws will have on their gaming revenues. Although some tribes there may be many benefits to online gaming regulation, others are more concerned.
Nevada tribes appear more concerned than those in other regions. Nevada is closer to implementing a regulated online gaming market than any other state in the country. Therefore, they are forced to take a much more serious look at the effect that online poker will bring.
According to Sheila Morago, the executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, the impacts of online gaming can benefit some groups while harming the livelihood of others. Native American tribes have been hit hard from the economic downturn. A new study by economist Alan Meister of Nathan Associates Inc. found that tribes are just beginning to recover from the fallout from the recession.
Tribes faced a 1% decline in revenues during 2009. Meister found that they have since recouped the majority of those losses the following year. However, it may take a couple more years before they can fully recover their revenues.
Morago fears that regulation could be the next big threat to land-based casinos. She pointed out that more than half the states in the union have agreements for online gambling. Federal regulation would complicate matters as tribes would be facing more competition from other gaming institutions.
Her fears are shared by Leslie Lohse, the Chairwoman of the California Tribal Business Alliance. Lohse said that casinos have been instrumental in helping tribes recover their earnings.
A number of gaming experts from various tribes participated in an igaming conference at Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas. The conference had representatives from all over the world.
Although tribes in Nevada are particularly worried about the prospect of online poker regulation, their counterparts in other states are growing uneasy as well. An attorney representing tribes in California has warned that Californian tribes are threatening to sue the United States government if Congress passes laws which violate their sovereign rights to online poker.
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Fresh Microgaming Attractions
March 16th, 2012 by
A host of delights await online casino players at Microgaming powered sites as nine new pursuits are being released this month.
Perhaps a video slot with shimmering treasure or one based on the legend of Medusa sounds attractive to you? Well, this month brings the release of a range of different pursuits by Microgaming for the entertainment of online casino players at Microgaming powered sites.
Let us take a brief look at the new game, Mount Olympus: the revenge of Medusa that will be accessible on Microgaming’s Flash platform! This 25 line video slot makes use of the idea within the Medusa legend that people were turned into stone and transforms objects into treasures. This slot involves the Medusa mythical character that hosts hair filled with snakes. In the game these snakes can turn into wild reels presenting players with the chance to win amazing prizes. This game also features free spin games, scatters and bonuses.
Another one of the new games is the Megaspin Break da Bank Again that follows in the footsteps of the successful Break da Bank Again. This new pursuit is a multi-slot video game that boasts wilds, free spins, scatters and a great thrill! This game presents the opportunity for players to earn 25x the winnings thanks to wilds and free spins.
Power Spins – Atomic 8s involves a new feature that the Power Spins element. This special mode triggers possible payout combinations in both left to right and right to left directions, leading to greater chances of achieving a win! This pursuit hosts 5 reels and 9 pay lines and will be accessible on Microgaming’s download platform.
The other new games being launched by Microgaming casino software in March are Great Griffin, Drone Wars, Jewels of the Orient, King Arthur, Mayan Princess and The Forgotten Land of Lemuria.
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Bet365 + 1 Rebate as Leap Year Promo
March 15th, 2012 by
This year at the end of February and into March the Bet365 Casino is offering its customers the chance to take advantage of a leap year rebate promotion.
The promo is spinning from the first to last minute of the day and concerns gaming at any of the Bet365 Casino games, apart from live baccarat.
This leap year promotion presents players with the chance to receive a refund on losses made during the promotional day. Players may earn a 40% refund on slot games and a 25% refund on losses at other games. Losses from both these types will be calculated accordingly.
There are certain requirements that need to be met in order to qualify for the Bet365+1 Rebate. For example, it is necessary to opt into to the promotion and also to play 50 games or more during the time of the promotion. It is highly recommended to check out the terms and details of the promo at the site prior to playing in order to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings.
The Bet365 Casino offers an appealing selection of more than 150 games including all the top casino favourites. Licensed by the Government of Gibraltar, the Bet365 Casino offers a range of bonuses and promotions in addition to a comp points system for benefits for regular players. Members of the Bet365 Casino may also enjoy live dealer amusement and mobile casino fun. This popular online gaming site presents gamers with the chance to benefit from various promotions and special offers throughout the year and not just in a leap year!
Try your luck at the Bet365 Casino and if things don’t quite work out as you wished you may be able to earn a rebate!
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Jim Murren Believes Online Poker Will Be Regulated This Year
March 13th, 2012 by
A number of recent reports claim that there is no chance of online poker sites being regulated in the United States this year. MGM Resorts International CEO, Jim Murren has scoffed at those reports, arguing that he is sure federal laws will legalize online poker by the end of the year.
Players all over the country have been disappointed by reports to the contrary. They were already starting to feel there wouldn’t be any new progress on the legalization of online poker by the end of the year.
Murren may be one of the few industry experts who is convinced that online gaming will be legal in the United States by the end of the year. A number of his colleagues are starting to become less optimistic about the movement towards regulation. Keith Smart, CEO of Boyd, has said that he has concerns about the progress in Washington.
Smart’s skepticism may be a concern for Murren. The two gaming executives have committed to a joint venture. Smart believes that they are going to need to start their company under intrastate gambling laws initially. After they grow enough, they may be able to build their infrastructure by the time the federal government gives them the green light to open their doors to a national audience.
Although Murren may disagree with Smart as to when the federal government may legalize online poker, he may need to work according to Smart’s plans if that is the only way to do it. Without federal regulation, they would be forced to implement things on a state-by-state basis.
The two gaming executives are at least bolstered by the new opportunities available to them. Boyd has already applied for a gaming license in Nevada and will likely apply in other states as they legalize online gaming. The new interpretation of the Wire Act offers a number of different opportunities to gaming firms which Smart and Murren intend to take advantage of.
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Las Vegas Based Shuffle Master Banks on Regulation and Commits to Buy Ongame
March 12th, 2012 by
Shuffle Master is a casino supplier based out of Las Vegas. The firm is now looking to expand its reach by purchasing Ongame, an online poker engine operator from Gibralter. Ongame is currently owned by bwin.party, who is likely to sell the division to Shuffle Master for nearly $26 million.
Shuffle Master is banking on the possibility that online poker will be legalized in the United States. Should legislation be passed at the federal level, Shuffle Master will have the infrastructure to gain a large share of the business-to-business market. Even if online poker isn’t legalized in the United States, they can access a substantial number of existing customers in other markets. Ongame already has more than 20 million customers around the world.
In addition, Ongame is a member of a major network in the gaming community. They have worked with Betfair and a number of other major gaming firms.
Investors expect the merger to bring substantial value to Shuffle Master. Shuffle Master’s stock price increased more than 20% after the announcement. The stock is now trading at a higher price than at any time in the past four years.
Although Shuffle Master is looking to acquire a stake in the markets Ongame already has access to, it expects the real value in the merger to be realized if online gaming is legalized in the United States. Shuffle Master said that they may be willing to pay up to $13.2 million more for the business if Washington decides to regulate the industry.
Other companies in the gaming industry are looking to expand their markets with similar mergers. The general consensus seems to be that online casino gaming will be legalized in the United States in the coming months. However, Shuffle Master is one of the few firms that seems intent on acquiring shares of the business-to-business market while others are focused on penetrating the market of gamblers themselves.
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Pennsylvania Blackjack Regulators Modify Rules
March 11th, 2012 by
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has decided to extend its blackjack rules, according to which the dealer will stand on soft 17 or the ace – six combination, players will be paid 3:2, and can surrender half their bet when they get a bad hand. The purpose of modifying these rules is to benefit not only players, but also the house. The fact that blackjack regulators are actually interested in making blackjack rules fair for players is heartening.
Comparing hold percentages for casinos in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, gaming officials found that the hold percentage in Pennsylvania is higher. The hold percentage is the amount the house gets out of the bets it receives. This percentage varies from one casino to the other and from one month to the other depending on a wide range of factors such as the average bet, time of the game, and buy-in. The hold percentage is not important for players because it is not related in any way to the house advantage.
According to Bill Zender, a gaming analyst, casinos offer blackjack simply because they know that players do not use the basic strategy and hence lose often. Casinos, in fact, rake in 70 percent profits from blackjack.
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