Category: Regulatory Law

August 2, 2011

Illinois Court Ruling Upholds State’s New Video Gaming Act

In a 7-0 decision, the Illinois Supreme Court recently upheld legislation that will allow video gaming in the state for the first time. Earlier this month, the court ruled in favor of the Illinois legislature’s 2009 omnibus bill for funding capital projects that included the Video Gaming Act. The legislation had been challenged by Chicago… Read More

July 28, 2011

Senators’ Letter to Holder Shows Doubts about DOJ Gambling Stance

On July 14, 2011, Sen. Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking the Department of Justice to clarify its position regarding enforcement of online gambling laws. The tone of the letter suggests that Sen. Reid, who has been a supporter… Read More

June 26, 2011

New House Bill May Open Door to Legal Online Poker

The momentum toward federal legalization of online poker took a significant step forward on Friday, June 24, when Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) held a press conference to discuss the details of his legalization bill. The “Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2011” would both legalize online poker and create a… Read More

June 17, 2011

Online Poker Finds New Supporter on the Hill

Legalization of online poker has found a new and unlikely supporter on Capitol Hill. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), an outspoken conservative, has announced that he will support legalization and is planning some parliamentary maneuvers to try to get it to the House floor eventually. It turns out that in addition to being a conservative, Rep…. Read More

May 25, 2011

Black Friday Chills Legislative Momentum in Nevada and Elsewhere

Just a couple of months ago, there was considerable optimism after the introduction of an interactive-gaming bill in the Nevada legislature that that state could be the first to legalize online poker. However, in the wake of last month’s “Black Friday” indictments, it now appears that the optimism was premature. The state legislature is clearly… Read More

May 24, 2011

Federal Indictment in Maryland Reflects Continuing Crackdown on Gaming

The U.S. Department of Justice is continuing its crackdown on the online gaming industry. On May 23, 2011, the U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland unsealed an indictment that charged several poker and gambling sites with illegal gambling and money laundering. Those indicted were ThrillX Systems, Ltd., d/b/a BetEd; Darren Wright; and David Parchomchuk,… Read More

March 24, 2011

The Great Race: Legal Online Poker Advances in Nevada, Hawaii Legislatures

Hearing Clarifies Issues in Nevada The Nevada Assembly Committee on Judiciary met on March 24, 2011, to discuss AB 258, which would provide for the licensing and operation of Internet poker in Nevada for the first time. Committee members were, not surprisingly, interested in the possible benefit or harm to Nevada’s existing bricks-and-mortar gaming industry… Read More

March 10, 2011

Proposed Gaming Bill Could Make Nevada First to Legalize Internet Poker

Nevada, long an innovator when it comes to gambling, may soon take another big step in that direction by becoming the first state to legalize online poker. A bill just introduced in that state’s legislature would require the state’s Gaming Commission to license operators of Internet poker as long as they meet basic standards regarding… Read More

March 3, 2011

With a Veto, N.J. Governor Stays Out of the Game

Today’s news is that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has just vetoed a bill, overwhelmingly passed by both houses of the state legislature, that would have made New Jersey the first state in the country to legalize online gaming. The governor, who has been widely mentioned as a GOP presidential candidate for 2012, though he… Read More