Online poker close to legal in California?
The California Gambling Control/Intrastate Online Poker Legalization Act recently passed the State Assembly and has moved to the State Senate for action.
The bill would legalize intrastate online poker, meaning online poker rooms would be licensed and regulated by the state.
Poker Voters of America President Jim Tabilio said his organization was extremely pleased with the progress of the bill.
It’s never easy to move a bill through the deliberative process of the legislature,” said Tabilio. “And legalization of online poker in a state like California presents special challenges.”
Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, the author of the bill, is hopeful it will pass by this fall.
Gambling probe into NBA ref gets more interesting
Disgraced basketball referee Tim Donaghy told investigators in the NBA betting probe that relationships among officials, coaches and players “affected the outcome of games,” his attorney said.
Donaghy’s attorney made the assertions in a letter filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn on Monday, in which he argued that his client should be sentenced to probation because he fully cooperated with prosecutors and has been undergoing treatment for his gambling addiction.
Attorney John F. Lauro ripped into the feds for giving Donaghy’s gambling associates a slap on the wrist, while Donaghy – who ratted them out - is facing a heftier sentence.
Lauro also said Donaghy provided investigators with information about another NBA referee who secretly passed confidential information to a coach, and about other circumstances that affected the outcome of games and “prevented games from being played on a level playing field.” He did not provide specifics.
That, of course, would be the NBA’s worst nightmare, but the league quickly dismissed those claims.
“The letter filed on Mr. Donaghy’s behalf contains an assortment of lies, unfounded allegations and facts that have been previously acknowledged, such as the fact that certain NBA. referees engaged in casino gambling in violation of NBA. rules,” Joel Litvin, the NBA president for league and basketball operations, said in a statement. “The letter is the desperate act of a convicted felon who is hoping to avoid prison time, and the only thing it proves is that Mr. Donaghy is no more trustworthy today than he was when he was breaking the law by betting on NBA games.”
This season, because of the Donaghy case, the NBA. began posting the officiating crews each morning, thus eliminating them as a source of inside information.
Federal prosecutors claim Donaghy bet on more than 100 games that he worked and visited casinos when in the offseason when he was restricted to do so. The 41-year-old was fired by the NBA after pleading guilty last year to charges of wire fraud and transmitting betting information across state lines, a violation of federal law.
In a court filing, prosecutors detailed Donaghy’s betting activity that began in 2003 and continued for three seasons.
Donaghy is not accused of fixing games, but he is charged with passing along inside information to two gamblers. The information allegedly includes tips on which officiating crews worked particular games and how they interacted with players.
Thomas Martino, one of Donaghy’s gambling partners who pleaded guilty last month to participating in the scheme, said Donaghy received $5,000 for each correct pick.
Donaghy will be sentenced July 14 by Brooklyn Federal Judge Carol Amon and is facing a maximum of 25 years in prison.
“Tim Donaghy’s tragic fall from grace cannot be explained without understanding the psychological demon that he lived with for many years,” attorney Lauro wrote to the judge. “Tim had a wonderful life — a successful career as a NBA referee, a happy and stable marriage and the love of four young daughters. . . . Yet, as so often in life, the perception of reality is far different than its actual circumstances.”
Donaghy, his attorneys said, kept his addiction a “dark secret,” and risked his own finances, once losing $30,000 day-trading on a family investment account.
His attorneys said Donaghy is taking steps to get treatment for his condition, including therapy with a gambling counselor and attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
World Series of Golf crowns a winner
I don’t know about you, but getting in the World Series of Golf sounds like a blast!
The second-annual World Series of Golf just concluded in Vegas, and amateur Andy Johnson won the $250,000 first-place prize.
Here’s how it works: Eighty competitors, including many poker pros, put up the $10,000 buy-in to play. Players had to compete in fours until one eliminated the other three. Each began with the same starting stack of chips. At the beginning of each hole, players antied and then wagered on each shot. On the first hole of the first round, each player anted $100 before hitting their tee shots. After each shot, there was a betting round. Players had the choice of taking the bet or folding. The player with the fewest strokes at the end of each hole, or the one who bet the three other players out, won the pot for that hole. The ante doubled every three holes.
The unique format tournament attracted professional poker players Erick Lindgren, Phil Gordon, Phil Ivey, Tom Schneider, Daniel Negreanu, Allen Cunningham and Chris Ferguson as well as a few celebrities including Ray Romano.
Lindgren finished second for $60,000.
This year’s World Series of Golf is scheduled to run June 28-29 on CBS.
Did gambling debt lead Dolphin to pull gun?
Miami Dolphins cornerback Will Allen is part of an investigation by the Davie Police Department involving a dispute over money. No charges have been filed and no arrest made, according to Lt. William Coyne.
Coyne said statements have been taken from Allen and the other party involved in the alleged incident, and police are investigating to see if charges are warranted.
“We have two stories regarding an incident that occurred on Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Bed, Bath & Beyond on University Drive,” Coyne said. “There was a dispute over money. We are investigating the statements of both parties.”
The Dolphins had no comment.
A TV report alleged that Allen borrowed money to pay gambling debts. When repayment was demanded, the person claimed Allen pulled a gun. Police would not confirm the repor
South Africa to regulate Internet gambling; why can’t U.S.?
South Africa’s parliament approved a new Internet gambling law to regulate an industry plagued by crime and vulnerable to money laundering and terrorism financing.
Every online player would need to be registered with a licensed interactive gambling provider and submit an affidavit to ensure they were older than 18 years.
“The purpose of this Act is to ensure that all gambling activities are conducted responsibly, fairly and honestly (and to) protect minors and other vulnerable persons from the negative effects of gambling,” it said.
The bill also allowed for an electronic monitoring system to help root out potentially addictive behaviour and restrict credit extensions to players.
President Thabo Mbeki must still sign the bill into law before it comes into effect.
If South Africa can regulate this, how in the world can America not? The U.S. is just losing billions in potential tax dollars but being, well, stupid.
Wynn casino sues Charles Barkley to pay up
Retired NBA star Charles Barkley will face criminal charges if he doesn’t repay a $400,000 gambling debt to a Las Vegas casino, a prosecutor said Thursday.
“We’re in the process of sending Mr. Barkley notice that we’re considering filing a criminal complaint,” Clark County District Attorney David Roger said. “He’ll have an opportunity like anybody else to make restitution to the hotel.”
The story was first reported by the Las Vegas Sun on its Web site.
The posh Wynn Las Vegas casino alleges in a civil complaint filed Wednesday in Nevada state court that Barkley failed to repay four $100,000 casino markers, or loans, he received last Oct. 18 and 19.
“To date, and despite repeated demands, Barkley has refused to repay the $400,000,” the complaint said.
U.S. gambling on the rise, but some signs ominous
Americans spent more money gambling in 2007 than on movie tickets or candy, but the steady growth of commercial casinos in the past decade could take a hit next year because of a slumping economy and setbacks in building new places to play.
The American Gaming Association says 2007 commercial casino revenues in the United States hit $34.1 billion, up 5.3 percent from the previous year.
In comparison, American spent $29 billion on candy and $9.6 billion on movie tickets.
The AGA’s 10th annual State of the States report also noted that gamblers lost a record $5.3 billion at racetrack casinos, up 45.6 percent, as the number of so-called “racinos” jumped to 41 from 36 in 2006.
However, casino jobs were down 2.3 percent, with casinos in Nevada, New Jersey and Illinois cutting jobs, according to the study. The study said commercial casinos lost about 8,500 jobs in 2007, and employed fewer than 361,000 workers in 2007 compared with 369,000 in 2006.
The nation’s top gambling market remained the Las Vegas Strip, at $6.7 billion, followed by Atlantic City, N.J., at $4.9 billion and Chicago, at $2.6 billion.
Despite recent downturns in many markets, “gambling continues to be a popular and acceptable form of entertainment,” said association president and chief executive Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr.
Higher revenues for the casinos meant more taxes paid to state and local governments. Tax revenue more than doubled nationally, from $2.5 billion in 1998 to $5.7 billion in 2007.
Farhrenkopf acknowledged, however, that 2008 might be the industry’s most challenging year. With the nation’s economy in a tailspin and spending and confidence levels of consumers reaching all-time lows, the nation’s casino companies are feeling squeezed
In addition, the report’s annual public opinion survey found the percentage of Americans who agreed gambling is an “acceptable” activity for others but not for them rose to a record 35 percent from 30 percent a year ago.
Those who said gambling is acceptable “for anyone” fell to a record low 49 percent from 52 percent a year ago.
In March, bids for new casinos were rejected in Massachusetts and Kentucky. Coupled with failed attempts to build casinos in Ohio and Nebraska two years ago, some say rapid expansion of casinos has slowed.
“We’re facing some difficult economic times,” Fahrenkopf said. “People said for years that we were recession-proof. I’ve been saying we’re not recession-proof, we’re recession-resistant.
“There is no question the economy is having an impact on our industry. Airlines are cutting service and gasoline prices are impacting markets dependent on drive-in traffic.”
Fahrenkopf said that tight credit markets - which have led companies to shelve or delay new projects - would likely not affect most of $53 billion in commercial casino expansion expected over the next few years.
The American Gaming Association survey collected data from state regulatory agencies on 467 commercial casinos in 12 states. It did not attempt to track results at casinos run by American Indian tribes. And this survey, of course, does not include any offshore betting such as at WagerWeb.com.
Could WSOP final table delay mean players will hire coaches?
Interesting item from a Houston Chronicle column:
The (World Series of Poker) schedule delay will also benefit those players who seek out coaching advice. Now, this is something that might seem at odds with being a poker player. After all, poker is an individual game - one player to a hand. But why pass up the opportunity to improve one’s game? Hey, if I don’t make the final table, I just might take on a student who could benefit from my poker experience.
The presence of pro coaches will undoubtedly add a new dynamic to the Main Event. While you might not see someone like Phil Hellmuth actually playing at the final table, it’s possible that he’ll be visible in the stands as he cheers for his amateur protégé.
In fact, even the big name pros will probably hire coaches to help gather information on their opponents and help devise final table strategies.
Coaches in poker? Who would have thought we’d see the day?
AOL unveils WSOP promotion
AOL announced that Games.com, will award six seats to this summer’s World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas.
Running through June 15, players can compete in free, online No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournaments on Games.com’s World Series of Poker hub, Games.com/poker.
The six top qualified players will each win a seat to the World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold’em event on July 3, 2008, and travel accommodations from within the United States to Las Vegas.
Each week, players will participate in free daily qualifying tournaments to earn their way to a Sunday winner-takes-all tournament.
Team Bodog drops one
Josh Arieh, who had been with Team Bodog for four years and was one of its most prominent members, was released from the team.
“Bodog and Josh have mutually decided to part ways at the end of April,” said spokesperson for Morris Mohawk Gaming Group.
“Josh had a great run as a member of Team Bodog over the past four years that included finishing third at the 2004 WSOP main Event, winning his second WSOP bracelet in 2005 and a number of final table appearances at high profile tournaments. We sincerely enjoyed our association with Josh and appreciate all that he brought to Team Bodog. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors, both at and away from the table.”
Arieh first came to notoriety in the poker world when he won his first WSOP bracelet in 1999 at the $3,000 Limit Hold’em event.