Online Casinos @ Casinovas

Poker Players Rally to Obama’s Site

Interesting article from the Las Vegas Sun this week stating that poker players voting on what should be Obama’s top priorities on his very own website have driven the “Legalisation of online poker” into the Top 10. Clearly there are some very important issues that need addressing by the new administration that dwarf the need to be able to gamble online, but nonetheless it’s a stark reminder that America’s population aren’t exactly enamoured with policy that affects their freedom to make their own decisions.

The full article here.

Top Article On The UIGEA

I know it’s been over 2 years now, but the UIGEA is still a hot topic, not least because it hasn’t been fully implemented, but also because of the new legislation being proposed to not only reverse it, but to implement a framework for regulating Internet Gambling within the USA.

He also alludes to the fact that the US gambling laws have been somewhat misinterpreted from within the industry and some decisions to pull out of the USA were too hasty. Effectively the article places some of the blame on the industry for the way it reacted. He’s right of course, although the clever strategy employed by the DoJ was the driving force behind this.

Anyway, doing some research I came across a brilliant article on the UIGEA from US First Amendment attorney, Lawrence G Walters. He analyses the UIGEA, the effect on the industry and offers analysis of the longer term. It’s a long read, but it’s so on the money.

Read the full article here…

Barney Frank Introduces Bill To Overturn UIGEA

Now I am not a fan of prohibition when regulation can be so much more effective, plus I work in the online gaming industry, so bear in mind I am biased here. But the introduction of the UIGEA in the USA in October 2006 made me shake my head at just how stupid some politicians can be. Well - I say stupid, but anything that guarantees campaign funding and votes perhaps isn’t so stupid, even if it does shout in the face of the Constitution. Land of the Free, right?

But it seems finally there is someone prepared to stand up and say “woah - hold up. that’s not right“. And this person thankfully has some clout. How much clout we will have to wait and see.  

PRWeb Drops Online Gambling PRs

It’s being reported by a number of online gambling companies that PRWeb, the popular press release service, has adopted a policy of “no online gambling press releases” which reflects the fact that they are based out of Washington State, one of the strictest States in the USA when it comes to online gambling.

PRWeb has long been used by gaming companies to announce new products or initiatives, but it’s being reported that the current move could see PRWeb lose up to 5% of it’s revenues as a result. Washington State’s no tolerance policy to online gambling has come under fire before with detractors calling it a Nanny State and that it should allow it’s reseidents to make up their own minds on the moral issue of gambling.  

Kentucky Ruling Chucked Out

Following on from my article last year about the Governor of Kentucky, Sen. Beshear, trying to confiscate a bunch of casino domains, I’m happy to report that sense has prevailed and it got overruled in court. Although it should be noted that it was only a 2-1 majority ruling, with one of those presiding presumably still short on campaign funding ;)

Villa (Costa) Fortuna Casino

Update 19th Feb: The offending clause discussed in this article is being removed from all Grand Prive casinos with immediate effect, although the affiliate issue referred to remains unresolved.

Update 16th Feb. This term applies to “outstanding balances” at all casinos operated by Grand Privé, including Big Dollar, Bella Vegas, Casino Grand Bay, Fortune Junction and Villa Fortuna.

Some of you may have spotted that Grand Prive have had some bad press recently for the way they treated their affiliates. In fact I blogged about it here and suggested caution as it might be a sign of things to come. Well, it looks like those times have come over at Villa Fortuna casino…

According to a post on the popular Casinomeister forum recently Grand Prive-run casino Villa Fortuna has implemented a new condition. A player in Hamburg who posts under the pseudonym “poser” discovered what is commonly referred to as a “F.U. clause” in the Villa Fortuna Terms & Conditions. I quote:  

Las Vegas Casinos Online in 09?

An interesting report/video (see below) from KLAS this week that suggests that the casinos of Vegas are preparing to look again at online gambling. Of course, we had one false start a few years back, but with the credit crunch taking it’s toll on gambling in Nevada according to a recent report, it’s not really a surprise. What is more surprising is that they didn’t follow this through years ago…the online casino industry has been booming and many see it as recession proof, which from the figures I’ve seen recently, I’d have to go along with.  

Online Casinos - Where Do US Players Turn?

Well, 2008 was not a vintage year for online casino fans in the USA it must be said! With some politicians keen to tie up votes ahead of Novembers election, and the casino industry being hit by the credit crunch, I guess it was inevitable that change was gonna come. Unfortunately, it wasn’t positive change, but change that left American players wallowing in a mire of uncertainty and black market operators.

The majority of the safe online casinos that were still US facing at the start of the year subsequently decided that the risk was too great, or were “told” that they thought that, and pulled the plug on new registrations from the US.  

Grand Prive Casinos Turn Rogue

A number of online casino players will be familiar with the online casinos Bella Vegas, Casino Grand Bay, Lake Palace, Jupiter Club & Roadhouse Rules, but not many will be aware of the latest shenanigans involving the group. Things are not looking good here!

As if it wasn’t bad enough with the US government pushing all the good casinos out of the US market leaving the path open for all the dodgy rogues and fly-by-nights to take full advantage, now we have a previously respected group pull a stunt that has got them relegated into the rogue pit at the legendary Casinomeister casino watchdog site.

So what did they do to deserve this? Well for some years now  

Microgaming Casinos Blanket Ban On American Players

From the 10th November 2008, all online casinos that use Microgaming software - and that’s most of them - will no longer be taking USA casino players. However, players with accounts opened before Sunday 9th November 2008 will be able to continue playing.

Click here for more information and casinos that this affects

Not good :(