
California State Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, whose brand new online poker bill is far more inclusive than past drafts, would welcome racetracks and PokerStars into the Golden State video gaming market also.
A California that is new online bill, sponsored by State Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), has become on the table to oppose the bill introduced by fellow State Assemblyman Mike Gatto in December.
The Sawyer-Jones bill, AB 167, seeks to determine ‘a proper regulatory framework in place that provides safe and compliant internet poker access,’ the assemblyman announced yesterday.
So how do the two bills that are new? And more to the point, so how exactly does the new Jones-Sawyer bill compare with his previous bill, AB2291, which foundered regarding the rocks of last year’s legislative session?
No Bad Actors
Jones-Sawyer said at the conclusion of the 2014 session that a new, revised bill will be a high concern for 2015, and indicated that this time, the ‘bad actor’ language will be softened. The non-severable bad star clauses of AB229 proved to be always a sticking point for stakeholders, and caused a significant schism between those who wanted PokerStars in the market and people who didn’t.
As expected, AB 167 seems to own eliminated those actor that is bad, apparently clearing the way for PokerStars to enter a regulated California market. Those precluded from applying for a poker that is online, states the bill, include:
‘The individual [who] has contemptuously defied an investigative that is legislative, or other formal investigative human anatomy of a state or associated with united states of america or an international jurisdiction, whenever that body is engaged in the investigation of crimes relating to poker, official corruption associated to poker activities, or unlawful profiteering activity or organized crime, as defined in Section l 86.2 of the Penal Code.’
The bill goes on to clarify a position that is key could straight affect PokerStars possible entry into the Golden State market, given its previously vilified owners vs. its brand new, ‘clean slate’ ones.
‘ The individual [who] was convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony composed of either having accepted a bet over the Internet in breach of United States or California law, or having aided or abetted that unlawful task.’
Note the employment for the word ‘person,’ which suggests that PokerStars, by divesting itself of its previous owners, against whom there were outstanding DOJ indictments, would be able to take part in the California online market unscathed.
Anti-PokerStars Coalition Denounces Language
The language is in sharp contrast with that of last year’s bill from Jones-Sawyer, which proposed to exclude ‘any brand or company title, including any derivative brand with the same or similar wording, or any trade or solution mark, computer software, technology, functional system, customer information, or other data acquired, derived, or developed directly or indirectly from any operation that has accepted a bet or engaged in a financial deal regarding such wager from any person in the usa on any type of Internet gaming after December 31, 2006.’
If Jones-Sawyer thinks his bill will sail through with the backing for the stakeholders, however, he has another think coming, as the anti-PokerStars tribal coalition wasted no amount of time in denouncing this language.
‘There is much for tribes to dislike about it bill,’ said Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro. ‘We are disappointed that the bill disregards important principles from a broad coalition of respected tribes and card rooms that help prevent corporations and entities that previously violated law that is federal profiting from tainted software, brands, and databases derived from illegal activity.’
Photo Finish for Racetracks and Liquidity
Other major news for AB 167 may be the inclusion of California racetracks in a post-regulation landscape, which many felt was indeed unjustly ignored by past bills. The sharing of liquidity with other states, expressly forbidden in preceding draft bills, is apparently on the menu this right time, and there is also a suggestion that players on unlicensed sites could be prosecuted.
The license fee would cost $10 million, by having a tax-rate set at 8.5 percent of gross gaming revenue. As soon as language has been agreed upon, the bill shall require two-thirds associated with vote to pass.
New Bill Would Decriminalize Fantasy Sports in Washington
State Senator Pam Roach introduced a bill that could legalize sports that are fantasy in the state of Washington. (Image: PamRoach.com)
Their state of Washington is known for having a number of the harshest gambling that is online in the United States.
But these laws go even further than numerous realize: Washington additionally considers sports that are fantasy be described as a form of gambling, meaning that players who spend money on their online fantasy sports leagues are theoretically breaking the law, and could even be charged with a felony beneath the exact same laws that criminalize online poker and casino games.
That’s a thing that many officials that are local prefer to be changed.
With an estimated 500,000 residents in the state fantasy that is playing games, State Senator Pam Roach (R-31st District) says it’s time to reclassify the contests as a game of skill rather than as luck-based gambling.
‘Our state views dream football as a game of chance a felony crime,’ Roach said. ‘Congress has long considered dream soccer become a game title of skill. My bill shall change the state’s definition.’
Washington Residents Restricted from Fantasy Sports Sites
At this time, numerous major fantasy that is online outlets block Washington residents from participating on their sites, including top daily dream sites like FanDuel and DraftKings.
Traditional season leagues that are long sites like ESPN.com are often open to Washington residents, but they are typically ineligible to win awards.
The issue is the fact that most states see fantasy sports as a game of skill.
However the Washington State Gambling Commission nevertheless views luck as a big enough factor to classify it as gambling under present state laws.
‘There’s constantly the opportunity the Seattle Seahawks will keep coming back from two touchdowns down with two minutes left,’ stated commission chairman Chris Stearns, talking about the Seahawks’ improbable comeback in the NFC Championship game last weekend. ‘Whereas in most states, the proven fact that you’ve invested all this time poring over stats and making your spreadsheets that are own that’s the skill part, and that weighs most heavily.’
Sports Betting Would Remain Illegal
Under the proposed law, there would remain a prohibition on placing bets on the result of real life events that are sporting.
But, both day-to-day and season-long fantasy activities is expressly legal, even for real money play.
The bill appears to have better odds than a bill that is similar would decriminalize and regulate online poker; the dream sports bill has bi-partisan support and has now found lots of sponsors on both edges of the aisle.
Companion bills have been introduced in both the homely House of Representatives and the State Senate.
The legalization effort is supported by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, a market group based out of Chicago.
According to your group, more than 41 million people in America and Canada play fantasy sports, and nearly half of them play for real money.
‘We think residents of Washington must be able to play the full array of fantasy sports contests offered in 45 other states and start to become able to win prizes in free contests offered by major media companies,’ stated relationship president Peter Schoenke in a statement.
Washington is one of five states in which residents are typically obstructed from playing on day-to-day fantasy sports sites.
Even as we recently reported, momentum is increasing in many of these states to legalize games that are such recently, a Montana lawmaker introduced a bill that would allow residents to be involved in contests where the entry charge ended up being $100 or less.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Rejects Kenosha Casino Project
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has rejected a proposed casino in Kenosha, with some saying the move may be related to his presidential aspirations. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has put the kibosh on a proposed casino plan, saying that building the venue would be too costly simply to taxpayers to be allowed.
In a statement, Walker said that the continuing state has been liable for up to $100 million to your Potawatomi tribe, which owns a casino in Milwaukee, as a result of agreements involving the tribe and the state.
Under the compact that governs the agreement between Wisconsin and also the Potawatomi tribe, hawaii is responsible for reimbursing the tribe for any revenue lost with other casinos that available in hawaii.
‘After a comprehensive review of the possible economic impact of the proposed Kenosha casino project, the risk to hawaii’s taxpayers is too great,’ Walker said in a statement. ‘Due to the compacts negotiated by Governor Doyle, the cost that is current taxpayers of approving the proposed casino project is up to $100 million and the long-term economic hit to the state budget would be a potential loss of billions of dollars.’
The casino that is new which would have price about $800 million to build, was to be considered a joint endeavor between the Menominee Tribe and Hard Rock, which would have been accountable for operating the casino. The task ended up being approved in 2013 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, nonetheless it still required approval through the governor of Wisconsin before it could get forward.
Casino Supporters See Politics Behind Decision
While Walker stated the rejection was a way to protect residents of hawaii from a monetary obligation, the Menominee Tribe saw other motivations behind their decision.
‘One tribe, the Forest County Potawatomi and one goal of Governor Walker, the presidency, has led to a ‘no’ for our people,’ the tribe said in a statement.
Many governmental observers believe that Walker could be planning for a run during the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2016. The Menominee statement suggested that Walker’s decision was made to placate conservatives that are opposed to casino gambling. One prominent Iowa conservative, Tom Coates, recently published a page to Walker urging him to reject the casino. That letter was also signed by 600 potential caucus voters from Iowa.
No matter what the motivation behind Walker’s decision, numerous locals in Kenosha had been disappointed in your decision.
‘ There were individuals ready to go to work down here, and that is perhaps not planning to happen now,’ Kenosha Mayor Keith Bosman told WTMJ.
With Kenosha away from the real Way, Beloit Hopes for Federal Attention
It’s possible that Kenosha’s loss could be Beloit’s gain. Supporters of a Ho-Chunk Nation casino in the town hope that the rejection regarding the Menominee casino could suggest that their task will pass through federal now review more quickly.
The city and the tribe have had a deal that is preliminary place since 2012, but officials say these people were told that the Bureau of Indian Affairs were delaying a decision in part because of the Kenosha proposal. The Ho-Chunk were publicly opposed to the Kenosha task.
Regardless of the rejection, nonetheless, the Menominee say they will soldier on.
‘We must remember all the Menominee country has overcome in more than 10,000 years,’ the tribe said in a declaration. ‘ We are going to continue to flourish as being a country and will continue to be honorable partners for Indian Tribes in Wisconsin and around the country.’