California Online Poker Bill Sees Reggie Jones-Sawyer Heat Up to PokerStars Possibility

California Online Poker Bill Sees Reggie Jones-Sawyer Heat  Up to PokerStars Possibility

California Online Poker Bill Sees Reggie Jones-Sawyer Heat Up to PokerStars Possibility

Califor<span id="more-10761"></span>nia Online Poker Bill Sees Reggie Jones-Sawyer Heat Up to PokerStars Possibility

California State Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, whose brand new online poker bill is far more comprehensive than previous drafts, would welcome racetracks and PokerStars into the Golden State gaming market also.

A new California on line poker bill, sponsored by State Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), is now 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 delivers safe and compliant internet poker access,’ the assemblyman announced yesterday.

So how do the two bills that are new? And more to the stage, how can the new Jones-Sawyer bill compare with his past bill, AB2291, which foundered in the rocks of final year’s legislative session?

No actors that are bad

Jones-Sawyer said at the conclusion of the 2014 session that a new, revised bill would be a high concern for 2015, and indicated that this time, the ‘bad actor’ language would be softened. The non-severable actor that is bad of AB229 shown to be always a sticking point for stakeholders, and caused a significant schism between those who wanted PokerStars in the marketplace and those whom didn’t.

Sure enough, AB 167 seems to have eliminated those actor that is bad, apparently clearing the means for PokerStars to enter a regulated California market. Those precluded from applying for a poker that is online, states the bill, consist of:

‘The person [who] has contemptuously defied an investigative that is legislative, or other formal investigative body of a state or for the United States or an international jurisdiction, whenever that body is engaged in the investigation of crimes relating to poker, official corruption related 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 key place that could straight affect PokerStars possible entry into the Golden State market, given its previously vilified owners vs. its new, ‘clean slate’ ones.

‘ The person [who] is convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony consisting of either having accepted a bet over the Internet in violation of United States or California law, or having aided or abetted that unlawful activity.’

Note the utilization of the word ‘person,’ which suggests that PokerStars, by divesting itself of its previous owners, against whom there were DOJ that is outstanding, would manage to participate in the California on line 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 business name, including any brand that is derivative with the exact same or similar wording, or any trade or service mark, pc 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 associated with such wager from any individual in the us on any kind of Internet video gaming after December 31, 2006.’

If Jones-Sawyer believes his bill will sail through because of the backing associated with 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 a lot for tribes to dislike about that bill,’ said Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro. ‘We are disappointed that the bill disregards important principles from the broad coalition of respected tribes and card spaces that help prevent corporations and entities that previously violated federal law from profiting from tainted software, brands, and databases derived from illegal activity.’

Photo Finish for Racetracks and Liquidity

Other news that is major AB 167 could be the inclusion of California racetracks in a post-regulation landscape, which many felt had been unjustly ignored by previous bills. The sharing of liquidity along with other states, expressly forbidden in preceding draft bills, seems to be on the menu this time, and there is also a suggestion that players on unlicensed sites could be prosecuted.

The license fee would cost $10 million, having a set that is tax-rate 8.5 percent of gross gaming revenue. When language has been agreed upon, the bill shall require two-thirds regarding the vote to pass.

New Bill Would Decriminalize Fantasy Sports in Washington

State Senator Pam Roach introduced a bill that will legalize fantasy sports games in the state of Washington. (Image: PamRoach.com)

The state of Washington is understood for having a few of the harshest gambling that is online in the United States.

But these laws go further than numerous realize: Washington additionally considers sports that are fantasy be described as a form of gambling, and therefore players who spend money on their online fantasy sports leagues are theoretically breaking the law, and could even be charged by having a felony underneath the exact same guidelines that criminalize online poker and casino games.

That’s something that many officials that are local like 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 being a game of skill rather than as luck-based gambling.

‘Our state views fantasy football as a game of chance a felony criminal activity,’ Roach said. ‘Congress has long considered dream football become a casino game of ability. My bill shall change the state’s definition.’

Washington Residents Restricted from Fantasy Sports Sites

Right now, many major online fantasy sports outlets block Washington residents from participating on their sites, including top daily fantasy sites like FanDuel and DraftKings.

Conventional season long leagues on sites like ESPN.com are often available to Washington residents, but they are typically ineligible to win awards.

The situation is that many states see fantasy activities as a game of ability.

Nevertheless the Washington State Gambling Commission nevertheless sees luck being a big factor that is enough classify it as gambling under present state laws.

‘There’s always the possibility 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 into the NFC Championship game last week-end. ‘Whereas in most states, the proven fact that you’ve spent all this time poring over stats and making your spreadsheets that are own that’s the skill part, and that weighs most greatly.’

Sports Betting Would Remain Illegal

Under the proposed law, there would be a prohibition on placing bets on the result of real-world events that are sporting.

However, both daily and fantasy that is season-long could be expressly appropriate, even for real cash play.

The bill seems to have better odds than a similar bill that would decriminalize and regulate online poker; the dream recreations bill has bi-partisan support and has now found a number of sponsors on both edges of the aisle.

Companion bills have already been introduced in both the House of Representatives and their state Senate.

The legalization effort is supported by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, a business group based out of Chicago.

According towards the group, more than 41 million people in America and Canada play fantasy sports, and nearly half of them play for real money.

‘We think citizens of Washington ought to be able to play the array that is full of sports contests offered in 45 other states and start to become able to win prizes in free contests offered by major media organizations,’ stated association chairman Peter Schoenke in a statement.

Washington is certainly one of five states in which residents are typically blocked from playing on day-to-day fantasy sports sites.

Even as we recently reported, energy is increasing in many of these states to legalize such games: recently, a Montana lawmaker introduced a bill that would enable residents to participate in contests where the entry cost 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 regarding his presidential aspirations. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has put the kibosh on a proposed ladbrokes casino san pablo casino plan, saying that building the venue would simply be too costly to taxpayers to be allowed.

In a declaration, Walker stated that the state has been liable for up to $100 million towards the Potawatomi tribe, which has a casino in Milwaukee, because of agreements between the tribe and the state.

Under the compact that governs the agreement between Wisconsin therefore the Potawatomi tribe, hawaii is in charge of reimbursing the tribe for any revenue lost to many other casinos that open in the state.

‘After a comprehensive review of the potential economic impact of the proposed Kenosha casino project, the danger to their state’s taxpayers is too great,’ Walker stated in a declaration. ‘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 as well as the long-lasting economic hit to the state budget would be a potential loss of billions of bucks.’

The casino that is new which would have expense about $800 million to build, was to be a joint venture between the Menominee Tribe and tricky Rock, which would have been responsible for operating the casino. The task ended up being approved in 2013 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, however it still required approval from the governor of Wisconsin before it could get forward.

Casino Supporters See Politics Behind Decision

The Menominee Tribe saw other motivations behind his decision while Walker said the rejection was a way to protect residents of the state from a financial obligation.

‘One tribe, the Forest County Potawatomi and one goal of Governor Walker, the presidency, has resulted in a ‘no’ for our people,’ the tribe stated in a statement.

Many governmental observers believe that Walker could be arranging a run at 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 Iowa that is prominent conservative Tom Coates, recently penned a letter to Walker urging him to reject the casino. That letter was also finalized by 600 caucus that is potential from Iowa.

No matter what the motivation behind Walker’s decision, many locals in Kenosha had been disappointed in the decision.

‘ There were people ready to go to work down here, and that’s maybe not planning to take place now,’ Kenosha Mayor Keith Bosman told WTMJ.

With Kenosha away from the real Way, Beloit Hopes for Federal Attention

It’s feasible that Kenosha’s loss could be Beloit’s gain. Supporters of a Ho-Chunk Nation casino within the town hope that the rejection associated with the Menominee casino could mean that their project will pass through federal now review more quickly.

The city and the tribe experienced a deal that is preliminary place since 2012, but officials say these were told that the Bureau of Indian Affairs were delaying a choice in part because of the Kenosha proposal. The Ho-Chunk were publicly opposed to the Kenosha project.

Despite the rejection, nevertheless, 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 will continue to thrive being a country and will still be partners that are honorable Indian Tribes in Wisconsin and around the country.’

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