The Hill – A coalition of libertarian groups have said a new bill to ban online gambling would pave the path for more government control over the Internet. The bill “is an inappropriate and unnecessary use of federal powers that infringes on the rights of individuals and states,” a coalition of ten libertarian groups said in a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on Monday. The bill to ban most online gambling for money was introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) earlier this year. It would reverse a 2011 Justice…

Washington Times – A zip line that swoops riders past the vintage casinos of downtown Las Vegas and under the giant video canopy of the Fremont Street Experience is now open for business. The lower zip lines on the $12 million SlotZilla attraction opened to the public Sunday after 14 months of construction, while a set of higher lines is expected to open a little later this spring. “People are really enjoying it,” said Fremont Street Experience spokesman Thomas Bruny, who pointed out more typical zip lines take tourists over forests and lakes. “This one is unique because nowhere else…

CDG Gaming Reports – State senators voted Friday to outlaw the sale of lottery tickets through a Website or at gas-pump terminals, stripping the Minnesota Lottery of high-tech games they already offer. By a voice vote, senators embraced the ban as an amendment to a separate gambling regulation bill, which passed 55 to 2. The strong vote could put Gov. Mark Dayton in a pinch because he hasn’t declared whether he sides with concerns of legislators or the stance of the lottery director he appointed. A House bill imposing the same curbs advanced through a key committee on Thursday and…

Joystiq – Since China temporarily lifted its ban on foreign video game consoles in January, it was a matter of time before the government offered new rules to regulate console and game distribution. According to a Shanghai government release translated by Games in Asia, those rules will dictate the kind of content that won’t be allowed to be sold in the country, such gambiling-related game features. Additionally, anything deemed threatening to “China’s national unity, sovereignty, or territorial integrity” and content that “instigates racial/ethnic hatred” won’t be distributable in the country. Games also may not promote “obscenity, drug use, violence or…

Card Player – Fighting with Steve Wynn in his own casino probably isn’t too great of an idea. The billionaire casino boss and actor George Clooney had dinner a couple of weeks ago to discuss some business, but the evening reportedly ended in a heated exchange. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the two men were talking about politics and got into it after Wynn, Clooney said, criticized President Obama and his policies. Wynn is known for being a staunch Republican, while Clooney is a Democrat. Clooney eventually stormed out of the dinner, calling Wynn “an asshole,” the report said….

Online Poker – Over the past few years gaming analysts have pondered over gambling billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s real motive for wanting to see online gambling disappear altogether from the US. If one was to take Adelson’s explanation on face value then apparently the Las Vegas Sands CEO is primarily concerned with the moral fibre of US citizens and sees online gambling as a potential  “societal train wreck waiting to happen.” However, few people believe Adelson’s so-called ethical stance, especially seeing his $40 billion fortune has been built on the money lost by gamblers at his numerous casinos. Furthermore, how much…