Nearly all Pennsylvania casinos, and a number of key legislators, are principally united in support of online gaming. But those hoping to cross the regulatory bridge must first contend with an imposing foe: Sheldon Adelson. And backed by the casino magnate’s estimated $28 billion fortune, an oppositional campaign is already underway in the state. Sands Bethlehem boss Mark Juliano testified recently at a hearing of Senator Kim Ward’s Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee. Echoing Adelson’s opposition, Juliano sharply criticized regulatory efforts. “Today, proposals are being considered which will erode the successful progress we have made in Pennsylvania,” said Juliano,…

PokerStars has joined forces with a number of California tribal casinos and cardrooms to launch an online poker coalition in an effort to promote an open and fair market for any future regulated internet poker market in the state. The new ‘Californians for Responsible iPoker’ group features five tribal-gaming groups as well as the Commerce, Bicycle and Hawaiian Gardens cardrooms. Each member of the group has already reached an agreement with PokerStars to use the online poker operator’s software should the state opt to regulate internet poker activities. PokerStars said the group will enable it to demonstrate in state-level hearings…

Ladbrokes and Gala Coral confirmed in separate statements late yesterday (Monday) evening that they are in talks over a possible merger. The two parties said that the proposed deal would involve Ladbrokes and Gala Coral-operated Coral Retail, Eurobet Retail and the company’s online businesses. The Financial Times newspaper reported that the talks are not at an advanced stage and there remain issues over the price and the corporate structure of the merged operation, although Ladbrokes chief executive officer Jim Mullen would lead the combined group. Ladbrokes said that the proposed new group would seek a listing on the main market…

Leading daily fantasy sports site DraftKings appears to be preparing for a leap across the pond. That’s after news of DraftKings’ application with the UKGC for the necessary licenses to operate in the United Kingdom. The application was first noted by Bigo1_ on Twitter. DraftKings had not responded to a request for comment as of writing. The UKGC website makes linking to application records tricky. You can view the application in the image at the end of the article or visit the UKGC search page and search for DraftKings to view the application. DraftKings originally broadcasted their plans for international…

Following the reintroduction of the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA) in the U.S. House of Representatives by Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), the entire iGaming world expected Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to reintroduce RAWA into the U.S. Senate. Graham has indicated he would be reintroducing the legislation he and Chaffetz first pushed for in 2014, presumably at the behest of Sheldon Adelson, who is widely believed to be the driving force behind RAWA. But up to this point, RAWA hasn’t returned for an encore appearance in the U.S. Senate. There are several reasons Graham may have flinched on reintroducing an online…

States that draw revenue from casinos should regulate online gambling, as online has a complementary, not cannibalistic, effect on land-based gambling. That’s one takeaway from a recently published study entitled “Consumer spending in the gaming industry: evidence of complementary demand in casino and online venues” penned by gambling experts Kahlil S. Philander, Brett Abarbanel and Toni Repetti for International Gambling Studies. The authors advise that “US operators should recognize the positive value that online gambling can have with relation to their online operations,” suggesting that operators are best served integrating online gambling as part of their overall offering, as opposed…