Journal Sentinel – In a move that brought about a tectonic shift in how states can legally offer gambling online, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a simple and discreet ruling that opened the gate for states and operators to offer online poker, bingo, lotteries and casino games to U.S. citizens. The ruling was timed to be as discreet as possible: issued Friday, Dec. 21, 2011, when many in the industry were either traveling or preparing for the Christmas holiday. The DOJ shifted its position regarding the Wire Act of 1961, which previously barred the transmission of betting data over…

Poker News – Legalized online poker is slowly, but surely, coming to the United States. Right now, three states — Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware — have online poker up and running in their respective borders. More are expected in the near future (maybe none in 2014, though). While the poker boom, which started around a decade ago, has ended, the U.S. online poker market could be set for a comeback. Card Player had the chance to speak with Dr. Kahlil Philander of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, who has done research on the size of the U.S. online…

Fox News – Congress banned online gambling in 2006. But new laws across the nation are rolling the rules back — and lawmakers think they’re holding a royal flush. Mega-entrepreneur Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is the latest entry in online gambling, teaming with the Tropicana Resort in Atlantic City and online game maker Gamesys to bring online poker, blackjack and slots to New Jersey this week. Gov. Chris Christie validated the vice in the waning weeks of 2013, saying he hoped to rake in $1 billion in casino revenues this year, of which the state will collect a 17 percent…

Poker News – We recently reported that Iowa isn’t expected to make any iGaming progress in 2014, but one state that might makes some moves is Louisiana. The Bayou State, one of seven states that currently ban iGaming, is apparently considering a bill in the forthcoming legislative session that would enact safeguards for online gambling. “I suspect a bill will likely be introduced, but I can’t confirm,” said Louisiana Gaming Control Board chairman Ronnie Jones. According to Renita D. Young of NOLA.com and The Time Picayune, Jones, Assistant Attorney General Leonce Gautreaux, and Major Mike Noel of the Louisiana State…

Card Player – On Wednesday, the Poker Players Alliance announced that the federal government and Garden City Group — the firm it hired to process all the Full Tilt Poker claims — are just “weeks away” from finally putting the money into the hands of victims. According to reports, at least some of the money will be made through ACH deposit. “I spoke with [Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section/Department of Justice] staff today and they informed me that they have approved approximately 30,000 undisputed player claims,” John Pappas, PPA’s executive director, said in a statement Wednesday. “Garden City should…

Press of Atlantic City – Gambling mogul Steve Wynn has run the gamut of approaches in Atlantic City, getting his start in the seaside resort and later labeling it as “the enemy” last year in front of Pennsylvania regulators. Now, he wants back in. Wynn Interactive LLC appears to be approaching ever closer to tapping into New Jersey’s online gambling market. Wynn is part of an application to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for a waiver needed to begin Internet gambling operations. The application filed Jan. 10 is a joint application with AAPN, also known as the All…