Two influential American Indian tribes are publicly asking a politically powerful tribal coalition to ease its opposition to extending eligibility for online poker website licenses to California race tracks, but skepticism remains that a bill will make it out of the legislature this year. Council member Laurie E. Gonzalez of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians in a May 20 press release urged that tribes reach consensus on online poker legislation “rather than digging their heels into the ground,” an obvious reference to steadfast opposition against licensing race tracks by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians and six other coalition…

Earlier this year NetEnt started to deliver online casino games and services to Full Tilt. As a step further in the partnership with Rational Group, NetEnt today announces that a selection of its renowned game portfolio is now also live and available in PokerStars.com’s new casino offering. NetEnt continues to expand its customer base and the launches with Rational Group’s well-known poker sites PokerStars and Full Tilt enables distribution to a new group of players. The poker segment represents a significant share of all online gaming in Europe. NetEnt’s growth strategy includes expansion on regulated markets, making PokerStars a great…

It’s been one year since Econsult Solutions presented its gambling study to Pennslyvania’s Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. That study concluded that the PA market for regulated online gambling (casino and poker) was worth some $184 million in first year revenue, and $307 million in ongoing revenues. Since, two of Pennsylvania’s neighbors – New Jersey and Delaware – have wrapped up their first year in the industry, and are deep enough into their second that meaningful year-over-year comparisons can be drawn. What follows are updated revenue projections for Pennsylvania’s iGaming market, utilizing data from Econsult and other reputable sources, and…

New York State Senator John Bonacic (R-42) has introduced a bill that would bring regulated online poker to the Empire State. Full text of the bill (S 5302) is available here. You can track the bill’s progress here. This marks the second consecutive year that Bonacic has introduced online poker legislation. HIs attempt in 2014 – matched by companion legislation in the Assembly –  failed to move beyond committee. The bill is largely similar to the one introduced by Bonacic in 2014. One key difference: this version lacks a so-called “bad actor clause” that would preclude companies, individuals or assets involved in…

PokerStars is bringing the big guns to California. Two of the site’s most recognizable faces (at least for the American audience) will be in California’s capitol city this week, as Jason Somerville and Daniel Negreanu will host a live demo at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento on May 21 from 10am – 12pm. The demonstration, which will include the chance to play against the pros (play-money, of course), will come just one day after a joint Senate / Assembly informational hearing for online poker. The demonstration will occur in parallel with the Capitol Weekly California Gaming Conference, which OPR will…

Online gaming operator 888 has revealed that is has made an offer to acquire the entire issued and to-be issued capital of rival company bwin.party. The operator said in a statement that the acquisition would comprise cash and 888 shares. Further development occurred this morning when Mark Kleinman, City editor at Sky News, tweeted that a joint Amaya-GVC bid could be on the cards, with Amaya taking bwin party’s regulated poker and casino business while GVC took over the sportsbook  side of the business. But if an agreement looks near-certain to be signed off by shareholders, it will be the workings of the…