The Pennsylvania legislature is back in session, and gambling is back on the table. Even though two hearings that were expected to discuss online gambling expansion were cancelled (the first on October 21, and the second on October 27), the issue is still very much in play, per the Chairman of the Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee, John Payne. I reached out to Chairman Payne following the cancellation of the second hearing and his office stated, “The cancellation of today’s hearing has no effect on online gambling,” adding, “A vote [on online gambling] is still being anticipated.” According to a…

Chris Koster is a democrat serving as the Attorney General for the state of Missouri. If elected, he could push an online gambling crackdown. Expectations are high that he will run for the position of governor in the state in 2016, and as of now Koster is using his position to try and push to see a federal ban put in place against online gambling in the United States. Following the lead of Sheldon Adelson, Koster has made his thoughts known of the online gambling industry, working together with the Attorney General of South Carolina, Alan Wilson, to distribute letters…

Russian authorities have started blocking websites operated by a host of major gambling operators, keeping to a pledge it made earlier this year. In February, the Roskomnadzor media regulator said it would agree to a request from the government for stronger control over access to unauthorised gambling sites in the country. Having commenced this blocking process last month, the Bookamersrating.ru website has reported that the agency has now started to block sites operated by some of the more major brands in the industry. Over the past few days, the likes of bwin.party, Ladbrokes, Unibet, 888 Poker and Betway have all…

Today, Campaign for Liberty issued the following statement from C4L Chairman Ron Paul strongly opposing the “Restoration of America’s Wire Act” (H.R. 707), which would institute a federal ban on online gambling thus trampling on the United States Constitution which gives the state’s sole respecting authority to regulate Internet gambling. “Under our Constitutional system, the regulation of Internet gambling is solely under the jurisdiction of state and local authorities,” said Ron Paul. “Modern technology makes it possible to prevent minors and residents of states that do not allow online gambling from accessing online casinos. In a free society, those who have moral objections…

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have delayed a vote on a bill that could eventually lead to the legalisation of online gaming in the US state. As reported by iGaming Business, a Pennsylvania House Committee was due to meet yesterday to discuss a bill put forward by State Representative John Payne. Bill HB649 pushes for the legalisation of online gambling to existing licence holders in the state – similar to the current regulatory framework in New Jersey. However, the House Committee opted to delay a vote on the bill due to ongoing budget negotiations.

Belgium news sources have reported that French sports betting operator Betclic Everest Group (Betclic) is collaborating with the national Gambling Commission with a view of re-entering the market. The operator has had a troubled history with Belgium’s authorities who in February 2014 seized €600,000 of Betclic funds, stating that the unlicensed operator had breached gambling laws by digitally transacting with national consumers. French licensed and Malta operated Betclic has been on the national operator blacklist since 2012. The Belgian Gambling Commission (BGC) has further issued consumer fines to Betclic customers for interacting with the operator. More at SBC News