LA Times – In legislative proceedings, the most important words in a debate often are the ones left unmentioned. At a hearing held by a California state assembly committee last month about legalizing online poker, the unspoken term was PokerStars. No hearing witnesses wanted to say outright that they were talking about PokerStars. It’s the largest online poker company in the world, which wants in on the riches to be had if California legalizes Internet card play, but it also has faced federal charges of money laundering and fraud. So the April 23 discussion before the Governmental Organization Committee was…

Online Poker Report – Unbeknownst to most people outside of the state legislature, California’s online poker bills are up against a deadline coming at the end of this month. The time limit is legitimate, and requires that all bills must pass their “house of origin” by May 30, according to the California legislative calendar and the California legislature’s joint rules (page 39 has the pertinent information). The deadline was first brought to attention by Washington Internet Poker Initiative founder and OnlinePokerReport.com contributor Curtis Woodard, who pointed out several upcoming deadlines. The legislative calendar reads, “May 30 Last day to pass…

Radio Boston – Online poker could soon be legal in Massachusetts. An addendum to this year’s budget proposal has been signed by no less than 18 state representatives and would see three online poker licenses issued. With delays to the various brick and mortar casino proposals across the state, residents could see online poker rooms open for business before they ever set foot in an actual casino. Boston author Ben Mezrich knows all about the world of online poker. His book, “Straight Flush: The True Story Of Six College Friends Who Dealt Their Way To A Billion-Dollar Online Poker Empire…

Poker News – Internet gaming, also known as iGaming, is spreading on a state-by-state basis. Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey have already passed legislation and are reaping the tax benefits, while other states such as California and Pennsylvania are primed to follow in their footsteps. Despite efforts by Sheldon Adelson and his cronies, it seems iGaming is inevitable, but as I. Nelson Rose, Professor of Law at Whittier Law School, said in a Casino Enterprise Management gaming forecast, it’ll take time. “Two years ago, I wrote that developments on the Internet are like dog years,” Rose said. “It might have…

Cards Chat – For many years, industry analysts pointed to California as being the gateway state for online poker to become legalized. After all, if the most populous state could pull it off, many believe that would lead to a domino effect for other states to get on board. But California’s Native American tribes who operate a monopoly for casinos have long opposed legalizing online gaming and online poker. Now, in a reversal of that long-held stance, the seven most influential tribes’ leaders have testified that they are ready to make it happen, assuming certain stipulations be met. For many…

Online Poker Report – One of the points Sheldon Adelson and his cohorts have been trying to drive home any chance they get is how online gambling sites can be used to launder money by everyone from drug cartels to terrorists. But is this really the case? And perhaps an even better question to ask is, does regulation increase or decrease the ability of shady characters to launder money online? It’s not that the reports Sheldon Adelson and the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling are citing are false. It’s the way in which Adelson and company are presenting these findings…