Online Poker Report – Six weeks ago, I took my first real look at New Jersey’s six major poker sites. Since then, that number has been effectively reduced to five, as I can’t in good faith review a site that generates less monthly revenue than a lemonade stand does in a blizzard (at least Betfair’s NJ-based online casino is faring somewhat better). The rest of the Garden State’s virtual poker offerings have spent the past month-and-a-half jockeying for position, spending significant sums of money on partnerships, advertising and other marketing schemes in the process. Some networks, like Party Poker NJ,…

Poker News – California Assemblyman Isadore Hall told Tribal leaders and gaming interests at Thursday’s iGaming Legislative Symposium in Sacramento that he believes there is still a chance for Internet poker legislation to pass in the Golden State during 2014. He also indicated that the Assembly would be holding an informational hearing on the issue in the next few weeks. Hall, who was the keynote speaker to open the event, serves as chair of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, which includes gambling-related concerns. Two poker-only bills were introduced in the California legislature last week at the deadline to submit new…

iGaming Business – The Florida Senate Gaming Committee has left online poker out of an expansive gaming reform bill despite calls to introduce a regulated market in the US state. According to the Onlinepokerreport.com website, the Senate Proposed Bill 7052 was released on February 24 in an attempt to reform and update the state’s gaming industry. Potential changes in the bill include the creation of a gaming control board, as well as increased authority, control and enforcement over gaming by the regulatory body. The bill also proposed authorising the governor to renegotiate the gaming compact with the Seminoles Native American…

iGaming Business – The Autonomous Administration of the State Monopolies (AAMS) Italian gaming authority has reported that the country’s regulated online poker market is continuing to decline. According to the Pokerfuse.com website, wagers in poker cash games during January 2014 grossed €12.2 billion ($16.7 billion), a drop of 20% on the previous year and a fall of 50% on January 2012. In addition, tournament revenues also declined by 26% in comparison with January 2013. Pokerstars Italy remains the most successful operator in the country as it generates 52.8% of all cash game revenue. It also holds a 54% share of…

Some in Pennsylvania have been pondering the idea of legalizing online gaming that would be offered from state-sanctioned sites, while at least one elected official now wants the act of playing online poker to be criminalized, according to an article on Philly.com. A state lawmaker is pushing a proposal that would make the “first violation a summary offense that carries a possible $300 fine and up to 90 days in jail”, while “a second violation would be a misdemeanor bringing a chance of a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail.” Those penalties apparently wouldn’t be for running…

Poker News – As Italy’s economy keeps being one of the most troublesome in the European region, the latest numbers show that the country’s online poker industry is still far from recovery. Right now while the House of Representatives votes for Italy’s 63rd government in 68 years, welcoming former major of Florence Matteo Renzi as the country’s youngest Prime Minister, industry data from newsagency Ansa / Agimeg show a significant decline both for cash and tournament poker. During 2014’s first month, cash games Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) generated €12,200,000, showing a 20% decline compared to January 2013, and an even…