California Online Poker Bill Takes A Step Forward

California Online Poker Bill Passes Assembly Appropriations Vote

California Representative Adam Gray’s Assembly Bill 2863 has passed an important Assembly Appropriations Committee vote today, moving on to consideration by the state’s full Assembly body.

AB 2863’s passage from committee came despite continuing opposition from a hardline, obstructionist group of a half-dozen politically important casino-operating tribal nations, led by the Pechanga and Agua Caliente tribes, along with continuing protests from the Sheldon Adelson-funded Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling.

State of CaliforniaHowever, a much larger coalition of AB 2863’s supporting entities were on hand to speak in support of the bill’s passage, including six other of the state’s prominent, casino-operating tribes — the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, the United Auburn Indian Community, the Pala Band of Mission Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.

Read More Here - California Online Poker Bill Passes Assembly Appropriations Vote

Also:

Lawmakers Seeking Pound Of Flesh From PokerStars For Entry Into California Online Poker Market

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But several members strongly recommended tightening “bad actor” language that would permit, with conditions, the licensing of companies accused of taking U.S. wagers in apparent violation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006.

The committee’s concern about one of the companies – PokerStars, purchased in 2014 by Amaya Gaming – is prompting skepticism the bill will generate the votes needed to get through the legislature. The tax measure will require a two-thirds vote for approval.

Meanwhile, a politically powerful coalition of seven tribes led by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians continues to oppose licensing Amaya/PokerStars, which also threatens passage of the bill.

Read More Here - Lawmakers Seeking Pound Of Flesh From PokerStars For Entry Into California Online Poker Market

Pala Poker In The News

Pala Poker Waiting On PokerStars Before Entering US Market

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Pala Poker is holding off on paying the ante in New Jersey, and while the company launched its casino product in November of last year, it believes following PokerStars’ anticipated entry in the third-quarter of 2015 is a more opportune time to debut.

“We will offer Pala Poker in the New Jersey market, but we’ll do it after PokerStars launches,” Jim Ryan, Pala Interactive CEO told CalvinAyre.com recently. “PokerStars has taken the position that when they come into the market they’ll increase consumer awareness and the market will grow; we can only hope that that’s accurate.”

Read Full Article Here-->Pala Poker Waiting On PokerStars Before Entering US Market

California Online Poker May Get August Vote

onlinepokerreport.com - American Indians, Tracks, Card Rooms To Press For Online Poker Despite Pechanga Coalition

Aiming for August vote on poker bill

The San Manuel and Morongo Mission Indians, the Rincon and Pala Luiseño Indians and the United Auburn Indian Community are aligned with Amaya/PokerStars and card rooms in a strong effort to get an online poker bill out of the 2015 session.

The horse racing industry and its organized labor is moving on a similar but parallel track, with all the stakeholders hoping to overcome political opposition from the Pechanga and Agua Caliente group.

“This is the biggest coalition yet behind Internet poker,” said Robyn Black of Eclipse Government Affairs, a lobby for the racing industry.

“If we get consumer groups you’re going to see the coalition grow. If it isn’t a success in 2015 it will be a force in 2016.”

Read more here -->onlinepokerreport.com - American Indians, Tracks, Card Rooms To Press For Online Poker Despite Pechanga Coalition

Online Gambling News

compatiblepoker.com Amaya Plans Extensive Expansion of PokerStars

By Renee K on Thursday, July 10th, 2014
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Asked about the problems that PokerStars has faced until now by trying to enter the regulated US gambling market, Baazov said that one of the terms of the deal with Amaya was that PokerStars founder Mark Scheinberg and other principals would sell their stock in the company and would no longer be involved in managerial decisions.  Baazov believes that this will give PokerStars a clean slate and allow it to expand in the United States and other regulated jurisdictions around the world.

Read More Here -->compatiblepoker.com Amaya Plans Extensive Expansion of PokerStars


casinocitytimes.com - California Indian casino built and managed by Station Casinos rising to top of class

8 July 2014
By Howard Stutz
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But one analyst hinted recently the Indian casino — which was built by Station Casinos, Inc. and is being operated by the locals gaming giant — is quickly rising to the top of the class in tribal gaming-rich California.

The casino cost $800 million and is owned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. The property, 45 minutes north of downtown San Francisco, took 10 years to get through the various federal and state regulatory approvals.
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In the quarter that ended March 31, Graton generated $101 million in revenue and $57 million, cash flow. Station Casinos earned $7.4 million in management fees.

Credit Suisse gaming analyst Joel Simkins told investors the Graton numbers make the resort one of the most profitable and highest margin regional casinos around.
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Graton also has a potential advantage should California legalize Internet poker.

The casino can partner with Station Casinos-owned Ultimate Gaming. The company operates Ultimate Poker in Nevada and is the online gaming provider for the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
Read More Here--> casinocitytimes.com - California Indian casino built and managed by Station Casinos rising to top of class

Also:

politico.com Adelson makes fifth new hire to fight online gaming

vegasinc.com Online gaming hasn’t lived up to its hype

totallygaming.com Political heavyweights to discuss pros and cons of internet gambling in San Francisco

Bwin.Party Might Be For Sale Soon

The CEO of Pala Interactive LLC is Jim Ryan.  He was formerly Co-CEO of Bwin.Party.

bloomberg.com Bwin.Party Online Casino Said to Weigh Possible Sale

By Christopher Palmeri  Jun 26, 2014

Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Plc, (BPTY) a pioneer of online gambling, is considering selling some or all of the company as part of a strategic review, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

The Gibraltar-based company, a partner in New Jersey’s new online betting market with Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, hired Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) to consider its options, said the people, who requested anonymity because the matter isn’t public. The company will decide within two months, one person said. In a statement today, Bwin said it has no plans to break up or sell the company.

The discussions follow a share drop, a change in board leadership and a disappointing start to online betting in the U.S. A new threat emerged this month when PokerStars, the world’s dominant poker website, agreed to be sold in a deal that could hasten its re-entry to the fledgling U.S. market after an absence of several years.

Read More Here --> bloomberg.com Bwin.Party Online Casino Said to Weigh Possible Sale

***WARNING*** 

Chairman Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, Pala Band of Luiseno Indians, Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, is monitoring your comments.  He is going to track your IP address and "take action" against any tribal member posting comments he does not like.

PokerStars Makes Progress In New Jersey

www.casino.org - PokerStars Could Return to New Jersey Market by Fall

JUNE 27, 2014 BY DAVID SHELDON

PokerStars’ carefully orchestrated sale to Amaya Gaming for $4.9 billion looks like it might well pay off for the world’s biggest poker site. The ink was still running down the page on that $4.9 billion contract when New Jersey gaming officials announced that they had met with representatives from Amaya, and this week they told the Associated Press that they were optimistic that PokerStars may be able to join the New Jersey market as early as this fall.

Read More Here --> www.casino.org - PokerStars Could Return to New Jersey Market by Fall 

Also see:

osga.com - Does Amaya Gaming’s purchase of PokerStars and Full Tilt open the way to the U.S. market?

By: Hartley Henderson - Exclusive to OSGA.com

Published: Jun 26, 2014 

The poker world was provided quite the shock recently when it was announced that Amaya Gaming will be purchasing PokerStars and Full Tilt poker for $4.9 billion. While there had been some speculation about the sale for a few months prior, most in the industry believed the sale would never be consummated due to the cost.

For those unfamiliar with the Quebec based company, Amaya entered the online gaming market in 2004 supplying software for electronic poker tables. In 2006 they hired David Baazov a 26 year-old entrepreneur as CEO and he made it quite clear at the time that his goal was to make Amaya a major player in all realms of legal government regulated online gambling through acquisitions. The company did have a few small acquisitions at first but really made a splash in 2011 and 2012 when they made several major purchases. First in early 2011 they purchased gaming software company Chartwell Technologies for $22.8 million; later that year they purchased Cryptologic for $36 million; late in the year they purchased Cadillac Jack for $167 million; and finally in 2012 they bought bwin.party's surplus Ongame poker Network for $15 million. As well, Amaya inked a partnership agreement with Australian based Aristocrat gaming and not surprisingly revenues at Amaya soared by over 200%.

But as successful as those deals had been the purchase of PokerStars and Full Tilt from the Oldford Group (parent company of the Rational Group) puts Amaya in a position to be the biggest online gambling company in the world.

Read More Here --> osga.com - Does Amaya Gaming’s purchase of PokerStars and Full Tilt open the way to the U.S. market?

***WARNING*** 

Chairman Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, Pala Band of Luiseno Indians, Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, is monitoring your comments.  He is going to track your IP address and "take action" against any tribal member posting comments he does not like.

Amaya Gaming Buying PokerStars

Amaya Gaming is in the process of buying PokerStars for $4.9 Billion.

What exactly does this mean?  Well, PokerStars has been a bit of fly in the ointment stalling legislation in California that could legalize online poker in the Golden State.  Some California tribes have insisted on Bad Actor language in legislation which would essentially lock out PokerStars from the California Online Poker Market.  At the same time Morongo, Card Parlors, and Horse Tracks have partnered with PokerStars to develop online poker in the event it becomes legal in California.

With PokerStars being bought by another company perhaps now they would be able to participate in the California Market.  If this is the case then some of the last road blocks preventing online poker from being legal in California could be removed.  If the Bad Actor clause is no longer an issue then presumably Morongo, Card Parlors, Horse Tracks, and the rest of the tribes in California could agree on some form of the current proposed legislation.

For more information you can read the following:

Forbes - Amaya Gaming In Deal To Buy PokerStars For $4.9 Billion



***WARNING***
Chairman Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, Pala Band of Luiseno Indians, Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, is monitoring your comments.  He is going to track your IP address and "take action" against any tribal member posting comments he does not like.