Online Gaming Lobbying Increases

New iGaming lobbying group launched in US

By Robert Simmons

Excerpt:

The I-Development and Economic Association (iDEA) claims that it is “an association seeking to grow jobs and expand online interactive entertainment business in the United States through advocacy and education”.

It is made up of 17 firms representing a wide spectrum of the online gambling industry including: Amaya, Inc, Golden Nugget, Paysafe, Paddy Power Betfair, GVC Holdings, Resorts Interactive, Catena Media; NetENT, Sightline Payments, Continent 8 Technologies, NYX, Tropicana Entertainment, Gamesys, Pala Interactive, Vantiv Gaming Solutions, eZugi, and Ifrah Law.
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Read full article at link above

Seems Pala's money is still circling the drain.  How's that $100 million online poker investment working out?  Everyone got per cap raises this year, right?

Pala Interactive In The News

Pala Interactive debuts New Jersey online poker site

Excerpt:

BY Peter Amsel ON June 07, 2017

TAGS: NEW JERSEY ONLINE GAMBLING, PALA INTERACTIVE, PALAPOKER

Tribal gaming operator Pala Interactive has added a poker product to its New Jersey online gambling operations.

On Tuesday, Pala Interactive announced the launch of PalaPoker.com for both desktop and mobile poker players residing in the state of New Jersey. The poker site, which is currently in open beta testing, follows the 2014 launch of Pala’s New Jersey online casino and the 2016 launch of PalaBingoUSA.com.

-- Read more at link above

Also:

New Online Poker Room Launches in New Jersey

Pala Interactive rolls out New Jersey poker product

How Well Is Pala Interactive Doing?

It's hard to know how well Pala's online gaming business is doing.  But we can infer some things from the news.

From this article:

uspoker.com - Will A Hard Rock-Branded Online Casino In New Jersey Flourish Or Flounder?

Excerpt:

Latecomers have gained significant market share

The NJ online poker and casino industries consisted of far fewer sites in November 2013, the month when the first wave of regulated sites went live. And all of them have performed admirably.

Pala Casino launched in November 2014. Despite being a relatively unknown quantity in New Jersey, the San Diego-based brand now accounts for a significant portion of Borgata AC online casino revenue.

How much? According to the latest US iGaming Tracker report from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, the casino has captured 15 percent of Borgata’s online market share, which translates into roughly $5.6 million in revenue generated per year.

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You can read the entire article at the link above.

So, after an alleged $100 million investment by the Pala Band of Mission Indians about 4 years ago Pala Interactive seems to be generating about $5.6 million a year in revenue, at least in New Jersey.

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 Interactive - Still No Poker?

Online Poker Report - GAN Annual Report Expects Real Money Gaming Deal With The Borgata To Begin In Summer 2016

Excerpt:

The existence of the relationship with GAN does not absolutely show that the Borgata wants to end the partnership with partypoker now that GVC has taken over. There is no reason why the Borgata can’t add extra brands to its gaming offer.

The industry rumor mill has Pala Interactive listed as a potential online poker provider if partypoker were to exit the market. PalaCasino is live in New Jersey, but despite developing proprietary software, Pala has not yet launched a poker product.

CEO Jim Ryan said that he would like to see the impact of PokerStars before making that decision.
Unless there is a dramatic change in the New Jersey market, such as partypoker exiting, Pala online poker looks unlikely to make an independent entry – the return on investment probably isn’t there.

Read Full Article -->Online Poker Report - GAN Annual Report Expects Real Money Gaming Deal With The Borgata To Begin In Summer 2016

Pala Interactive Making News

Gaming Realms Bingo Content Goes Live with Pala Interactive

Excerpt:
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Under the terms of the deal, Gaming Realms will supply its recently introduced 90-ball bingo game to Pala’s online bingo brand – PalaBingoUSA. The website is known to be the only one within the New Jersey borders to be offering that type of bingo. Pala Interactive has previously been granted the necessary transactional waiver by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for the provision of gambling services within the state.

Pala Interactive is New Jersey’s subsidiary of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, a California-based federally recognized tribe, known to be one of the major providers of gambling options in California. Under the terms of their recently signed agreement, Gaming Realms will deliver its bingo game to Pala Interactive’s online bingo website and will receive a portion of the annual revenue generated by the brand.

Read Full Article Here->Gaming Realms Bingo Content Goes Live with Pala Interactive

More news:

New Jersey Sets New Record For Online Gambling Revenue Despite Poker Decline

Excerpt:

Furthermore, Borgata is expected to switch over to a online poker client powered by Pala Interactive sometime in the next quarter. How the platform stacks up against its current client (provided by PartyPoker), may weigh heavily on the operator’s future viability in the marketplace.

INTERTAIN SAYS LOSSES INCREASE TENFOLD, CLAIMS TO BE MULLING TAKEOVER BIDS

Excerpt:

Intertain also announced that directors Stan Dunford and Mark Redmond had stepped down immediately. In their stead, current Pala Interactive CEO and former Bwin.party co-CEO Jim Ryan has been appointed an independent director, while current Intertain board member David Danziger has been appointed chairman.

Pala Interactive in New Jersey-first with bingo launch

Pala Online Poker In The News

Pala Interactive and Online Poker in California in the news.

Pala Band of Mission Indians Continues to Support Assemblyman Gray's AB 2863 Internet Poker Legislation


pokernews.com - Nevada, New Jersey Welcome Former Ultimate Bet Brass

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Borgata, which uses bwin.party as its online poker operator in New Jersey, is making the switch to Pala Interactive, Martyn Hannah of eGR North America reported — note the linked article is behind a paywall. Pala's Chief Executive Officer is Jim Ryan, who also served as CEO of UB's parent company, Exscapa. The switch will reportedly be made "by the end of the second quarter."

Borgata operates the leading online poker room in New Jersey, totaling more than $31 million in revenue since launch and leading second-place Caesar's in each calendar month of 2015.

As such, bwin.party reps are apparently not conceding the lucrative Borgata contract. Hannah quoted one rep as saying there has been "no change" in the company's relationship with Borgata as parent company GVC Holdings awaits licensing in the state. The popular casino has used bwin.party as its online poker provider since launching.

Ryan claims to have left his role as CEO in 2006, before the infamous superuser scandal at UB broke, at which point he said he was acting as merely a court-appointed inspector.
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Read Full Article Here -->Nevada, New Jersey Welcome Former Ultimate Bet Brass


PokerFuse - GAN Deal Raises Doubts over Borgata/Partypoker Partnership

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The Borgata and its free-play online casino partner GAN have extended their deal to cover real-money online gaming. The deal has led to suggestions that the Borgata/Partypoker partnership in New Jersey may be coming to an end.

GAN will power the online casino platform with Pala Interactive providing online poker, according to a report in eGaming Review.

Read Full Article Here-->PokerFuse - GAN Deal Raises Doubts over Borgata/Partypoker Partnership


parttimepoker.com - New Jersey DGE January 2016 Gaming Results

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The Borgata and Party Poker including Pala Entertainment combination continued as the leading revenue producing I-Gaming site(s) in New Jersey with a 31.2% share (First in poker and casino games). Caesar’s Interactive (CIE) held second place with 22.0% (Second in poker, fourth in casino games).
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Read Full Article Here-->parttimepoker.com - New Jersey DGE January 2016 Gaming Results

Bill Making Its Way Through House to Ban New Jersey Online Gambling

I wonder how much lobbying dollars it will cost to kill this bill...

Proposed ban on N.J. online gambling still brewing in D.C.

WASHINGTON — Proposed federal legislation that would outlaw online gambling in New Jersey and the two other states that allow it got a second hearing Wednesday.

The bill's chief sponsor, U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) expressed concern that residents of states that outlaw gambling, either in casinos or online, would be able to play anyway.

"It's naive at best to think you can put a wall on the Internet," said Chaffetz, chairman of the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which conducted the hearing. Chaffetz also presided over a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the bill in March.

Read Full Article Here-->Proposed ban on N.J. online gambling still brewing in D.C.

A Very Merry Christmas From Pala Interactive

PalaCasino.com Announces $25,000 Holiday Celebration

New Jersey Players Can Win Major Prizes This Holiday Season on PalaCasino.com

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This December, PalaCasino.com is spreading the holiday cheer by giving New Jersey players the chance to win big. Today, the Company announced that it will be hosting "The PalaCasino.com $25,000 Holiday Celebration" to give players the chance to win $25,000 in prizes and bonuses including popular electronics such as Apple and Microsoft tablets, a HDTV, an Apple Watch, shopping gift cards and an Atlantic City hotel package, among many others. In addition to sought-after holiday prizes, all PalaCasino.com players will have an opportunity to earn a share in a $10,000 PalaCasino.com Bonus Cash prize pool.

"The PalaCasino.com $25,000 Holiday Celebration" will run from December 1st, 2015 through December 31st, 2015. All winners will be announced on PalaCasino.com within 72 hours of each promotion day.

"With $25,000 in prizes and bonuses available, PalaCasino.com will be the place to play and win this December," said Jeremy Clemons, Chief Marketing Officer at Pala Interactive. "The Holiday Celebration is a terrific opportunity to thank the players that make PalaCasino.com their New Jersey home for online casino action and allows a tremendous opportunity to introduce new players to our online and mobile offering, which features more than 155 casino games including 126 slot titles." 

To participate in "$25,000 PalaCasino.com Holiday Celebration," players that deposit at least $25 dollars and wager of at least $100 will be entered into a random drawing for that day's featured Holiday prize.  Also, players that qualify for the featured Holiday prize at least 12 days during the December promotion will earn a guaranteed share in a $10,000 Casino Bonus prize pool.

Additionally, PalaCasino.com will offer new customers a $20 "Welcome Bonus," a "Double Your 1st Deposit Bonus" up to $100 and provide players to take a free daily slot spin for the chance to win $1,000,000.

For more information on rules and an alternative method of entry, as well as the full list of games and prizes, please visit www.PalaCasino.com. 

About Pala Interactive, LLC Pala Interactive, LLC in an online real money and social gaming operator that was founded in 2013 in anticipation of upcoming U.S. state legislation permitting  real-money internet wagering.  Focused on delivering an excellent user experience to consumers through its proprietary platform, Pala Interactive plans to be a material market participant in the U.S. regulated online gaming market.  The Company's majority shareholder is the Pala Band of Mission Indians, which owns and operates the Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala, California.  

SOURCE Pala Interactive, LLC

Pala Interactive Ramping Up Business

Pala Interactive in the news:

Pala Interactive adds new content and payment method to NJ site


Pala Interactive, the iGaming arm of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, is adding 65 online and mobile games to its New Jersey licensed iGaming offering, alongside a new payment method to ease player deposits.


read full article here-->Pala Interactive adds new content and payment method to NJ site

Also:

New Jersey iPoker Down 2.8% to $1.91m in October

Continuing to lead the Garden State’s iPoker market is the Borgata (PartyPoker/Pala Interactive) with $1,079,478 in revenues last month, while Caesars Interactive (888/WSOP) was a little further behind on $833,925.

Read Full Article Here-->New Jersey iPoker Down 2.8% to $1.91m in October

Winner winner chicken dinner - per caps raise all around next year for PBMI members!

If you want to read the $100 Million MOU setting up Pala Interactive go here.

Here are some excerpts:

NGS3 pursuant to the Development Agreement and for the period of time in between the
Development Agreemcnt and the Operating Agreement and all License Fees and License
application and processing fees for the initial License, in exchange for a 62.5% Percentage
Interest:

(b) NGS3 will contribute the Technology and associated IP. business plan and
expertise in exchange for a 28.5% Percentage Interest.
3.3 "Additional Membership Interests" will be issued as follows:

(a) 5% to the CEO of Pala Interactive: and

(b) 4% to PBMI designated Management.

(c) The Additional Membership Interests will be subject to customary vesting
and other provisions in order to avoid adverse tax consequences to additional Members. the
Additional Membership Interests will be structured as profits interests which will entitle the
Additional members to participate in operating profits and any increase in the equity of Pala
Interactive beyond the initial $100M Capital Contributions through ongoing "Distributions
from Operations" and "Distributions from Capital Transactions'" as defined below.

d) The Board of Directors will have authority to issue additional Membership
Interests in the future, for such consideration and upon such tenns and conditions as they shall
deem prudent, subject to the consent and approval of a Super Majority of the Board andlor the
Members, as further described below. To the extent additional Membership Interests are Issued
in the future, beyond the CEO and PBMI Management contemplated above. all Membership
Interests will be proportionally diluted; provided NGS3's 28.5% interest shall not be subject to
dilution. unless and until PBMI( has contributed its full $70M Capital Contribution.

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(d) Profit Sharing Interests. It is anticipated that Pala Interactive will
establish a phantom stock or other profit sharing plan (the "'Phantom Plan") for key employees
and/or Independent Contractors, pursuant to which those employees will also share in
Distributions of Distributable Cash from Operations and Capital Transactions in accordance
with their respective interests in the Phantom Plan.

3.5 Management. The day to day business and affairs of Pala Interactive will be
managed and conducted by the Managers/Directors. who will function as a Board of Directors.

(a) There will be 5 Directors, 3 to be appointed by PBMI (one of whom will
be the Chairman of PBMI) and 2 to be appointed by NGS3. Generally. decisions of the Board
will require the consent or approval of a majority of the Directors. However, certain "Key
Decisions" will require the consent or approval of "Super Majority" (4 of 5) Directors.
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(b) The Operating Officers of Pala Interactive are set forth below. Each
Officer will receive a salary and may be eligible to participate in the Phantom Plan~ in
accordance with policies and guidelines to be adopted by the Board. The specific responsibilities
and authority of each Officer will be determined by the Board as well.

ChiefExecutive Officer - Jim Ryan (pending)
ChiefOperating Officer - Reeve Collins
Chief Marketing Officer - TBD
ChiefFinancial Officer - Shauna Anton
ChiefCommunication Officer - Kasey Thompson
ChiefTechnology Officer - Dean Abramson
ChiefStrategic Officer - Bill Bembenek

Pala Interactive Launches Cell Phone App - Business Up 25%

Pala Interactive launched a cell phone app so players in New Jersey can play poker on their cell phones.  Looks like the $70 million to $100 Million dollar investment PBMI members made into Pala Interactive might be starting to pay off.  Rumor has it there could be a  bonus from online poker to PBMI members toward the end of this year or early next year.  For that kind of investment into a venture one typically looks for a 20% return on investment within 3 to 5 years.  Of course nothing is guaranteed and so far there appears to be no hope for California Online Poker in 2015.

Press Release:

Pala Casino launches iOS app in New Jersey

Excerpt:

17 September 2015

Just after Labor Day, Pala Casino quietly rolled out an iOS app, allowing people located within New Jersey to play its online casino games on their iPhone or iPad. Even Pala Interactive CEO Jim Ryan was surprised by how quickly players adopted it.

"We haven't marketed it in any meaningful way up until today, and our business is up 25%," said Ryan.

Read Full Press Release Here-->Pala Casino launches iOS app in New Jersey

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

No California Online Poker in 2015

California Online Poker Shelved For 2015 According To Tribal Lobbyist

June 10th, 2015 | by Greg Shaun

California online poker has the potential to provide a drastic and much-needed boost to the overall health of online poker, but one tribal lobbyist in opposition of such legislation says 2015 won’t be the year.

According to David Quintana, a lobbyist representing the California Tribal Business Alliance, State Sen. Isadore Hall (D-District 35) has assured tribal organizations that the Senate Government Organization Committee (GO) that he chairs has no plans to tackle online poker this year.

Quintana told Capitol Weekly, a media outlet that covers California government and politics, that Hall “will not be setting or hearing any Internet poker bills this year.”

Read Full Article Here ->California Online Poker Shelved For 2015 According To Tribal Lobbyist


Robert Smith is Secretary/Treasurer for the California Tribal Business Alliance

Sheldon Adelson Continues Push to Stop Online Gambling

National Journal - Congress Revives Sheldon Adelson-backed Plot to Kill Online Gambling

Is the billionaire casino magnate already exerting his influence over the new Congress?

BY DUSTIN VOLZ

House lawmakers Wednesday are reintroducing a bill that would effectively ban betting sites in the U.S.

The Restoration of America's Wire Act, spearheaded by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, would "restore" a decades-old federal ban on some gambling operations by extending it to include Internet gaming. Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, is introducing the bill with six GOP cosponsors and the backing of one Democrat, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. The three-page measure is the same as the one Chaffetz introduced last year.

An aide for Sen. Lindsey Graham confirmed that the South Carolina Republican also intends to reintroduce a version of the bill, though he said a timetable was unclear. The companion bills debuted last spring but never gained much traction.

The House reintroduction renews a long-standing fight between Internet gambling sites, brick-and-mortar casino owners, and family-values advocates.

Chaffetz told reporters Wednesday that online gambling presents a troubling family-values threat because of the ease with which players can sign up and start betting.

Read Full Article Here ->National Journal - Congress Revives Sheldon Adelson-backed Plot to Kill Online Gambling

Santa Ysabel Claims Sovereignty - Seeks Case Dismissal Over Online Poker

Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel Files Motion to Dismiss California AG Lawsuit, Claiming Sovereignty

January 8th, 2015 | by Brian Corlisse

The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit launched by the State of California via the Attorney General’s office, that seeks to pull a plug on its online gambling aspirations.

The tribe, which ran a land-based casino until it was forced to closed in 2007, leaving it millions of dollars in debt, has vowed to go it alone and offer online poker and bingo to Californians, whether the state chooses to legalize or not.

The Iipay Nation says it’s its sovereign right to do so, and that it is justified under the Indian Gaming and Regulations Act 1988 (IGRA).

Read Full Article Here-->Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel Files Motion to Dismiss California AG Lawsuit, Claiming Sovereignty

Also:

Iipay Nation Ask Court to Dismiss Calif iBingo Case

Another Setback For Tribal Online Gaming

Those of you following the saga of online poker in California know that tribes failed to push through legislation that would allow them to operate online poker sites.  That didn't stop at least one tribe, Santa Ysabel, from deciding to move forward with online poker.  Their website privatetable.com is now live offering poker.  Their argument is as usual - Tribal Sovereignty.  They also argue online poker is Class II gaming.  California considers poker Class II but it is not clear if that extends to online poker.

The question has been how are States going to react to tribes offering online gaming?  Also, how will the Federal Courts react?  Well, we may be getting some indication of the direction things are going to go.  It's likely going to get messy with a myriad of lawsuits being filed by States against Tribes.

In The News:

Idaho Coeur d’Alene Casino Stops Poker Per Federal Judge

Excerpts:
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Federal US District Judge B. Lynn Winmill has ruled that the Coeur d’Alene casino must stop offering Texas Hold’em tournaments and other poker games pending the outcome of the state’s lawsuit. Idaho was granted injunctive relief, while the tribe’s motion to dismiss was denied.
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This ruling could potentially have repercussions beyond the borders of Idaho. For instance, the Santa Ysabel tribe in California is attempting to launch an online poker site based on their ability to host Class II gaming from their reservation. While the laws of California clearly make poker a Class II game in that state, it’s not clear if that would also hold for online poker. In addition, the ruling still sets a precedent that states may be able to file injunctions against tribes in these cases without seeking a ruling from the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Read More Here->Idaho Coeur d’Alene Casino Stops Poker Per Federal Judge

Also:

Idaho Poker Ruling Could Impact California Online Poker

Excerpt:

Shapiro astutely points out that the ruling in Idaho sets a precedent for the state of California to file an injunction against the tribe without going to the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) for a ruling.

This is just one of the many problems the Santa Ysabel tribe will face if they are serious about launching an online poker site in California.

Read More Here->Idaho Poker Ruling Could Impact California Online Poker

***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.

California Online Poker Bill Gets Delayed

Any hopes that remained of getting some sort of California Online Poker legislation passed this year appear to have faded.  Looks like 2014 will not be the year for California Online Poker.  Of course everyone is upbeat and optimistic about 2015.  And why would they not be?  It means more money for lobbyists, lawyers, and politicians as yet another wave of money will try to hustle some sort of online poker bill through the State Legislature.

In The News:

casino.org California Online Poker Bills Stalled for 2014 Legislation

pokerupdate.com California Eyes 2015 for Online Poker Regulation

cardschat.com California Online Poker Bills Won’t See Daylight in 2014

cardplayer.com Card Rooms, PokerStars, Tribal Group Respond To Shelving Of California Web Poker In 2014



***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.

Pala Interactive In the News

This is a long article but worth the read.  I will post a small excerpt here.  Please click the link and read the whole article if this interests you.

4flush.com - Santa Ysabel Gambit Complicates California Online Poker Scene

by Haley Hintze on July 15, 2014

Excerpt:

It’s interesting to note, however, that lawyers for the Pechanga-led coalition now trying to push through SB1366 and AB2291 did a flip-flop on this very same issue within the past three years, just in time to craft a favorable viewpoint favoring their tribal-only legislative efforts.  These same tribes declared a few years that online poker couldn’t be regulated via state-level compact because it was Class II, not Class III, then simply switched their collective interpretation when popular support for the regulation of California online poker began to grow.

If it sounds like hypocrisy, well, it is.

There’s also the question of some of these news reports quickly slapping a “rogue” label on the Santa Ysabels while utterly ignoring some of the other already established business connections.  The Pala tribe, one of the major components of the Pechanga-led faction, has already created a new entity called Pala Interactive, in which it partners with former Excapsa (UltimateBet) CEO James Ryan.  Pala Interactive also has some shared rights to the extant UB software, which means that years after UB itself failed amid scandal and tens of millions of dollars of internal theft and fraud, the old UB software could reemerge again, via Pala Interactive.

One could also note that the Pala tribe itself is also mired in major legal controversy over the forced disenfranchising of hundreds of former tribal members, many of whom are political opponents of the group currently in power.  The net effect is to distribute the massive proceeds from the Palas’ profitable gaming operations to a smaller group of official tribal members.

It’s hard to look at the sum of what the Pala nation would bring to online poker, and not toss in the word “rogue” somewhere.  Even if it doesn’t have quite the same meaning.

Read Full Article Here--> 4flush.com - Santa Ysabel Gambit Complicates California Online Poker Scene

***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.

Santa Ysabel Moving Forward With Online Poker

parttimepoker.com - Santa Ysabel Tribe in California Launches Online Poker Site PrivateTable.com

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Why is this significant

The significance is two-fold. First, the obvious significance is for players in California as they may have a new, more trustworthy place to play.

For the rest of us, the significance lies in the precedent being set. Other tribes across the U.S will be watching what Santa Ysabel does with PrivateTable.com and will make decisions based on the results. Other tribes have, and absolutely still are, weighing the possibility of operating a Class II online poker site under their sovereign rights. Santa Ysabel is uniquely position to call out ‘first’ on this one for two key reasons:

•They don’t have much to lose. Santa Ysabel closed their land-based casino in February. If they are proven to be wrong regarding the legality of operating an online poker site as a tribe, they have no significant underlying business that can be harmed.

•They are in California, considered to be the gold mine for online gaming due to population and demographics. There is actual money to be made.

Read More Here -->parttimepoker.com - Santa Ysabel Tribe in California Launches Online Poker Site PrivateTable.com

Much More:

Santa Ysabel Interactive PrivateTable.com

4flush.com - Santa Ysabel Gambit Complicates California Online Poker Scene
by Haley Hintze on July 15, 2014

This week’s announcement by the cash-strapped Santa Ysabel tribal nation of an imminent rollout of real-money online poker for Californians, despite no formal state regulation, has added an interesting new twist to the neverending saga of the attempts to introduce and regulate the online game in the Golden State.  Whether or not the Santa Ysabels — also known as the Iipay Nation — move forward with their plans remains to be seen.

What’s for sure, however, is that an already-tipsy legislative apple cart in California’s state capital of Sacramento now has another element in play.  Regardless of the Santa Ysabels nation’s small financial size, the question now posed is a doozy: Do United States-based tribal nations even need federal or state approval to offer online poker, if they’ve already been cleared via the Department of the Interior to offer gambling on their own tribal lands?

Read More Here-->4flush.com - Santa Ysabel Gambit Complicates California Online Poker Scene

4flush.com - Online Poker Site Launched in California by Stand-Alone Tribe

onlinepokerreport.com - Bill or No Bill, Santa Ysabel Tribe To Push Forward With Online Poker in California

casino.org - California Tribe Claims Sovereignty, Launches Online Poker Site

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

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