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Brown Pays the Price of Washington DC Online Gambling Bill |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 05 December 2011 15:31 |
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At the end of 2010, we all surprised to say the least, to hear that an online gambling bill had passed muster in Washington DC. At the time we were concentrating our efforts on news coming out of New Jersey and Nevada; the two US states with the most to gain from legalizing online gambling. Both of these states have chiefly gambling-driven economies - Atlantic City and Las Vegas respectively.
The Washington DC iGaming measure was apparently 'snuck in' on the tail end of a budget bill, and essentially made the Capital City state, the first to legalize online gambling in the US post-UIGEA. As we see time after time in this country, the government barely has consensus on any matter, and in this matter they have the least. Despite the fact that the online gambling industry - if legalized - could offer potential big benefits to their budget deficit, both state and nationwide!
Now two local politicians from Washington DC want the iGaming law repealed and Democrat Michael Brown is the Council Member taking the heat. He was the bill's protagonist, and Democrat Council Members Tommy Wells and Phil Mendelson are arguing the bill was not subject to enough debate before being passed. The same could be said of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, when this was passed in 2006.
Brown maintains it took place in an above-board way, and that his former employers who were online gambling lobbyists, had nothing to do with promulgation of the bill. He also realistically maintains that the Washington DC iGaming initiative offers a "viable revenue enhancing vehicle to secure our social safety net and balance our budget during a time of fiscal crisis". We know that he is correct in this statement.
Tommy Wells and Phil Mendelson however cannot see beyond the wood for the trees, and they maintain that online gambling in the state will 'pose a threat to people at risk'. They go so far as to determine that the people at risk are the 'underprivileged'. Are these underprivileged people not exposed to the lottery already, and would they not be kept underprivileged by having their rights to online gambling denied?
In the meantime Oxford University’s pioneering Internet Institute is celebrating its Tenth birthday, and first Professor of Internet Studies, Bill Dutton, from Southern California says; 73% of the population now has access to the internet - bearing mind this is in the UK. He also says that the internet has had an impact on every aspect of modern life, and has proven to be the mother-load for areas of study. Because of fast changing trends, it has also been found that the risks of dating online - as with online gambling and internet addiction - are massively exaggerated.
Perhaps Democrat Council Members Tommy Wells and Phil Mendelson need to read Prof Dutton's report? The Prof is about to write a book about his findings, and his argument is that 'the internet is the medium to empower individuals', and certainly not 'underprivilege' them. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 05 December 2011 15:32 |
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A Scramble for Spanish Online Gambling Liberalisation |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:21 |
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Just a few years ago, it was predicted that the Spanish online gambling market could grow to a very attractive €4.2 billion by 2010. These were some pretty tempting numbers for online casino, online poker, bingo and sports betting sites - certainly enough to get them interested in this business. New studies released are predicting growth in the near future to €39 billion, and this has the cash-strapped Spanish Government sitting up and taking notice too. It is not news that the high tech industry which supports these activities; is a solid mainstream, and highly paid industry too.
Europe is a massive target market for operators who know there is just no way they will get back into the US online gambling marketplace any time soon. In terms of the "Spanish" market; in its current context, only refers to Spain. But there are numerous countries around the world with Spanish speaking populations, and in fact, many of the sites which used to offer online gambling to US residents, offered these in Spanish too. So, there are a whole host of countries for which Spain could provide a hub for an online gambling licensing jurisdiction. This in itself would impact massively on its economy - the online gambling licensing industry has done the same for Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, Alderney, Isle of Man and so on.
Spain is now high on the target list for marketers who are now all but completely excluded from the American market. They are a major region for future growth, and the Government is fully aware of this fact.
Some time ago - major brand William Hill group had already started expanding into Spain. Spanish Football teams are being sponsored by online gambling companies, although with the dip in economy, even famous FC's have been struggling to get sponsors on board. Spain has also not as yet done everything it needs to do in the way of creating a legal jurisdiction. But there are many autonomous regions in Spain; all of whom are apparently working toward liberalisation in this market. It is believed that the sports betting sector as well as other interactive gambling will fare very well, and the Spanish also love their bingo. There are already a number of online bingo sites, dedicated to this market alone, and considerable growth has been seen.
The biggest problems to overcome are conflicts with the traditional gambling sector, and this appears to be one of the major driving forces for the problems in the US. Spain is a far less restrictive country, even less so than France, and France has their two little ducks in a row, so to speak. Spain is an attractive jurisdiction with even more attractive growth potential, and now that the Government has decided take the 'regulation' route, there is big promise in more ways than one. The opportunities for additional revenue is highly attractive, as is the fact that salaries for high tech personnel are excellent - they will also be spending their money in this country in which even the real estate industry has not picked up. The unemployment rate is shocking, and new growth can only be a good thing. |
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Online Gambling – Updating the Law To Account for New Technology |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 06 July 2011 10:05 |
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According to Republican Arizona Senator Jon Kyl, he is about to soften his stance on Internet gambling to accommodate new technology. However this brief is being geared as he prepares to leave his position in the US Senate. Therefore the fact that has softened his stance may be noted when it comes to legislation; but how much follow through can there be for online casinos and other gambling activities in the United States, with an absentee senator? In all honesty we are not really sure what the purpose of the statements on his website actually means.
Kyl, has been rabidly apposed to any efforts to legalize online gambling in the US, says on his website, that there are several subjects which need to be addresses in the next 18 months, prior to his departure. He has opened the door and had a change of heart; although in the past has been one of the biggest believers that online gambling fosters problems, like no other form of gambling activity.
In the past Kyl's stance has been that he does not believe it is right for gamblers to play games from their homes 24/7. This is obviously ok when in Las Vegas?! He has also said that he does not believe there are sufficient age verification systems in place - which leads to underage gambling. Then there is the use of the credit card for gambling online. Use of this payment method in his esteemed belief; is that it provides the owner with mis-perceptions of the value of cash? What a strange concept in a "Credit Card" driven economy where even 16 year olds are allowed to own credit cards? Apparently because spending on gambling is different as apposed to say; using all available credit buying Apple Bottom Jeans and Jimmy Choo shoes on eBay? Till now it has been his firm stance that gambling online leads to possible addiction (but not in Las Vegas); which in turn leads to crime, bankruptcy and also suicide.
So,Kyl has had some pretty strong conviction with regards to not allowing online gambling in the US! In fact it was he who was one of the main protagonists behind the promulgation of UIGEA in 2006. He has not so much expressed a change of attitude with online gambling per se, as he has with online poker. He maintains that efforts should be made to carve out exceptions for this game. Notably it was also he who used his position as a "Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight" to force President Barack Obama's administration to enact the provision of UIGEA last year in 2010. In fact he withheld consent of 6 nominated appointments to the U.S. Treasury until after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was fully implemented.
With this having been said, Kyl' serious change of heart towards online poker before he leaves office, is more than a little bit strange in the wake of the US DOJ seizure of four of the largest online poker sites in the US. Apparently the change of mindset; now sees Kyle considering these games to be a potential source of income; rather than a social evil – go figure!? |
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Ladbrokes JV To Launch Virtual Sports Game in China |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 02 June 2011 16:45 |
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AGTech is the Chinese joint venture partner of Ladbrokes, and this partnership is about to launch a new virtual sports product into the market in China. Ladbrokes is already a popular brand in Asia with current developments already paying off in Vietnam and Taiwan. AGTech is a Chinese sports lottery management company and Ladbrokes acts on a consultancy basis. The first game to be launched into the market is called "Lucky Racing Game". The companies are currently crossing the "t's" and dotting the "i's" on this product, so, the launch is imminent.
There are extremely good opportunities to be had in the Chinese gambling market, particularly with a products which are approved by the Beijing Sports Lottery. This is a "by mobile" product and there are hundreds of millions of Chinese people who love a gamble as well as own mobile phones. Casino gambling in China is actually not allowed and most Chinese who wish to try their luck travel to Macau or Singapore. There is no doubt about the fact that the Chinese love to take a gamble, and there is also no doubt about the fact that the uptake on Lucky Racing Game is going to be huge.
Ladbrokes has a good deal of focus on long-term growth opportunities and strategies which encompass the principles of expansion. We have seen some remarkable changes happening at their online casino, bingo and poker sites in the past couple of weeks, and these are not only skin deep changes. Admittedly the sites have been given a face-lift, but there has been an appreciable increase in the promotions and the size of the promotions on offer.
Concentration on new markets as well as China, include making further inroads into Asia and Europe - with a particular European interest in Italy and Spain. Their UK Retail business has been staying open later, fixed odds betting terminals have been upgraded and they continue to be a brand with a leading edge in the online gambling space. The addition of a dynamic new marketing director and budget has already seen members of their online products, reaping the benefits of new attention to detail.
The heart and soul of Ladbrokes is of course their sports betting business – online this also includes betting on virtual content. This is actually a very interesting concept and playing virtual dog and horse racing is becoming a popular way to learn about placing a sports bet. Mobile sports betting is also on the uptake more than ever before and this operator has iPhone applications on offer for this activity. The new smartphone technology has got sports bettors punting like mad from their mobiles!
A customer loyalty scheme was launched in 2008, so, loyalty pays and although we don't normally use this as a platform to review or promote specific products, we have absolutely no problem in promoting such a good international product. Whether you play online at their casino, bingo or poker room, or pop into a shop for a spot of High Street betting, any punter is in excellent hands with this brand. |
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Casino games to pay for Christmas presents for soldiers |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 03 May 2011 08:42 |
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Casino games are yet again used as a means of fundraising. This time, it’s for the benefit of Laurel Hometown Troops who’ve been sent to Iraq and Afghanistan nearly ten years ago. A local activist Cindy Burns helped finding them and she’s been taking care of their Christmas presents ever since. Every Christmas she’s been organising dispatch of packages overseas and their number exceeded ten thousand long ago. Now she seeks more help and funds since packing boxes for 500 soldiers costs about $10k – the time for the casino games to kick in. Poker and gambling in general have been used for the good cause for decades and are ideal in this respect since the fundraising potential is huge; money gets amassed much faster and in a much easier way and it’s fun for everyone, unlike just giving a dime to a stranger with a bucket walking the streets. |
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