Bet From Anywhere Blog

A new bill that would limit the Internet gambling ban to sports betting while exempting poker and other online wagering is splitting poker advocates.

The Poker Players Alliance, a group that lobbies Congress against the ban, is opposed to the bill. Former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, R- N.Y., who is the alliance chairman, said it does nothing to clear up confusion about the definition of unlawful Internet gambling.

But Jay Lakin, vice president of Poker Source Online, supports the measure, which was introduced shortly before Congress adjourned last week for its August recess.

Since Nevada is the only state that allows sports betting, Lakin said, the impact of the ban under the new bill would be minimal.

The Poker Players Alliance has argued the ban does not apply to Internet poker because poker is a legal activity, Lakin said.

So if the alliance supports the new bill and accepts the exemption, he said, it would be like admitting that poker is illegal.

“They’re between a rock and a hard place,” Lakin said. [Read more →]

Tags:   Gambling Study · Gene Green · internet poker · Jesse Jackson Jr · Marion Berry · Pete Sessions · poker players alliance · Shelley Berkley · William DelahuntNo Comments.

H3 Enterprises, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: HTRE), has formed joint venture with GamerSaloon.com to create the world’s largest pay-to-play video gaming site coined H3GameLine.com. The new service, set to launch in late August 2008, will offer video gamers the ability to win prizes and cash daily by playing in video game tournaments and instant matchups. Priority customer support and account access will be available 24/7/365 to ensure customer satisfaction. The service will support hundreds of video game titles across all the top console and pc platforms. Because video games are considered skill gaming, this venture will be legal in the US.

“This joint venture agreement with GamerSaloon.com illustrates H3’s dedication and commitment to growing its online video gaming business,” said Jordan Edelson, H3’s Chief Technology Officer and Digital Entertainment Director. “Our developmental efforts will be fully supported by a unique and comprehensive marketing and advertising campaign strategy. Video Gaming is a multi-billion dollar business and H3 is excited to be a part of it.”
[Read more →]

Tags:   gamersaloon · skill gaming · video game tournaments · video gamesNo Comments.

Mediall Reports, has a puff piece on internet gambling, following a story of one gambler who almost gambled away his life, trying to paint the entire internet gambling world into negative light.

“My wife would catch me playing Internet blackjack at 4 a.m.”
by Manuel Baigorri
Jul 29, 2008

WASHINGTON – Ever since he was very young, Sean G. used to drive the 275 miles between Los Angeles and Las Vegas to gamble. But when he started to gamble online, his bets – and losses – went out of control.

His initial $10 and $50 bets moved to $100 bets, and he ended up betting between $1,000 and $2,000 a week, said the Los Angeles resident, who was interviewed on the condition that he would not to be publicly identified.

“I started winning and I thought I could do that all the time,” said 39-year-old Sean. “When I lost, I didn’t get scared because I thought I could still beat it, …but it didn’t take long to take out of control.”

Sean, a middle school teacher, said the worst part of Internet gambling is that he could do it 24 hours a day and nobody would know about it.

“It’s too easy. You don’t have to get in your car and go somewhere,” said Sean. “You can do it in your bathrobe. … I was always alone.” [Read more →]

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Tags:   addiction · danger · internet gambling · riskNo Comments.

In an update to our February story, about Assemblyman Lloyd Levine sponsoring bill AB2026 calling on the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) to carry out the study into controlling and operating internet gambling operations, the bill was approved by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee on Tuesday, June 24 on a 6-1 vote, with amendments to move forward on drafting regulations and generating projections for potential revenue. [Read more →]

Tags:   AB2026 · California · CGCC · Lloyd LevineNo Comments.

Jeffrey L. Derevensky, a leading professor at McGill University, contends that Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) incorrectly cited the university’s research on gambling addiction in arguing for the continued prohibition on Internet gambling. Derevensky in fact believes that the regulation of online gambling is an opportunity to put in place safeguards to combat problem and underage gambling.

In a mark up of the Payments System Protection Act (H.R. 5767) in the House Committee on Financial Services on June 25, 2008, Rep. Bachus, citing research at McGill, claimed that one-third of college students who gambled online attempted suicide.

“This assertion, which is reportedly based upon our empirical research, is not predicated upon any factual evidence,” responded Derevensky in an interview with the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. “None of the studies conducted with adolescents or college students, to the best of my knowledge, have looked at a connection between Internet wagering and suicide attempts.” Derevensky raised these same concerns in a letter sent last week to Reps. Bachus and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) [Read more →]

Tags:   HR2046 · HR5523 · HR5767 · hr6501 · Spencer BachusNo Comments.