The East Coast Gaming Congress (ECGC) was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey this May 16 and 17, and this is the 16th annual get-together to discuss online gambling legalization in the United States. Also referred to as the United States Gaming Congress on Online Gambling, ECGC invites only proven leaders in the online gaming community to get together for a two-day roundtable to discuss the past, present and future of online gaming in the United States. The hottest topic is year was the “federal versus state” online gambling legislation position.
Poker
Online Nevada Poker Licenses On Sale in 60 Days
With so many states looking to be the ‘first to market’ in the race to offer regulated online poker play in the United States, it appears the Silver State may have just struck gold. The first of the United States to deliver some type of regulated online poker play will almost certainly be able to add much-needed jobs to their economy, thanks to an influx of software and high-tech employees needed to deliver a viable product. That state will also be able to set licensing fees pretty much wherever they want, as they will be the only option available to prospective online poker room owners anxious to cash in on the first US-based legalized online poker play made available since April 15, 2011, darkly coined Black Friday in the online poker community.
New Jersey One Step Closer to Online Poker after Bill Approved
For the 600,000 New Jersey poker players already playing online, and state government officials anxious to add what would definitely be another fresh and substantial flow of money into the state coffers, legalized online poker and casino gambling in the Garden State just moved one step closer to fruition. On May 10 a bill was approved by the Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee for passage onto a vote by the full Assembly. That could be the very first step to making New Jersey the first of the United States to allow their constituents legalized real money gambling on online poker, roulette and other casino games.
Bwin.Party Signs 10 Year Pact With United Auburn Indian Community (UAIC)
The Mission Statement of Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment is to “let the world play for real,” and their strategy is to focus on “regulated and to-be-regulated markets”, as stated on their website. Created when Bwin Interactive Entertainment and PartyGaming merged in March of 2011, Bwin.Party is now the world’s largest online gaming company listed on a National Stock Exchange, that being the London Stock Exchange. The company claimed revenue of more than €800 million in 2011, and is licensed for online poker and other online gaming in France, Gibraltar, Alderney, Italy and Denmark. So what does that have to do with Sacramento’s Thunder Valley Casino Resort and online poker in California? A great deal actually.
California and Nevada – Likely Online Poker Partners?
Seeking to enhance the attractiveness of possible legalized gambling in the eyes of the federal government, many US states are exploring partnering up in their online poker legalization efforts. One of the states that will probably not go in that direction is California, who along with Nevada and New Jersey have recently been at the forefront of serious and concerted attempts to offer legalized gambling to their citizens. With more than 37 million people, sharing her player pool with another state would be close to a one-way partnership.