Friday’s a BIG day for many poker players.  It’s the last day poker players can make a claim in federal court for funds seized/frozen by the federal government on Black Friday.  So if you have money out there, stake your claim.  If nothing else, it will show solidarity and interest in poker to the feds monitoring the situation.  Good luck!  It may be the last online hand you win for quite some time.

Well, it’s not in New York City, but it’s still in New York, so I’m happy.  Even if I no longer live in the Empire State.  In a reversal of a policy that originally was implemented precisely to prevent a casino from being built in the Catskills mountains, the proximity rule for Indian tribes to own/operate casinos has been rescinded.  No longer must a casino be located close to the reservation.  This opens the door for certain New York tribes whose reservations are not near the Catskills to open a casino there.  Even Congressmen are saying this is so, not just this blogger.  Check it out.

I’ve posted on this before (I think) years ago, and certainly thought about it after living in NYC for decades, but rather than reinvent the wheel I’ve decided in these troubling times simply to pass on another bloggers post.  At the end of the piece he questions why the SDNY is pursuing the action and not the jurisdictions in which state law specifically outlaws online poker.  I cannot be certain – only US Attorney General Holder knows the answer – but I would harbor a guess that the SDNY took action for a variety of reasons, including that Manhattan is the home of numerous large banks that have been hampered by the UIGEA’s requirements, the SDNY often takes the lead in pursuing advanced financial fraud, and NY federal law (precisely because of the first two reasons) is more developed than most jurisdictions on financial issues.  One other point about the post.  The allegations include bank fraud (i.e., lying to the banks about what the companies did) as opposed to admitting it was poker-related.  This is a significant distinction as proving poker is a game of skill will not remove the bank fraud allegations.  In other words, the sites still could be shut down.  Well, at least Absolute Poker.

If you’ve been to Atlantic City in the, well, past 30 years, you know that the town is need of a massive makeover.  Heck, it needs more than touch-up work.  It needs to be gutted.  Enter Governor Christie to the rescue.  New Jersey just announced a total overhaul of the city, including who is in charge legally, who is in charge practically, a new direction, and a rededicated drive.

To be more accurate, NJ will be taking over just the gaming and entertainment district, not the entire city.  But for us non-residents, this is the part we are most concerned with anyway.  Among the changes are that the gaming/entertainment district will become its own city (albeit within the rest of the city of AC — think the Vatican), local police no longer will be charged with protection, garbage disposal responsibility will reside with the state, and gaming regulations will be updated to make them in-line with those of Nevada (i.e., looser).

These are much needed and long overdue upgrades for AC.  Hopefully it is not too late.  AC faces strong competition from every direction (except east, since it is on the ocean).  The new Pennsylvania casinos are a stone’s throw away, Yonkers has added slots, Mohegan/Foxwoods have expanded greatly recently, the Shinneock tribe soon will be getting a casino, and Delaware has broadened its gambling.  What none of these places have, however, is miles of beautiful beaches.  Vegas is hot, and so usable year round.  But AC has the water.  Granted it’s usable for only a few months each year, but the water should be made a major focal point of the destination.  People should want to fly to AC to wine, dine, gamble, and swim.  Water sports (surfing, windsurfing, paddle surfing, swimming, jet skiing, etc.), fishing, piers with restaurants/bars, etc. should be everywhere.  Every great military leader knows that you must use your environment to your advantage.  Atlantic City is under attack.  Use the water.

Back in 2007 I had the good fortune of having a headache.  It was so bad that I decided to cash out after merely 30 minutes of play.  It was the best illness of my life.  That was the evening that armed robbers stormed a NY club and, in the process, shot and killed Frank DeSena, a 55 year old math teacher, husband, and father of a special needs son.  A few weeks ago the two remaining defendants were convicted of murder and robbery.  They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 22.  Two other participants already have pled guilty.  One is serving 15 years.  The other is awaiting sentencing.

I doubt it will, but hopefully this result will provide closure for the DeSena family.

The Shinnecock Indian Nation of Southampton, New York today received word that its status as an official tribe has been recognized by the federal government.  Such recognition long has been viewed as a critical hurdle to clear to open a casino in downstate New York.  The tribe has said it has no interest in opening a casino in the posh Hamptons.  But it does have admitted interest in negotiating with cash-strapped New York to open a full-fledged casino closer to New York City, perhaps in Queens or just over the NYC border into Long Island.  Please!!!!!!

Check out our initial post on this story from back in December.

While many states move toward legalizing various forms of gambling and poker, New York appears to be regressing.  while some of this could be attributed to the political troubles of Governor Patterson, not all.  New York had planned to license 4,500 video lottery terminals (VLTs) at the Aqueduct.  But the deal fell through and while interest remains among investors, the state has yet to act.  The key for poker players is that VLTs typically are an early step on the path toward legalization of a broader slate of games.  Come on New York.  Ante up.

Poker players love to disagree. But one topic on which we all agree is that poker, even when the house profits, should be legal. Yet, even in this area of agreement, there appears to be an important difference in how, or more accurately, where, we attempt to accomplish that goal.

Much of the effort to legalize poker is focused at the federal level. This includes the recent legislation introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), and others, and the efforts taken and support given by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA). The weight toward a federal-directed approach likely is warranted given the imminent threat of the UIGEA, the broad-reaching effect federal laws have on states, and the volume of money at stake with online poker. But a focus on federal action should not be at the expense of state action. More needs to be done on a state-by-state basis to legalize poker, particularly the live variant. After all, legalizing poker in each state would not only be a boon to the daily lives of poker players but would symbiotically aid the movement to legalize poker federally.

Similar to what is being done at the federal level, lobbies could be established – with or without PPA aid or affiliation – to petition states to amend their laws. Mass letter-writing campaigns could be undertaken to voice support to state representatives. Advertisements depicting the financial benefits of poker revenue (and even perhaps the hypocrisy of differentiating between lotteries and horse racing on the one hand and poker on the other) could be launched. These tactics actually might prove more successful on the state level than they have at the federal level given the acute revenue shortages many states are experiencing and that fewer people (and, at least theoretically, a less diverse group of people) need to be convinced of their merit.

Some states, to varying degrees, permit poker even when the house profits. California, Washington, and Florida are examples. However, little exists akin to the coordinated federal attack launched by the PPA. There is hope that at least certain states may be willing to listen to such a campaign.

A ballot question has been filed in Massachusetts that would legalize Internet poker in that state with winnings being taxed. Its inclusion on the ballot awaits approval by the state Attorney General and then needs 66,000 signatures. Providing hope that it may succeed, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo each support in varying degrees some version of expanded gambling, potentially including poker.

Pennsylvania also may be fertile ground. The Pennsylvania legislature is considering legalizing table games. Governor Ed Rendell already publicly supports legalizing video poker with the revenue being used for college education or other state needs.

Other states considering legalization of table games, including poker, are New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Even Kentucky, despite its unsuccessful attempt to shutter Internet poker sites, is considering expanding electronic gaming at its racetracks. New York also has intimated an interest in permitting electronic table games.

Legalization of state poker may have tangential benefits as well. For example, the federal prosecution of Douglas Rennick by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for money laundering, bank fraud, and illegal gambling offenses is based, in part, on New York penal law. The U.S. Attorney’s case does not even reference the UIGEA. If New York penal law is altered as a result of lobbying efforts, the legal basis on which the Federal Government pursues certain actions could be invalidated, though granted it would not likely affect actions already commenced. And, if multiple states legalize poker, it may have a persuasive affect on the U.S. Congress’ stance on the UIGEA and poker-related laws. It could not hurt.

Resources being used currently to legalize poker on the federal level should not be shifted to a state level use. Rather, the pie of resources needs to be expanded, with those new resources (time, money, expertise, etc…) directed at state governments in a coordinated approach. People should become involved at a grassroots level to organize within their states to provide a coordinated and unified lobby. Perhaps existing lobbies and organizations, or even social networking sites such as Facebook, could be of assistance. It will take time, and may not succeed, but the importance of uniting to legalize the individual game we love is something on which all poker players can agree.

George F. Will – A New Deal Worth Fostering
This article highlights the U.S. Government’s hypocrisy in outlawing internet poker while spending hundreds of millions on lottery promotion and allowing horse racing and fantasy sports.  Howard Lederer and the Poker Players Alliance argue this point and contend that game theory differentiates poker from luck-based gambling such as slots or roulette.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/14/AR2009081401933.html

Christopher Costigan – Health Insurance for Online Poker Players?
Health insurance is difficult to come by for online poker players who are not otherwise employed.  However, the World Poker Association (WPA) provides members with comprehensive coverage at affordable rates.
http://www.gambling911.com/poker/health-insurance-online-poker-players-083009.html