Online Casino and Gambling News: 2010..

The resurgence of political activity on the issue of Californian legalisation of online poker over the past two weeks has produced some interesting for-and-against alliances among the tribal groupings in the region. And although the moves are characterised as protective of the gambler, there are pronounced undertones of commercial gain.

The need for additional revenues flowing from legalised intrastate online gambling in New Jersey has again been highlighted by a continuing decline in Atlantic City land casino revenues. The numbers for November 2010 show a further chilling slide - down 12.5% on the same period in 2009.

The continued progress of Senator Ray Lesniak's bill legalising online gambling in the state of New Jersey continues to generate excitement that the industry may be about to witness a major breakthrough - a US legalisation initiative at state level that may be followed by other state governments.

The UK Gambling Commission's confidential intelligence line designed to allow gamblers, licensed operators and sports people alike to 'tip-off' the authorities on questionable gambling practices has apparently been effective during its first quarter of operation.

Late Friday, the influential land gambling trade body the American Gaming Association gave an important boost to Nevada Senator Harry Reid's legislative attempt to federally legalise online poker in the United States.

The fast-moving story of Nevada senator Harry Reid's attempt to push through a federal bill legalising online poker in the United States took an unexpected turn Friday with a report from the respected and usually well-informed publication Politico that Reid has dropped a plan to attach his bill to must-pass tax legislation.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), a major trade association for leading internet gambling groups in Europe, notes that EU ministers have acknowledged for the first time that a purely national approach is insufficient to deal with online gambling.

The latest (October) performance statistics for land casinos in Nevada, released Thursday, have given the industry cause for cautious optimism according to widespread US media reports.

The chief exec of the Poker Players Alliance, John Pappas, never one to mince his words, has characterised one aspect of the Reid proposal to federally legalise online poker in the United States as "absurd," but believes the long term benefits of the bill make it more palatable.

Senator Ray Lesniak's bill proposing the intrastate legalisation of online gambling in New Jersey moves another step forward this week with the news that it was among a dozen bills passed late Thursday by the state House of Assembly's Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee. The bill has already survived several committees and a Senate vote.