The Nightly Turbo: "Great News" for Online Poker in US, and Joe Cada's Bar Shuts Down
Online poker players in New Jersey received some promising news on Thursday. We'll bring you that story, plus the indefinite closure of Joe Cada's poker bar and restaurant, in this edition of the Nightly Turbo.
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Gov. Christie Backs Online Gambling in New Jersey
It wasn't the result the online poker industry was hoping for on Thursday. But New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's decision regarding Internet gambling was still deemed a victory.
Christie waited until the final moments of his 45-day window to conditionally veto an online gambling bill that would allow real-money online poker to be played inside state lines. Although the veto denies the state the ability to move forward with online gambling plans, Christie says he fully supports online gambling in the state. First, though, he needs to see some changes to the measure before he can sign off on it.
Among Christie's recommendations include a tax increase from 10 to 15 percent, with part of the additional proceeds going to compulsive gambling programs, and a time limit of 10 years for the authorization of Internet gaming unless re-established by law.
“With these goals in mind, I have concluded that now is the time for our State to move forward, again leading the way for the nation, by becoming one of the first states to permit Internet gaming,” Christie said in the statement.
Sen. Ray Lesniak, the chief sponsor of the bill, called it "great news" for the state — especially in Atlantic City. Lesniak expects the senate to approve amendments to the bill on March 18 before handing it off to Christie for a final signature.
“I'm pleased that the changes he made are minor and will allow it to get up and running, hopefully achieving my ultimate goal for New Jersey to become the Silicon Valley of Internet gaming,” Lesniak told PokerNews in a phone interview.
Read the full story right here at PokerNews.com.
Cada's Bar Shut Down
Joe Cada's poker-themed sports bar located in his hometown of Sterling Heights, Michigan was voluntarily closed down this week while the business is being investigated for selling liquor without a license.
According to the Malcomb Daily, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and the Sterling Heights Police Department are investigating Cada's Sports Bar and Grill, an establishment that was opened in 2011 by Cada and his father, Jerry. The Cadas had purchased a bar that already owned a charity poker license, enabling them to offer games right inside the property.
The report claims that Cada’s Sports Bar & Grill initially applied for a liquor license transfer in October 2011, but the application was later amended in the summer of 2012. According to LCC records, the file was being “held for further commission consideration” as of last September.
“Until more information regarding that status, charities are not being scheduled there,” Michigan Gaming Control Board Director Rick Kalm said.
The Malcomb Daily has more.
EPT London Schedule
On Thursday, PokerStars announced that the European Poker Tour will return to London from March 5 through 16. The festival, which is returning to its roots at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino, will combine the UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) and the EPT for the first time with 37 events spread across 11 days with various buy-ins to attract all players.
"I am very excited that EPT London is returning to the Vic, where it began," said EPT Season 3 winner and Team PokerStars Pro Victoria Coren. "I think the atmosphere there will be fantastic. It’s where I won my own EPT title, so I hope it’ll be lucky for me.”
On top of the £770 UKIPT Grand Final Main Event, which will kick-start the festival, players can also expect nightly turbo events starting from £110 along with a host of side events including a £2,150 High Roller event.
When the UKIPT Grand Final comes to a close, the EPT will begin with the £5,250 Main Event, followed by events like the £330 Spring Fling Turbo with a guaranteed prize pool of £25,000. Other tournaments on the slate include the £10,300 EPT High Roller, a £550 No Limit Deepstack event, the £550 PokerStars Women event, and the £2,100 No Limit Turbo.
Side events and cash games will take place at the Hippodrome Casino, home to the soon-to-launch PokerStars live poker room.
EPTLive will be broadcasting the EPT London Main Event, with coverage running from March 10 (Day 1a) through the final table on March 16.
The entire EPT London schedule can be seen at EuropeanPokerTour.com.
Mississippi Bill Dies Again
It wasn't all good news for Internet gambling efforts in the U.S. this week. A bill in Mississippi that would have legalized real-money online poker was killed in committee, nearly a year after similar bill failed in the state last February.
Rep. Bobby Moak reintroduced the Mississippi Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2013 (House Bill No. 254) just last month. According to the bill, Internet games would be taxed at 5 percent of gross revenues and would restrict licenses to those companies already holding land licenses to operate in the state.
Moak’s vested interest came after the Department of Justice concluded that forms of gambling other than sports betting fell outside of the Wire Act of 1961. However, despite receiving support from big casino operators, Moak had to tug through the state’s churches that opposed any expansion of legal gaming of any kind for religious purposes. Ultimately, the bill failed to make its way through the Ways and Means committee this week.
Nevada and Delaware remain the only states to authorize real-money wagering online while New Jersey, California, and other states continue to work on legislation.
For more, read the story at the Hattiesburg American.
Transitioning from Online to Live Play
Many poker pros have turned to live play since Black Friday. Need some tips to make the transition easier? WSOP bracelet winner Dominik Nitsche sheds light on how to exploit live players.
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