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California’s deficit is huge. The state has been one of the most hard-hit by the recent recession and it is now trying to come up with ways of saving its economy.  Poker is one of the hot topics within the state. A group of casinos are now petitioning the state for the legal right to operate internet poker websites in exchange for huge casino-tax revenues. This is a battle that has raged for a while in California. Lawmakers have been working with the issue trying to come up with a viable option to bring poker’s revenue to the state coffer.

The idea of bringing online poker to California is not a new one. The state has been looking into the issue for many months now. The recession made its deficit even more pressing an issue to address. Federal law has no mandate regarding online gambling yet, so operators are looking for ways to bring it into various economies. In California, there are a group of legislators pushing for expansion and acceptance of legalized online poker play.

There is now a new proposal regarding online poker play. One of the biggest players is the Band of Mission Indians. A spokesperson for the tribe, Patrick Dorinson, said, “About one million Californians are playing poker offshore now.”

The problem with the issue is that online gambling can mean a notable decline in revenues for tribal-owned casinos. Since the recession, tribal-owned casinos have fallen in patronage and their numbers are dwindling. It has been difficult for casinos to keep their budgets going. With the growth in offshore gambling, tribes are worried that their problems regarding revenues are just beginning. Another aspect that the group of casinos is focusing on is making sure that lawmakers protect the online poker players. Currently, there are no regulations in place that protects these players against any dangers that may arise from playing on these international sites.
Indian tribes would have to sign off on any new laws to the state’s gambling industry. There are rules that are in place that protect the tribes against expansion, but they may be willing to rework those compacts for a chance to bring internet poker to the masses and benefit from the revenues.

It’s no secret that states throughout the US are all looking into gambling and how to utilize its million-dollar revenues best. Critics caution that there are issues with gambling however, and letting it into the state’s activities. They believe that gambling not only brings a higher crime rate, but also will increase the number of gambling addicts in various communities. That alone will create the need for added resources and programs to deal with the issue if the community is going to remain successful.

One state that is wrestling with the issue is Pennsylvania. Governor Ed Rendell made news recently when he instructed lawmakers to write revenue from table games into the new 2010 budget. Analysts for the state made various projections as to what the revenues would be and the millions of dollars have already been earmarked for various budgetary items. There is one problem however. Gambling via table games is not yet legal within the state. Perhaps it was a over-confidence by the Governor, but he is not taking some criticisms for the hasty move.

Rendell has pushed for lawmakers to move swiftly on the passage of a table games bill. Instead, they have been unable to come to an agreement on almost anything that has to do with the new law. There have been disagreements on many aspects of the table gaming issue. Namely, what tax to charge and what licensing fees are most acceptable are key issues in the legislation. The most critical issue has been some lawmakers insistence on having new resort licenses created within the new bill.
Rendell’s belief is that if state legislators procrastinate on the bill, they will create a bigger deficit for the state to manage. According to his projections, the state is relying on money from table gaming and has no other means of meeting budgetary requirements. Many critics believe that Rendell’s move was meant to spur lawmakers on to make a decision regarding table gambling quicker. Michael Freestone, an opponent for bringing gambling in the state said, “He [Rendell] is trying to manipulate lawmakers by focusing on how much money is needed to manage the deficit, and budget and then trying to prove that gambling is the only way to handle it.”

January 8th is the new deadline for lawmakers to decide on a what the stance on the gambling issue will be.

North Carolina is in the midst of debates over video gambling. Like many other states it is looking for new revenue generating activities to shore up coffers. The recession had an adverse affect on all jurisdictions. Spending was down due to the heightened unemployment rate and economies suffered greatly. Now that the recession is over, markets are still in the midst of clean-up. They are trying to come up with funds and gambling keeps coming up as a viable option. Though there are sides to the issue fighting vehemently, it looks like one court battle after another is dictating how monies will be found.

This past Tuesday gambling operators in North Carolina heard a court ruling they were not looking for. The Court of Appeals panel of three judges upheld a state-wide ban on video gambling machines. The legal battle began when the state banned video gambling machines around the state, but contradicted itself by allowing them on an Indian reservation. The mixed message was what operators took task with and Superior Court Judge Howard Manning agreed. He ruled that the state could not ban the machines, but allow them at tribal casinos.
Although there was a victory for gaming operators, later Manning put a stay on his ruling. Unfortunately, the appeals court overturned the decision. Senate leader Marc Basnight said, “This is great news. We worked for so long to try to rid our state of this awful industry. I am very pleased that the Court of Appeals decision will uphold the ban passed by the General Assembly.” The state is now embroiled in the issue of whether or not to allow video slot machines. It is also setting the stage for other state’s battles over the issue. Alabama is the next state weighing in on the topic of video gambling. Many operators have already challeneged former rulings and are hoping to turn things around in a battle with the Supremem Court. Regardless of what happens, the reality is that video gambling is causing a huge stir in markets throughout the US. Only time will tell whether or not it is allowed or banned.

For any fan of online gaming, it’s difficult to keep up with all the changes happening. A lot of websites have been turning away US players due to the UIGEA of 2006. This was a law that was meant to protect online gamblers from unscrupulous operators. The problem however, was its wording did little to create that protection. Instead it put the responsibility of guarding online activities involving gambling in the hands of financial institutions. This caused many issues because a lot of online caisnos withdrew from American player’s reach due to not wanting to break the laws or be fined by the US government. The UIGEA was hardly the law it promised to be and serious restructurings of the gambling laws are currently under way. Until then, however US gamblers have to watch out for their activities and options.

There are still a few websites that allow slots games for US players. Realtime Gaming and Rival-powered casinos are the primary options. Also, RTG, Realtime Gaming, had a good variety of free spin games to enjoy. These don’t even ask for customers to register for play. That’s a great option for anyone looking to play online slots just “for fun.” There is also a website called “Free Slots for Fun” where games take a few seconds to load, but players get $5,000 starting cash and they can provide hours of fun for any gamer.

Wagerworks provided customers with slots, but were bought out. Fortunately that gave them the ability to bring games like “Cleopatra” and “Wolf Run” for online players. Most gamblers can play the free play version of Cleopatra at places like Online Casino Vegas, but for other IGT games it will depend where players live. Free Slot games and Slots on Fire Free Slots games are two other casinos where players can enjoy free slots in the US. These both are great websites and have a good selection of games for any level of player to enjoy. Despite changes in US law regarding the legalization and regulation of online slots play, there are still places where any US player can play slots. It may take a bit of a search, but any US player can still locate some great online portals for slots gaming.

Pennsylvania is another state to start looking at gambling’s legalizaiton to bring in money it needs. The state already has a working budget that includes table game gambling as a means of generating funds. Though a few short years ago it was unheard of to use gambling as a budgetary item, in today’s world things are changing quickly. Not only is gambling quickly becoming the “go to” activity for states in need of extra money, but it is also being added to the budgets. Funds coming in are already being earmarked for certain activities in the state’s budget like education, roads, construction, and public works programs.

The House voted in favor of a large gambling Bill that would bring sweeping changes to the casino industry in the Northeast. The Bill, which was passed by a close 97-95 vote, sets tax and licensing rates, and also appropriates the money to various places in the budget.  There is also a seperate bill that the House also voted in favor of and this one channels gambling funds directly to education costs at state-run unversities. The recession has made it difficult for most colleges and universities to keep providing financial help to students without funds of their own. Many scholarships and funds have been cut as a result of the recession.  Now the state is looking to revitalize the world of education by focusing gambling funds directly to the cause of scholarship funding.

Despite some changes, there is still a split among parties regarding gambling and legalizing it. The House majority Democrats were able to push legislation through even though most Republicans voted against it. It’s a hot-topic in the world of politics today and it is motsly Democrats who are pushing it into legalization and regulation.
The final approval is needed though to move forward. The House is set to rule on the issue. If approved, the tax rate for race tracks would be 16% for any table game. The rate would drop to 14% in 2011. A one-time licensing fees would be $16.5 million. The money brought in by legalizing gambling is nothing to deny. It’s a huge opportunity for the state, but legislators have to be careful to not earmark the funds too quickly. Though it sounds good, will people really start gambling again? Is the economy recovered enough for people to regain their confidence in the market? Only time will tell.

In today’s world legislators are looking for more revenue. The recession was hard on almost every state and most are fighting with a huge deficit and shortfall in funding. How to bring more money into the state is a primary issue that legislators are wrestling with. Gambling is quickly becoming one of the go-to solutions for problems. It’s no secret that gambling is a billion-dollar industry and the money legislators need to thrive may be tied to allowing gambling’s legalization.

Indiana is another state wrestling with how to keep their casino gambling industry alive. Legislators just put together a study of different aspects of gambling within the state. One of the answers found by the research was that riverboat casinos could be moved inland. This would keep people who want to gamble from having to go to other neighboring states to do so. Senator Luke Kenley said, “As in any other industry, particularly those that cater to retail consumers, it’s all about location. We think their ability to go to a better location would increase their volume and the amount of business they could do.”  Along with other lawmakers, Kenley believes that moving riverboats is a positive move that could elevate gambling revenues and give people what they want in the state.

Despite its advantages, moving the riverboats is quite a task. The study showed that every riverboat that is moving should have a state-instituted fee that they have to submit prior to the change of location.  The study confirmed that tax rates will remain the same for riverboat casinos.
Indiana lawmakers have had to revisit their gambling laws because of increased competition from neighboring states. Ohio, in particular, is going to make a big jump into the casino industry, with four casinos planned, one each in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo. The four neighboring casinos are new and planned as state-of-the-art facilities that should being in millions of residents not only of Ohio, but of all neighboring states. It will be difficult for any state to compete with the new fabulous four casinos and for any state that wants to remain competitive, they need to come up with a plan.

Legislators from all over the US are working to bring gambling revenue into their monthly budgets. It’s no secret that since the recession, states are suffering. Deficits are huge and expenses are being cut left and right to make ends meed. Without some added source of revenue, many states are in fear of having to make such drastic cut backs, that education, public works, building and road maintenance are all in peril.

In an effort to bring added revenue to states, many are looking to gambilng. Illinois was recently caught up in the debate over legalizing and regulating gambling because it approved video gambling machines in bars. This was thought to be a great idea– not only did it offer the government added revenue due to taxes on gambling games, but it also created another way for bars to bring in more money. Many are also suffering as a result of the recent 2008-2009 recession and have yet to bring in the same number of patrons they did prior to the economic downturn. 

Unfortunately, despite Illinois’ approval of gambling, Kane County voice their opinion by banning video gambling machines last week. The vote was very close, 12 to 11, but it was enough to keep machines out of the county. Kane County Board Member Drew Frasz said, “These machines are designed to be addictive.” He also accused the state of looking for the financial advantage of legalizing video gambling, but without any concern for the “social troubles that could come with expanded gambling.”  He believes that there is a steep price to pay for the millions gambling is projected to bring in. Not only are opponents bracing for a bigger cost regarding addictions, but they are also concerned with the rise in crime and corruption in their jurisdictions.

Although many town and counties are banning video gambling machines, many states are pushing to expand casino gambling. The reality is that if Illinois does not bring legal gambling to the state, gamblers will go to other states and take their money with them. Legislators are looking to keep money in the state as best they can.

So far state governments have given counties a grace period in which they can ban the video machines. That grace period, however, is almost up and when the final rulings are released, it may be impossible to ban the machines. 

For anyone new to the world of online gambling, it’s great news to find a casino that offers free slots. Although 3-reel slots are pretty much self-explanatory, there are other slots that can be more complex. The progressive slots, 7-reel slots and multiple payline slots area all constantly pushing the limits of what slots payout, and how they play. Developers are working hard to create games that keep online slots players interested. If you are new to the world of slots, it’s best to find free-play slots. These are the websites that will give you a chance to test out games before you start playing with your own cash. They can be helpful until you get accustomed to online gaming and the games you want to play. Here are some of the best online gaming websites to find free slots:

• Cherry Red. Cherry Red online casino is known for its great graphics and RTG software. Anyone who has played games online knows that RTG is one of the leading software developers in the world of online gaming. They are known for building games that have outstanding graphics, integrated with sound and bonus game capabilities. The website itself has over 100 casino games, including slots and blackjack. You can start off in “free” mode and then move to “real” play when you are ready.
• Go Casino. Go Casino is another website that is famous for all it has to offer. This casino accepts US players for real money and you can start off playing free. The feature here is the Reel Deal slot machine which is one of the most popular on the internet today. This website has a lot to offer in terms of slots. If you have been wanting to test out the games, then this could be a great starting place.
• Rushmore Slots. Rushmore Slots is another website that will offer you tons of free games. Getting to the “free play” option is very easy with this game. You just click on the “Instant Play” button and in a few seconds, you can pick from a huge variety of games the website has to offer. Again—there is a no-download option here so you can really test out their capabilities before you wager any of your money.

Any one of these casinos has a great free play option for any new player to take advantage of. They are all dynamic and easy to maneuver. Test any one of them out and see for yourself how helpful the free play option in gaming can be.

Pigg’s Peak online casino is a new website where you will find some great gaming. First of all, it has a download and a no-download option. A lot people are concerned with downloading programs to their computers online. Though this casino is reputable, it’s a good idea to be wary of new websites. If you want to test out what this casino has to offer, try it out on the no-download option. It is more limited in diversity than the full version, but it’s still a great place to start. You can get a good vision of what this casino has to offer.

Next, take a look at the games it has: online poker, bingo and a wide range of tournaments all work together to keep the attention of any online gamer. In particular their online bingo is a lot of fun. There is the 90-ball game that boasts newer software that is even more vivid and allows an online chat room feature. There are progressive slots here, so your payout will be maximized when you sign in to play.

If you want to play their poker, then there is also a lot to offer. You can find Hold’em games like No Limit, Pot Limit and Fixed Limit, in addition to Omaha and Razz. There is also a multi-hand option for players who want a faster pace of gaming. You can sign up for a number of hands and jump from each one to maximize your gaming experience. The buy-ins are varied too, so regardless of your bankroll, you should be able to find a table that you can comfortably afford to play at. It’s a great poker website too!

When you first sign up to the Piggs Peak you’ll also note the promotions they have currently running. You’ll find a 25% match bonus credit of up to R1,000 on your first deposit. They also have a Cash Frenzy Platinum Deposit Bonus Day—this is where all Peak Performers can get 25% back on their first deposit this coming December 30^th, and it goes up to R5,000. That’s a great deal to welcome you into 2010! If you are in search of a new online casino, give Pigg’s Peak a try. Not only does it have great poker and bingo, it also has enough specials and bonuses to keep you winning!

Anyone who is looking to get lucky should take at least a few chances at All Slots online casino. The virtual casino has just awarded yet another big winner with a great payout.  This time it was Belgian player David R who walked away with a win. He just won EUR 131,076.71 while playing Treasure Nile, a progressive slots game. The great thing about David R’s story is that he had a good run of luck that led him to the big win. About a month prior to the win, he got a random advertisement email from the All Slots marketing team. It invited him to try out their games and take his own show at winning EUR 5,000.  He decided to take his chances and signed up to start playing.

One month later, he made a simple bet at the casino—just EUR 4.50. About 30 minutes into his gaming experience, he got the much-coveted 5-Pharoah line-up on the ninth payline of the progressive slots game and that instantly pushed his winnings to the EUR 131,076.71.  David R is just one more player who knows the advantages of playing on a progressive slots game. Progressives take their totals from a network of machines, and that means that the jackpot grows quickly. For example, the online casino may have it set up that for every $10 wagered, $2 goes directly to the pot. When you network hundreds of machines advertising the progressive jackpot special that means that the jackpot can quickly shoot up to unbelievable amounts. It’s a great way to not only play slots, but also increase your chances of a big win.

President of Player Affairs, David Brickman said, “You never know when luck can strike, and this exciting win just goes to show that at All Slots dreams really can come true! We look forward to sharing more winning moments with David, and with all of our players in the coming year.”  All Slots online casino is a great place to start gaming at—it offers online and mobile games for players of every expertise level. It also has some great tournaments to play.  All Slots is one of the foremost leaders in the industry of online gaming, and slots.