Update: CALIFORNIA TRIBES OPPOSE LEGALISED ONLINE POKER

2/9/10 - Nine tribes in California notified the state government Monday of their opposition to proposed intrastate Internet poker, reports the Desert Sun newspaper, which has been monioring developments on the issue.

The tribes sent a joint letter to members of the Senate Governmental Organisation committee a day before its informational hearing on the proposed online poker initiative from card club interests and tribes that include the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

“We are writing to clearly state our strong opposition,’’ the notification says, rejecting arguments that legalised intrastate poker would financially benefit the state. Opposition tribes called it an “ill-conceived” proposal with fundamental flaws, among them the potential risk to exclusivity provisions for tribes that negotiated new or revised Indian gaming compacts with the state of California.

Signing the letter were tribal chairs of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians near Temecula; Jackson Rancheria of MiWuk Indians; Lytton Band of Pomo Indians; Pala Band of Mission Indians; Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians; Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians; United Auburn Indian Community; and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.

The Senate Governmental Organization Committee begins an informal hearing today [Tuesday], and many members of land-based casinos will be present. Among those that are scheduled to be heard from are ISP's, tribal leaders, and problem gambling representatives.

Cryptologic 14 top games to be provided to Loto-Quebec - 02/08/2012 : The companies have signed a multi-year agreement that will see Cryptologic providing a portfolio of quality games to the Societe du jeu virtuel du Quebec, the online gaming division of the provincial state lottery corporation Loto-Quebec, known as Espacejeux.

Utah : Online Gambling : HB108 - 02/08/2012 : An intrastate attempt by Utah politician Stephen Sandstrom to introduce state legislation banning any legalisation of internet gambling has failed at the start gate.

MORE U.S. DISCUSSION ON INTERNET GAMBLING DUE THIS WEEK - 02/08/2012 : Interest in online gambling in the United States is set to continue on Thursday this week when the US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs meets to hear the views of a wide cross section of interested parties on the possible impact of legalised internet gambling on tribal gaming.

Judge wont dismiss DoJ Black Friday charges - 02/08/2012 : Former Utah banker John Campos and e-processor Chad Elie, who face charges relating to the payment processing of online poker transactions, suffered a setback Tuesday when a Manhattan judge refused to allow their motion for dismissal of Black Friday indictments against them.

ANOTHER MAJOR INTERNET GAMBLING BUST IN MALAYSIA - 02/08/2012 : Police units in Malaysia raided a series of premises in a week long anti-online gambling operation, seizing 225 computers and detaining 47 men, according to reports from the Bernama news agency. All of the detained men were later released on bail.