• Bachus I-Gaming Bill Put on Hold

HR 2143, an Internet gambling bill, was pulled from the House of Representatives suspension calendar today by its sponsors. The bill was to be voted on today by the full House. Under the suspension calendar, it would have received 40 minutes of debate, could not be amended and would have needed a two-thirds majority to pass. HR 2143 was introduced recently by Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., and passed in the Financial Services Committee. Its text is the same as the Leach Internet gambling bill, HR 21, minus the civil and criminal provisions. Both bills would make it impossible for bettors to pay for illegal Internet gambling activities by banning online gaming merchants from accepting any bank instrument as payment. The Leach bill was given a hostile amendment in the Judiciary Committee on May 14. The amendment, offered by Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, got rid of the bill's carve-outs for gambling sub-industries, including horse racing and dog racing. [...]

> Read the full story here Source : IGamingNews.com

• MGM Mirage Scraps Online Casino Operations, $5 Million Loss

After investing millions of dollars to build the first Internet gambling site operated by a major U.S. casino company, MGM Mirage said Wednesday it will discontinue the site at the end of the month. "Unfortunately, even in light of a successful working model, the legal and political climate in the U.S. and several countries around the world remains unclear," Terry Lanai, MGM Mirage chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement issued Wednesday. MGM Mirage introduced the site in September 2001, and said it succeeded in showing that Internet gambling could be regulated in a fashion similar to land-based casinos. The company will take a $5 million loss in the second quarter to dissolve its MGM Mirage Online division. [...]

> Read the full story here Source : SFGate.com

• Web Poker Player Wins $2.5 Million

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AP) -- It was only fitting that an accountant named Moneymaker would put down $40 and ultimately walk away with $2.5 million and the title of champion Saturday in the 34th annual World Series of Poker. Known to his friends as "Money," Chris Moneymaker, 27, also became the first person to win the prestigious tournament by qualifying on the Internet. "I got lucky along the way," Moneymaker said. "I bluffed a lot during this tournament, but somehow I got away with it." Players and experts said Moneymaker's win will revolutionize poker, solidifying the merger of the Internet and big-name casinos and boosting the game's popularity. "This is the sonic boom of poker," said Nolan Dalla, media director for the World Series of Poker. "This means anyone in their home can become a poker player." [...]

> Read the full story here Source : CNN.com

• Winward Casino To Launch First Full-Function Wireless Casino

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 2003--WinwardCasino.com is preparing to launch the world's first on-line, real-time, wireless casino suite with 17 games including blackjack, slots and video poker for real-money wagering on cell phones and connected PDAs powered by the PocketPC(R) or Palm OS(R). In late June, 2003, WinwardCasino Wireless will allow players to enjoy their favourite casino games anywhere and anytime digital tone is available on their phone or connected PDA. Winward's wireless handheld capability will complement WinwardCasino.com's current on-line Casino and Bingo offerings. With a single account, WinwardCasino players will be able to play on a PC connected to the Internet or on a wireless handheld device connected to the wireless web. "Giving our players the ability to play from their PC or wireless device with a single account is another example of WinwardCasino.com's continued leadership in providing the best in on-line gaming entertainment," said Cristie McCrory, President of WinwardCasino.com. "I am astounded by the casino suite that our software partners, Parlay Entertainment and Phantom Fiber, have been able to package on these small handheld devices. This will truly be an engaging and entertaining extension of WinwardCasino.com's traditional on-line casino and bingo sites." [...]

> Read the full story here Source : BusinessWire.com

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