Some powerful folks in the American casino world are betting on Donald Trump fast-forwarding the push toward legalized sports gambling in this country. In his year-end conference call with reporters, Geoff Freeman, president of the pro-casino American Gaming Association (AGA) trade group, said Trump’s firsthand business experience within the gaming industry bodes well for a repeal of a federal law barring sports betting in most states. “With regards to sports betting, I think that we are entering a perfect storm,’’ Freeman said. Freeman cited interest among television broadcasters and individual team owners in repealing the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports…

Japan has taken a step closer to introducing a legalised gambling market after a bill to allow the opening of casino-based Integrated Resorts was submitted to the country’s parliament. According to the PokerNews.com website, if approved the bill could lead to the creation of one of the world’s largest gambling markets, third only behind Macau and the US. The bill has gained support from a number of political parties in the country and is expected to be both discussed and passed by August – when the current parliament ends. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also voiced his backing for…

LA Times – In legislative proceedings, the most important words in a debate often are the ones left unmentioned. At a hearing held by a California state assembly committee last month about legalizing online poker, the unspoken term was PokerStars. No hearing witnesses wanted to say outright that they were talking about PokerStars. It’s the largest online poker company in the world, which wants in on the riches to be had if California legalizes Internet card play, but it also has faced federal charges of money laundering and fraud. So the April 23 discussion before the Governmental Organization Committee was…