Pennsylvania is planning to host a joint gambling reform hearing before both the House and Senate in an effort to push ahead with plans to introduce legalised online gaming in the US state. A hearing was due to take place this week before the House Gaming Oversight Committee, but was cancelled in favour of the joint meeting. According to sources close to the situation, cited by Onlinepokerreport.com, the joint meeting could take place as early as next week and allow both legislative bodies, which have been at odds over the subject, to discuss any remaining concerns they may have about…

US financial services company Western Union has agreed to pay a federal penalty of $586 million (€545.2 million) after admitting to clearing transactions related to illegal online gambling activities. According to the Financial Times newspaper, Western Union allowed agents to send money to illicit internet gaming operations in Costa Rica, thus violating US laws regarding anti-money laundering. Western Union pleaded guilty to the named violations, which included “aiding and abetting wire fraud”, as well as failure to maintain an effective campaign in regards to anti-money laundering activities. The company has also agreed to have its financial transactions monitored by an…

Massachusetts has become the latest state in the US to be linked with a potential move to legalise online gaming after State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg pledged to introduce legislation. According to the Sun Chronicle newspaper, Goldberg said the legislation would help to shore up the state’s lottery market, which is worth almost $1 billion (€943.7 million). However, Goldberg said her efforts would be separate to a state-backed study into online casinos, with the Special Commission on Online Gaming, Fantasy Sports Gaming and Daily Fantasy Sports having until August this year to make a recommendation as to how the state should…

Pennsylvania could become a leader in online gambling, but a high tax rate could kill the idea before players can place a bet, say two advocates of Internet gambling. “People won’t invest proper marketing dollars to drive revenue if the tax rate’s too high,” says David Licht, executive chairman and CEO of All American Poker Network, which operates an online network in New Jersey and has an agreement with Mt. Airy Casino, Monroe County, to set up online gaming if Pennsylvania legalizes it. “If the tax rate is exceedingly high, the operator is going to take that out on the…

Caesars Interactive Entertainment is the online gambling section of the Caesars Entertainment company, providing online gaming options for players located within the borders of New Jersey. The New Jersey Gaming Enforcement Division has fined the group $15,000 for an online gambling violation involving gamblers who are on the self-exclusion list of the state. The self-exclusion list is a list for gamblers who want to prevent themselves from taking part in casino gaming. Players can add their name to the list so they will not be allowed to enter in to any gaming facilities. Caesars Entertainment was fined for soliciting the…

Pennsylvania State Senator Sean Wiley announced in a memorandum that he will introduce a bill that covers multiple facets of the state’s gaming industry. The bill looks to make changes in policy at both land-based and Internet gaming laws. Wiley proposes legalizing online poker in Pennsylvania. Casino games would be excluded. The bill would direct gaming regulators to draft rules for online poker rooms no earlier than July 1, 2016. Games would go live no sooner than January 1, 2017. All regulated Pennsylvania online poker rooms would be operated by the state’s existing casino companies. Pennsylvania interactive gaming licenses would…