US news weekly round-up
The major news stories from across the pond in the past seven days (12 March to 18 March 2015)
New Jersey online revenues down 10% in February
Online poker revenues plummet 32% year-on-year to $2.1m while Golden Nugget is hit by $1.5m prize pay out
A bumper US$1.5m pay out on BetfairCasino.com was a factor in New Jersey’s online gaming revenues dropping 10% month-on-month to $10.4m, according to figures released by the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).
Online poker fell by almost a third (32%) year-on-year to $2.05m, on the back of a 30% drop last month, while online casino was up 15% to $8.35m during February compared to the same month last year.
The Borgata who continued to lead the way, attracting revenues of $3.7m with $1.1m coming from poker and $2.6m from casino.
Golden Nugget had a particularly difficult month after a player on BetfairCasino.com, which operates under its licence, scooped a $1.5m jackpot. The prize pay-out saw Golden Nugget’s revenue plummet 40% to $1.4m in February.
Federal ban bill hearing rescheduled for 26 March
A bill which seeks to ban most forms of online gambling in the US at a federal level has been scheduled for a hearing on 26 March.
Bill HR 707, which has been introduced by Congressman Jason Chaffetz and has the backing of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, was originally set to be discussed on 5 March before bad weather caused the hearing to be postponed.
HR 707 seeks to restore the Wire Act and ban most forms of egaming in the US, including in the states where it is already legal and regulated like New Jersey and Nevada.
High 5 Games and IGT locked in legal battle
High 5 Games (H5G) and International Game Technology (IGT) are locked in a legal battle after New Jersey-based H5G claimed the gaming giant had violated several conditions of a licensing agreement.
In a lawsuit filed last week in the US District Court in Chicago, H5G claimed IGT breached its 2012 licensing agreement with the company and that the developer is owed royalties attributed to such games as Sex and the City, Ghostbusters and ELVIS.
The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages, and H5G wants IGT to stop using the slot machines that utilise its features, including on its social gaming sites such as the company’s DoubleDown casino.
Kansas fantasy sports bill progresses
Kansas has taken another step towards legalising fantasy sports contests after a bill seeking to permit the activity in the state was passed by the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.
The bill, HB 2371, was introduced by Rep. Bret Hildabrand last month who said he introduced the bill to prevent the growing number of Kansas citizens who play fantasy sports from becoming criminals.
Under the Kansas constitution only the state is allowed to administer lotteries, and the KRGC states on its website that fantasy sports has elements of “prize, chance and consideration” and therefore the “elements of an illegal lottery are satisfied”.