Off Shore Gaming Association

The California State Governmental Organization Committee took serious first steps yesterday towards permitting state residents to use computers to legally wager on intrastate Internet poker. There is no active bill currently in the California Legislature, yet this informational hearing brought in players from around the globe. And, I don’t mean poker players.

There were experts from as far away as Sweden and gaming companies from as far away as Australia. All of them, in one way or another, looking for a piece of the pie. Apparently there is gold in them there felts, as Gerard Cunnigham, president of BetFair USA, which owns the TVG horse racing network, suggested that Internet poker in California would generate as much as $900 million in revenue annually.

Still, it looks like this is another issue that will polarize the many factions that are looking to divide up the revenue pie. Represented at the hearing were California cardrooms, racetracks, tribal gaming, legal experts, gaming experts, international gaming companies, problem gamblers groups and the political right. This was by far the most informative and well prepared group we have seen at any government hearings, including Barney Frank’s U.S. House hearings of the last several years.

The biggest hurdle that the California legislators may have to overcome is the 58 Indian tribes who have casinos throughout the state. Collectively the tribes pay a million bucks a day to the state for the right to have ‘exclusive’ right to the gaming devices (slots). However, they are split on the issue of Internet poker.

“We feel the games should be controlled by the tribes and the state – and taxed, said Robert Martin, chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, a powerful casino tribe located in Riverside County. However, another tribe from the same county fought against the proposal. “We simply do not agree with the consequences of authorizing intrastate Internet poker,” said Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. Alison Harvey. executive director of the California Tribal Business Alliance, put it most bluntly stating several times that the introduction of Internet Poker would violate the current agreements and thus, the state would not be able to collect the $365 million that the tribes currently pay.

As expected the experts pitched regulation and taxation and the problem gamblers and the California Coalition Against Gambling spoke about the evils of expanding current gambling. Meanwhile, pretty much everyone else who testified before the committee gave solid information in their area of expertise; they also pitched the services of the companies that they work for.

Throughout the hearing off shore gaming companies were referred to as ‘illegals’. The companies that were present representing international gaming interests were Ladbrokes, BetFair and Paddy Power. All of which were more than happy to announce that they were ‘legal companies’, reiterating that they had never taken any bets from U.S. citizens.

John Pappas from the Poker Players Alliance was the only person who stood up and defended companies that currently offer poker to US citizens. He stated and restated with emphasis that these are companies that are legal and licensed in their jurisdiction. They are not operating illegally.

Still, throughout the nearly 8 hour session, the committee seemed to actually understand one fact. That Internet poker is currently being played by California residents and the state is not getting a dime of revenue from it. Powerful stuff to a cash strapped state.

State Sen. Roderick Wright, D-Inglewood, chairman of the governmental affairs committee that held the hearing, stated, when talking about people playing poker on the Internet currently, “That ship has sailed”. Wright added that he is not committed to one model, whether it be an ‘open market’, championed by all of the international testimony, offered from existing parlors and tribal gaming, or through a select number of licensees. ‘It would be foolish to do nothing,” Wright stated several times.

One of the most compelling arguments came from Leo Chu, a partner in the Lucky Derby card club and owner of Hollywood Park. He came with a speech that he said took two weeks to write and just put it down, going ‘off the cuff’. He said tribes and card clubs are well positioned if online poker became a legal market. He added that Internet poker players and land-based players are not quite the same player. He cited a failed attempt to put computer poker in Hollywood Park. “It did not bring anybody out of their house to the casino”, Chu stated.

This latest poker push is reminiscent of 1848 when people from far and wide came to California in search of a fortune. Back then they came from New York and Florida and the Midwest. Now, the burdening Internet poker industry is bringing them in internationally. The largest gaming companies in the world only show up when there are hundreds of millions at stake. Perhaps if the California tribes and the government listen to the likes of Chu, BetFair and Ladbrokes, they can keep the estimated $300 million from leaving the state every year and strike it rich in the process.

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This year Super Bowl should be an excellent game, as these two teams match up very well, and the expectation is that this one will be a shootout. And touchdowns are always fun to watch especially when viewing with a mixed group of bettors, fans and commercial watchers. But, the most exciting thing about the Super Bowl? Prop betting or live wagering.
 
Prop betting has exploded with every outlet offering hundreds if not thousands of these ‘man-made’ wagers. Every outlet is currently offering props from the coin toss to the final play and utilize every offensive player and special teams gimmick. Keep in mind when looking at all of these wagers that the public generally bets ‘over’ and ‘yes’ so prices for these options are typically inflated.

Still, these wagers will make even the slowest of Super Bowl games interesting. You can bet on the yardage for Bush’s first carry, total yards, longest rush, receptions, reception yardage and whether he will score a touchdown. It’s a given that if your sportsbook is giving Bush this much attention, the so will the Colts. With plays available on Saints’ Marquis Colston and Jeremey Shockey and the Colts’ Joseph Addai and Reggie Wayne it may be worthwhile to look at some of the ‘other’ cast members on each team’s offense for a bit of value.

Saints WR Devery Henderson has been having a nice run in the payoffs, with 8 catches for over a hundred yards and two scores. So, I’ll take “Will Devery‘Henderson score a TD in the game?” for Yes at +235, instead of Colston at +105.

For the Colt’s turn to Austin Collie as the oddsmakers seem to have caught up with Pierre Garcon, who has been on fire for Manning in the last two games. Collie has been a huge contrbutor recently and is the only Colt with 2 scores in the post-season . “Longest Reception - Austin Collie” at -110 looks like a solid play, though it is hard to lay off of Dallas Clark to score a touchdown at -140.

The coins toss, the first score, the longest field goal are usually some of my favorites and will certainly get some of my attention. I also always look to an exact point prop, as these always have some excellent odds. Usually I will take the team that I like at the half and then place an ‘exact margin of victory’ play. So, thinking it will be a close game, rather than take the Saints +3 for the half, wager Saints up by 1-3 points at 4-1 or the Colts margin of 1-3 points at 3-1 odds.  Still, I sift through the pages and pages of prop at the various outlets clicking and clicking to find some crazy ones that make me look twice and perhaps, wager once.

Bodog has two that are just fabulous. “What color top will Kim Kardashian be wearing at the Super Bowl?” Black (the favorite at -135), white, or other color (6/5). I wonder what happens if she changes at halftime?  The silliest prop is obviously from 1968, “If any member of the Who smashes their guitar what does the guitar hit first?” Hmm, floor at 1/9 or drummer at 200/1? How ’bout “No” to will a guitar get smashed at -190 (these guys are pretty old for that kinda stuff).

In addition to all of this, you can bet LIVE during the commercial break of the game. WSEX pioneered this years ago and this year 5Dimes, who does some live wagering on various events, will have wagering during every comercial break. Bodog also is offering live betting during the game.

Sportsbooks worldwide pull out the incentives for the biggest single game of betting each year. This year is no exception with a 100% bonus offer at several outlets. BetJamaica has a $100 Free Play on a $100 first time deposit and at WagerWeb for every $100 you send in, you get the same offer – up to $1000, plus 5% back on any SuperBowl losses! BetPhoenix takes the same offer one step further Deposit $100 and receive a $100 free wager on the Super Bowl. If your Super Bowl wager loses you will get another chance to use it! WHAT!

SBG Global will pick up the fees for deposits and give you an additional $50 free Play for sending cash. Both betEd  and 5Dimes are coughing up a 50% bonus. And at least 20% can be found at most every outlet worldwide. Check here for the latest updated Super Bowl bonus offers.

Keep in mind, as with any bonuses, these offers carry restrictions. So make sure you check the fine print of any offer before you send money.

Who Dat making Ca$h on the Super Bowl? Enjoy the game.

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