Online Casino - $777 on first deposit
 

Texas Attorney General Says Charity Gambling Violates State Law
Texas Attorney General Says Charity Gambling Violates State Law Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott ruled Tuesday that the charity poker runs held by motorcycle associations are in violation of Texas laws against gambling.

“Even if the contribution goes to a charitable cause and the nonprofit organization will pay prizes from other money, a participant pays money for the chance to win a prize," Abbott said. "Thus we conclude ... the nonprofit organization would become a custodian of a bet in violation [of the state gambling codes].”

Many of the motorcycle clubs in Texas are composed of retired police and fire department officers. Often, they organize gambling events to benefit a fallen comrade’s family, or a policeman or firefighter who has been injured on or off the job. The poker run, for example, that aroused Mr. Abbot’s attentions to the issue, was organized by the Blue Knights Texas XXXI chapter to raise funds to benefit Galveston County Deputy Sheriff Michel Roy. Mr. Roy was badly injured this past April when a drunk driver crashed into his squad car.

Galveston County Criminal District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk was alerted to the Blue Knights’ event when he received a complaint from a citizen opposed to gambling. He asked the organization to call off the poker run. He then referred the matter to state Attorney General Greg Abbot, who confirmed his judgment.

"There was no getting around it, in my estimation, they would be violating the law if they pursued that event," Sistrunk said.

The Blue Knights went on with the gambling event, but cancelled the cash prizes. Blue Knights chapter President D.J. Alvarez said that three or four runner backed out of the event. Mr. Alvarez maintained that it will be more difficult to raise money for charity, as gambling is an activity that attracts many to the charity events. The poker runs, he said, were particularly valuable in raising money for injured police officers and firefighters.

"You have poker runs every weekend," explained Alvarez, who is a Galveston Police Department lieutenant. "They're all for cancer organizations, charitable organizations…Where [other than at a gambling event] in a matter of three hours can you raise $5,000?" he asked.

Others who organize the motorcycle poker games in Texas agree with Mr. Alverez’s opinion that Mr. Abbot’s ruling will cut down on their ability to raise money for charity. Jesse McCulley owns Competition Motorcycles of Pearland, which organizes one of the biggest poker competitions in the area. He expressed his disappointment at the ruling against gambling for charity. "Some people are going to come out of the kindness of their heart," he said. "But let's face it, if you cut out that little piece of cheese at the end of the trail, participation is going to decline."

Mr. McCulley said that he had believed the event was within the realm of permitted gambling because neither he, nor any party besides the individual players, earns a profit from the proceeds.

Greek Gambling, a Centuries-Old Tradition, Very Much Alive in Modern Times / 01 jan 2006
The gambling industry in Greece, a booming modern institution, is steeped in centuries of tradition.

Colorado Casinos Not Yet Audited this Year / 01 jan 2006
In Colorado, a fight between two government regulatory agencies has meant that the area’s casinos have not yet been subject to their annual tax audits and, as follows, have not yet paid their taxes.

Australian Mogul James Packer, Jr. Bets on Gambling / 01 jan 2006
James Packer Jr., the son of the deceased Australian media mogul James Packer, Sr., will continue to move the company he inherited from his late father in the direction of gambling.

Niagara Residents and Businessowners Divided over New Seneca Casino Complex / 01 jan 2006
A new casino and hotel complex will open this Friday on the U.S. side of Niagara Falls. The casino compound will be owned and operated by the Seneca Nation of Indians.

Nevada Activists Attempts to Change Levy Higher Taxes on Casino Operators / 29 dec 2005
A Clark County, Nevada activist plans to file an initiative petition to impose a higher tax rate on Nevada casino complexes, with the extra money used to decrease taxes for single-family homeowners.

Report Finds That Gambling Has Harmed Australia’s Victoria Region / 29 dec 2005
The results of a report on gambling commissioned by the Australian government were recently released. The report’s conclusions were largely negative,

Alabama Christian Coalition President Accuses Attorney General of Being Soft on Gambling / 29 dec 2005
John Giles, head of the Christian Coalition of Alabama, has accused Alabama Attorney General Troy King of not being forceful enough in his efforts to stop illegal gambling.

Three Mississippi Coast Casinos to Welcome Visitors on New Year’s Weekend / 29 dec 2005
The Mississippi coast is well on its way to recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. This weekend, under four months after the hurricane, three casinos will be open and ready for business in Biloxi.

Texas Attorney General Says Charity Gambling Violates State Law / 28 dec 2005
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott ruled Tuesday that the charity poker runs held by motorcycle associations are in violation of Texas laws against gambling.

Casino Operators Largely Shun New Payment Method Technologies / 28 dec 2005
Although researchers have developed a series of new technologies that make financial transactions much easier, it is unlikely that casinos will be employing these innovations anytime soon.

Australian Media Mogul Kerry Packer Was a Casino- Loving Man / 28 dec 2005
Kerry Packer, who owned billions of dollars’ worth of businesses in Australia in every sector from casino complexes to cricket, died on December 26th at the age of 68 in his Sydney home.

African American Casino Mogul Submits Bid for Pittsburgh Slots License / 28 dec 2005
The United States’ only African American casino operator has joined the bidding for one of Pennsylvania’s two slot machine licenses.

New Mexico Sikh Man Sues Gambling Guru / 27 dec 2005
A Sikh man from the small city of Espanola, New Mexico recently sued a gambling expert who refused to allow him to participate in a seminar.

Ohio Gambling Lobbyists Push for a State Referendum on Legalization / 27 dec 2005
Like in many other states, gambling lobbyists in Ohio are currently involved in a strategizing frenzy. These gambling proponents are trying to figure out the best way to allow some forms of legalized gambling in their state.

Macau’s Booming Casino Industry Keeps Growing / 27 dec 2005
Macau, China is a happening place! For the uninitiated, this former Portuguese colony is situated at the southeastern corner of mainland China, and was returned to China in 1999. Macau is fast becoming a favorite destination for high-rolling casino-goers.

West Virginians Push for Table Gambling to Save Economy / 27 dec 2005
West Virginia citizens and legislators are debating a bill that would permit four race tracks to add table games such as blackjack and poker to their other gambling attractions.

Therapists Warn Parents on Dangers of Teenage Gambling Addictions / 26 dec 2005
Long accustomed to hear about eating disorders, alcoholism, and drug abuse, school counselors are now reporting a newly ubiquitous teenage problem: gambling addiction.

Recent Wave of Suicides in South Korea Linked to Kangwon Land Casino / 26 dec 2005
A recent wave of gambling-related suicides have left South Koreans shocked and beleaguered. The latest suicide took place yesterday, on Christmas day.

Jakarta Police Force Involved in Illegal Gambling / 26 dec 2005
The Indonesian government has recently vowed a total crackdown on crime, particularly illegal gambling, in capital city Jakarta.

Atlantic City Gambles on Younger Crowd / 26 dec 2005
Atlantic City’s 2 ½ year makeover is beginning to pay off. Efforts by managers and owners of this New Jersey coastal city’s casino venues to cultivate a younger, sexier vibe are already drawing a different sort of crowd

South African Gambling Advisory Committee Recommends that Online Gambling Be Legalized / 25 dec 2005
An advisory committee set up in South Africa to examine the issue of online gambling has concluded that the activity should be made legal.

Recognition of New Indian Tribes Stalled Because of Casino Issue / 25 dec 2005
An ongoing conflict between the federal government and Virginia Native American tribes serves to highlight the role that casino licenses play in the highly politicized business of tribe recognition.

Wall Street Firms Invest Heavily in Online Casino Industry; Experts Question Legality / 25 dec 2005
Even though the United States federal government has declared that, in principle, it is illegal to own or operate an online casino, some of the country’s biggest and most prestigious investment firms invest in the online casino industry.

Search on for Casino Royale Bond Girl / 25 dec 2005
The heat is on to find the latest Bond girl! The newest James Bond film, currently in the works, is as of yet, missing one of the most potent ingredients in the fail-proof James Bond movie recipe: the sexy Bond girl sidekick!