While Kentucky is foolishly fighting online gambling (how else but) by grabbing up domain names, over in British Columbia (where lies my all time favorite city, Vancouver), is enjoying mega success through legalized online gambling and is reaping enormous financial rewards.

Can the states be far behind? Can they afford NOT to do this? I’m telling you, it’s only a matter of time and the clock is ticking.

The British Columbia Lotter Corporation had launched its controversial online gambling site,  PlayNow.com last week and was shut down by the initial spike of traffic.

It’s been an overwhelming success, said Michael Graydon, president of the BC Corporation.      

“So we decided to close the site down for a half a day, add some new hardware and servers to the system to be able to accommodate it. We’re in the process of doing that. Our IT people are working very hard to get it up and running.”

The site is still offline today.

But it will include casino games, bingo, sports, lotteries and other games and is expected to generate about $100 million in revenue.

Did you read that U.S. legislators…$100 million in revnue. In Canada. Can you imagine what it would bring in here?

There are seven casinos in the St. Louis area, but only one is kicking ass at the moment, River City.

River City, according to a report in various media outlets, is bringing in the gamblers in astonishing numbers, helping to make the entire industry in the city profitable.

Of the seven casinos in the St. Louis area, six of them experienced decreases in revenue for June in comparison to the same month in 2009.

The total take for the seven is about $85.8 million, up from the $82.3 million from the same period a year earlier.

River City decreased from their May revenue figure of $15.2 million, but still clearly was better than most other St. Louis casinos with revenue of $13.3 million in June.

Guess they like to gamble more in K.C.

Ameristar Casino had the highest revenue of all casinos at $23.4 million. Harrah’s Casino revenue was down twelve percent, to $20.1 million.

Pinnacle finally closed the President Casino after year’s of battling with the Missouri Gaming Commission over the state of the riverboat casino. The figures for June at the President were even more disappointing because of flooding that had the casino closed for ten days. The total revenue for June was $618,476 at the President.

Pinnacle has other properties in St. Louis, and their relationship status with the Gaming Commission led them to agree to close the President.

Lumiere Place, which is  one of the newest casinos in the city, brought inf $12.8 million, down from $14.7 million in June of 2009, a 13 percent decline.

Casino Queen and Argosy Alton casinos had two of the lowest revenue figures in the area. Casino Queen saw revenue drop twenty percent, from $12 million last June, to $9.6 million this year. Argosy Alton’s revenue only dropped one million, from $7 million to $6 million.

Now my take is that all of these casinos are first rate. I’d like some feedback from those who have visited any of the casinos. What do you think?

I admit that I’ve been ONLY to River City, mainly because of its reputation, so I can’t bust on the others.

But I’d sure like to find out why their numbers are down.

Of course, one reason could be their demographics, their location.

And the economy. Who has disposable income these days?

A friend, Abe, sent me an interesting cli from the New York Times, which I think is not just a fun angle on gambling moments…but kind of instructive.

There is a report coming out of China of a syndrome that might be caused by excessive table gambling. I know…hard to believe. Right?

Seems like the patient (unnamed), in a letter to the respected Lancet magazine, reported painful swelling  in her left leg.

Blood tests showed deep vein thrombosis. In other words, a clot.

Good news is that she recovered.

Doctors researched her case. She had no family history of clots.

At 40, she did take birth control pills.

Ultimately doctors came up with this: the clot might have been caused by excessive mah jongg playing.

She had been playing the game for 8 hours, sitting at a table, motionless.

“Our patient’s condition is similar to economy class syndrome  in its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms,” the doctor’s wrote.

“However, the mechanisms of mah-jongg-related D.V.T. could be complicated by stress (especially when it involves monetary bets) and sleep deprivation.”

Incredible? The following story came across the A.P. wire, and it’s quite a hoot.

There are allegations that sumo wrestlers and coaches have been betting tens of thousands of dollars on baseball.

It’s a widening scandal that has tarnished the image of the ancient sport.

From A.P. sources:

The Japan Sumo Association decided in an emergency meeting Monday to hold the tournament, but kept the option of suspending more than a dozen wrestlers – or about one-third of the top division – along with another dozen coaches, according to media reports.

One arrest has already been made in the betting scandal and police are considering more criminal action pending the outcome of an investigation into the accusations, which first appeared in the weekly press and allegedly involve gangster middlemen.

So even sumos are not exempt from this crime.

Wow.

It would be like Michael Jordan (when he was a basketball player) being busted for betting on baseball. Right?

Here’s the deal.

New Jersey seems poised to become the FIRST state to legalize online poker …. at least within the state.

But Atlantic City casinos are putting the pressure on legislators to kill the bill.

Who’s kidding whom?

Folks, this is a smokescreen.

You’ve gotta know that the second online poker is legalized the casinos will be right there, ready to take advantage.

What they DON’T want is competition.

They want to monopolize the online poker industry in NJ.

It’s a useless battle.

And they know it.

But they also know that stalling will keep the millions flowing into their accounts.

OK, here is what is happening now: the New Jersey Casino Association, which represents the 11 casinos in Atlantic City, is reportedly opposing a referendum on allowing sports betting and online poker and gambling in land-based casinos.

The Association said in a statement that it opposes the referendum, as a positive outcome would mean that the introduction of intrastate gambling could violate federal bans.

“As the industry seeks to work with government to revitalize the economic engine that the Atlantic City casinos bring to the state of New Jersey, the last thing that the state needs at this time is to undermine the destination resort model by expanding gambling to other parts of the state,” wrote Joe Corbo, president of the Casino Association.

Say it ain’t so, Joe.

This new hurdle means that a review of the referendum has been delayed in the Assembly, and there are fears that this delay could impact the chances of its passage.

You are delaying the inevitable people.

Let me spend my money where I WANT to.

OK?

Anyone who agrees with me, let me know.

From my correspondent in the U.K., comes this delightful story.

OK, it’s a warning to watch your granny.

She might be gambling it all away.

A grandmother who stole from her employer to feed her gambling habit wagered £2m ($2.9 million in U.S. Dollars) on a single internet gaming site, it has been revealed.

Eileen Evis, 61, from Colaton Raleigh, Devon, was jailed in March last year for stealing £140,000 from building firm TAG in Sidmouth.

A confiscation hearing at Exeter Crown Court heard police were still trying to claw back any assets Evis may have.

The judge adjourned the hearing for more information to be provided.

The prosecution has claimed between £20,000 and £30,000 of the money remains unaccounted for – although the defence lawyers have disputed this.

Employers ‘ruined’

Evis worked as a £50-a-week bookkeeper at the family-run building company in Sidmouth, Devon.

The offences took place over 10 months from March 2007 after Evis was left in charge of the company when its owners Terry and Lin Green moved to Canada.

Prosecutor Howard Phillips said she had “effectively emptied” the firm’s accounts.

“She physically laid her hands on just under £140,000,” he said.

“She had a massive internet gambling problem – she wagered over £2m on one site.”

Evis had lost £127,000 in total on her gambling addiction, Mr Phillips added.

The court was told Evis had transferred about £18,000 to her daughter who lives in Australia and £2,000 to her son, which she claimed was the repayment of a debt.

Figures ‘disputed’

She had also received £35,000 in a divorce settlement from her husband since the case.

Mr Phillips said any money confiscated will go to the victims “who are effectively ruined”.

“There is £20,000 to £30,000 not obviously accounted for…it doesn’t immediately appear where it’s gone.”

Barrister Nigel Wraith, defending, said: “Some of the facts and figures are in dispute.”

The Greens said their lives were a “total mess” and they are still being targeted by debt collectors over fraudulent loans taken out by Evis in their name, as well as bank debts racked up by her.

The couple say the ordeal has left them feeling suicidal and has cost them a total of £400,000.

Don’t you just love google?

As some who enjoys real life gambling … and someone who occasionally goes to online sites, google is introducing a site that will make finding the best online casinos easier.

The google TV feature is launched with Sony and Logitech as partners. Viewers will be able to  combine their television experience with the easy access of the Internet.

The special devices will enable web browser Google Chrome to be accessed via the television, opening up access to the entire web rather than just restricting customers to the usual range of TV channels.

Sure, this will be TV viewing (and choices) easier. But the truth is, it will also enable a new and improved online gambling experience – on a high definition television.

The Google TV announcement comes not long after the company resumed accepting advertisement for online casinos on their search engine.

Television gambling is already available in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, where interactive television gaming company Netplay already offers their product.

If Google TV really takes off (and it will, given their track record), the phenomenon should spread to millions of people around the globe.

According to Google, the Google TV device should be on sale in the United States by this fall, and will be compatible with televisions, Blu-ray players and companion boxes.

Awesome man.

I mean, don’t you just freaking love google? [I know...I repeated myself]

News from one of my correspondents in New York prompted this posting.

Man, sometimes help comes from strange places.

Those who have been in favor of making Online Poker legal in the United States got a big supporter from New York.

Alfonse D’Amato, a former senator of the state and current Chairman of the Poker Players Alliance, stated that he is in favor of allowing the practice.

“Why is it OK for a group of friends to sit around the kitchen table and play a friendly game of poker, but not OK for people to play over their computers?” remarked D’Amato.

Good point Al.

D’Amato was quick to point out that the basic structure of online poker does not violate any current federal laws.  Citing the Interstate Wire Act of 1961, which relates to sports betting, and not poker as those opposed to the notion have said.

D’Amato and Poker Players Alliance Director John Pappas have now joined forces in favor of a bill that would legalize the industry. Strange bedfellows I’d say.

Pappas said that banks are discouraged to do business with online poker companies, making sure no illegal activity is occurring.

“There is what amounts to a safe harbor already embedded in the law, so that any bank that does want to transact with an online poker business simply needs a reasoned legal opinion that it their client is not involved in restricted transactions,”  Pappas said.

Online gambling has been outlawed since 2006, but a new bill sent to the floor to be debated and passed would be a huge victory of online casinos, as they could potentially see a giant leap forward in terms of revenue, despite the struggling economy and difficult times that casinos are having.

Like I’ve said time and again, it’s all about money.

Legislators (running for office) are against legalizing or expanding gambling opportunities until it comes time to balance their budgets.

Then, not wanting to tax citizens anymore (for fear of losing their office), they turn to alternative measures. And there sits gambling.

Well, whatever it takes. I’m for freedom of choice.

And there ain’t nothing wrong with gambling.

So Rhode Island might be next to expand legal gambling within its borders.

Under a bill to be discussed in the the state legislature, Rhode Island’s voters will have an chance to vote on whether or not they wish to expand gambling in the state.

Right now, the state has two legal slot parlors. The new bill would amend the constitution to enable full scale casino gaming to be introduced in those two parlors.

Table games would be included in the facilities, which now only offer video lottery terminals.

The proposed argument states that Rhode Island is losing gaming revenue due to the burgeoning casino environment in surrounding states, from Delaware’s expansion to Pennsylvania’s progress, and possibly Massachusetts.

Gambling revenue has become a major source of income for many states, with Pennsylvania’s revenues booming more quickly than previously imagined.

Ironically, New Jersey, the established gambling state, has been failing to keep up with revenue.

Gambling expansion is also a subject of debate on a federal level. Several bills that would offer regulated online gambling have been proposed, though discussions in the House Committees has not yet been successful in bringing about the regulatory body needed to keep online gamblers safe and revenues taxed.

We’ll keep an eye on that. I love to gamble at online casinos.

Don’t you?

The fear, that is…of not being re-elected if they raise taxes.

So what is a legislator to do? Cut programs? Well…how about legalizing more gambling.

Which is exactly what Texas is considering.

Texas is currently facing big budget short falls.

The budget is facing cuts, cuts which will affect prison programs, education programs, and state mental hospitals.

Tax hikes are out. For the reason stated above.

Prison officials have cautioned legislators over the risk of cutting programs to prisons.

Estimates say that lay offs would remove over 3,000 employees and remove drug and alcohol treatment programs. In a state with relatively low recidivism rates compared to the national average, it is likely that Texas legislators will aim to solve budget woes before being forced to cut budgets.

Education cuts are also likely to take place in the event that the budget gap is not filled.

Grants, the lifeblood of education,  might have to be slashed.

The gambling expansion being considered is would bring slot machines at racetracks or, in a full blown expansion, large casinos that entail all forms of casino gambling.

These casinos could generated billions of dollars a year, which would help to fill the gap in the budget.

Frankly, having lived in Houston and Austin, I KNOW that people would love it.

An unexplored opportunity is that of online gambling.  Unfortunately, no regulatory body exists for the collection of taxes on online gambling, which could generate an estimated $80 billion over a period of ten years.

So legislators are looking to the Pennsylvania or Florida model…where gambling revenue has (somewhat) eased the tax burden. I say somewhat, because Pennsylvanians still call their state Taxsylvania.

I’ll keep an eye on the Lone Star state for you.