PPA Fires on Mass. Governor -- Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is getting blasted by the online poker community for his introduction of a gambling expansion bill which includes an Internet gambling ban. In a prepared statement from Poker Players Alliance, Executive Director John Pappas pointed out the anti-online gambling-pro-casino gambling stance the legislation appears to have taken. But the bill is already facing strong opposition. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Association has said the proposal's financial aspirations are not feasible. Meanwhile, voters in Lincoln, Mass., on Saturday will decide whether or not they approve the construction of a casino in their town.
Judiciary Asks: Is the UIGEA Working? -- The U.S. House Judiciary Committee will hold an oversight hearing Nov. 14 titled "Establishing Consistent Enforcement Policies in the Context of Online Wagers." The committee will hear testimony on the effectiveness of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The witness list has not yet been released, but the hearing is scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
No Plans for Liberalization in China -- The Chinese government is planning to institute new laws to help prevent underage and compulsive gambling, which have some believing companies will be forced to use software that screens users to ensure that adults only are accessing gambling sites and put a cap on the amount of time spent on the sites. No timeframe has been established for the implementation of the law.
Globet Upgrades and Expands -- Following an upgrade to Microgaming's Viper casino software earlier this year, Gibraltar based globetcasino.com has launched Globet Poker on the Microgaming Poker Network. Globet Poker primarily targets Central and Eastern Europe.
Welcome Back, David -- Ex-BetonSports CEO David Carruthers on Nov. 1 launched his own Web site as a way to stay in touch with the world and let people into his. Carruthers is on house arrest in St. Louis, Mo., waiting to face RICO charges related to illegal Internet gambling. But he has found a way to keep busy, populating DavidCarruthers.com with the latest news and stock quotes from the I-gaming industry, personal photos, a biography and a blog. Click here to visit the site.