Say Good Bye to Internet Gambling
Friday Night, September 29th, 2006, may quietly go down as the day Internet Gambling died in the United States.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congress was pushing on Friday to finish legislation that would boost security at U.S. ports, but at the last minute lawmakers added provisions to prohibit Internet gambling.
Rushing to finish their work by the weekend to go home and campaign for elections in which control of Congress is at stake, lawmakers were linking up unrelated measures in an effort to get them approved.
The House passed an Internet gambling ban earlier this summer, but the bill had difficulty moving in the Senate. However it was a priority of Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, and attaching it to the popular port security bill appeared aimed at insuring its passage.
Votes were expected by midnight Friday in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Sad indeed. Very sad.
Pinnacle Sports Football Portal
Need another resource for in-depth football information? Pinnacle Sports added a Football Portal this year and I’d peg it as a worthy destination for anyone researching for sports wagering info.
Another Mega Resort Concept
From the folks at Proteus Creative (who are they?), the newest themed mega resort which Vegas is dying for: Las Vegas Wet.
The Project is a multifaceted large-scale resort, entertainment center and aquatic wonderland. Boasting all the conventional amenities of a grand scale water park, The Project shatters expectations with an abundance of outdoor and indoor amusement attractions, in addition to a first-rate hotel and casino with superior entertainment retail. The Project is exactly what Las Vegas needs but doesn’t have: a superlative, upscale water park complex with all the amenities of a first class resort.
Site Plan for The ProjectThis thrilling new entertainment complex provides guests both near and far with an exciting entertainment destination, anchored by a premier multi-themed water park. The Project not only provides state-of-the-art water fun, but is also constructed to be conservation conscious and environmentally friendly. And what better place for an exhilarating day of water slides, wave pools, dining, shopping, and many other matchless entertainment offerings, than the sizzling Las Vegas Strip!
The Project is year round fun in the sun for a wide demographic, catering to out of town guests as well as Las Vegas residents who return again and again to experience this “must see” attraction. The park’s ambience runs the gamut from raucous adventure to casual indulgence. A variety of leisure activities appeal to every age group, from youngsters, to singles and couples, to families.
Atmosphere entertainment — walk around characters, roving musical bands, strolling entertainers, and the like — will appear throughout the complex to delight and entertain guests of all ages. And throughout the park, guests will be treated to scrumptious dining opportunities and themed retail. The Project features a roster of highly unique attractions that can provide anything from a few hours of excitement to a multi-day palette of diversions:
* State-of-the-art water park with themed “lands”
* Dining, Retail, and Entertainment district
* Sprawling Family Entertainment Complex
* Two upscale 600 room Hotels
* Dazzling tropical themed Casino
* State-of-the-Art indoor ski area
* Exclusive European style spa and beach club
* Multiplex Cinema with high-end reserved seating component
* Contemporary 5000 Seat Arena for concerts and sporting eventsWhether you want to zoom down a hair-raising water slide, lounge on an exclusive “European” beach, enjoy a wild round of mini-golf, or dine and shop in a stylish but relaxed atmosphere, The Project is your escape to a world of fun and enjoyment.
Okay, right. Where do I sign up. I realize this is a concept, but good luck, keep dreaming.
Here’s a successful concept for you:
1 big pool
1 big beach around said pool
Age restricted 21-30 years old
Clothing optional
Brand it is as the year-round MTV Spring Break Resort
Optional: add enough extra space to run the Road Rules Real World Challenges and possibly even build a permanent Real World House on the spot.
You don’t even need a themed tower, jome funky beach cabanas that sleep a few dozen people each. That’s money, baby.
(My disclaimer: The Spring Break Resort is copyright 2006 – KingsOfVegas.com.)
More Free Money on Monday Night
I said take Jacksonville plus the points in the straight-up win. Jacksonville wins 9-0.
3-0 on the year against the spread. And that is free money.
Odds to Win the BCS Championship
Odds to Win the BCS Championship
Courtesy of Pinnacle Sports
Odds To Win BCS Championship Game
West Virginia 13/2
Notre Dame 7/1
Ohio State 15/2
USC 8/1
Florida 11/1
Texas 12/1
Auburn 14/1
Oklahoma 14/1
Florida State 21/1
Miami 21/1
Louisville 24/1
LSU 26/1
California 28/1
Michigan 29/1
Iowa 35/1
Virginia Tech 58/1
Clemson 71/1
Penn State 74/1
Alabama 85/1
Michigan State 81/1
UCLA 85/1
Georgia 85/1
Nebraska 85/1
Oregon 85/1
Arizona State 85/1
Tennessee 85/1
Arkansas 100/1
Boston College 120/1
TCU 120/1
Purdue 200/1
Internent Gambling Ban Passes the House
HR 4411 – The Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act – Came a step closer to reality Tuesday night as the House of Representatives voted 317-93 in favor of the legislation.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where Internet-based gambling has not appeared to be much of a priority. However the ease at which the bill passed could inspire some momentum at the Senate level.
Reminder, we’ve set up a Google News Watch to monitor the headlines.
Ban On Online Gambling Closes In On House Debate
D-day could be on the horizon for online gamblers, including online poker players, as HR-4411 – The Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act – could find its way to the House floor as early as Tuesday. HR 4411 is a combined bill from Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Jim Leach (R-Iowa).
The Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act is designed to cut the flow of money from US gamblers to the offshore, Internet-based gambling sites. US gamblers represent about half of the estimated $12 billion to be wagered online in 2006. In addition to stopping the flow of money, provisions would also be in place to block gambling sites at the ISP level and a further clarification of the Wire Act to include poker sites.
Ironically, the bill would still allow online wagering for horse racing and state lotteries, the former legalized as part of the Internet Horseracing Act.
We’ve set up a Google News Watch to monitor the headlines
Hooters Hotel and Casino – Now Open
In the land of Vegas, Hooters Girls seem awfully tame to us.
But, there must have been enough of a draw to conver the old San Remo into the Hooters Casino Hotel. One block off the strip behind Tropicana.
696 rooms, a 30,000 sq. ft. casino and 200 Hooters Girls, the Hooters Casino Hotel officially opens Friday, February 3 2006.
From the Rumor Mill: Microsoft and the Vegas Squeeze
Are you as confused as everyone else to why the line on the Super Bowl is stuck on 4 with the seemingly never-ending support of Pittsburgh?
From the tip line today, a cryptic message informing us of a rumor that Microsoft money is gaming the online books to put the squeeze on Vegas. The email went on to say that money is flowing in to the online books in favor of Seattle – so much so that the line is seeing tremendous support on both sides at Pittsburgh -4 and forcing Vegas books to keep the line in place despite the money rolling in on the Steelers.
Sounded fishy to us, but then later in the day we received a second email with roughly the same details and further info that a huge losing day by Vegas books, combined with a strong push by lobbyists would get the issue of online gambling in front of congress.
It still doesn’t make much sense to us, but stranger things have happened. And who knows maybe a bunch of Microsoft’ers just have faith in Paul Allen’s Seabirds and running the contrarian view.
We’d love to hear from anyone who has more information on this. Just hit the Tip Line (over there on the sidebar) or in the comments.
So like we said, that’s the rumor mill for Thursday, February 2, 2006.
General Motors not content to lose money on cars, sponsors a ‘Test Track’ in Vegas
It seems that General Motors – fresh after posting a record loss in their last quarter – is ponying up the cash to lease the Sahara’s back parking lot and turn it into a consumer-themed test track. Included in the deal is naming rights for the Sahara’s Monorail Station as well.
From the USA Today:
A parking lot behind the Sahara hotel-casino will be converted into an automotive playground and the Strip’s newest attraction with the addition of test tracks where would-be racers can take cars, trucks or SUVs for a spin.
Officials from General Motors, the Sahara and the Las Vegas Monorail announced a deal Tuesday that will lease the 11-acre lot to GM for a public test track.
“The Drive” could open by mid-March, offering licensed drivers the chance to drive GM vehicles on a high-performance test track or an off-road demonstration course for a fee.
GM also will buy theming and naming rights to the monorail’s Sahara station, giving the rapid transit line a much-needed cash infusion and more potential riders.
