News in brief: Lesniak to reintroduce NJ bill; Bet365 Australia statement
New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak intends to reintroduce his intrastate egaming bill next Thursday.
New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak has revealed that he intends to reintroduce his intrastate egaming bill next Thursday. The original bill was vetoed at the 11th hour by Governor Chris Christie in March, and according to a release sent out last night Lesniak has pledged to “tinker” with the proposals. “Governor Christie raised some concern with the original online gaming legislation, and I’m willing to work through those concerns,” said Lesniak, who cited an Econsult analysis which suggested the regulation of egaming in the Garden State could create up to 1,900 new jobs and up to US$55m in tax revenue.
Bet365 is set to make the majority of its services unavailable to Australian customers as it prepares to apply for a sports betting licence in the Commonwealth country. According to an email seen by newspaper The Australian, the UK-based operator told customers “As part of our preparations for this [licence application], we regret to inform you that our Casino, Poker, Games and Bingo sites will no longer be available from week commencing 22nd August. Any funds currently in your Casino, Poker, Games and Bingo balances will be transferred to your Sports balance.”
Bodog’s Asian-facing brand licensee Bodog88 has signed a deal with SunPlus whereby the platform provider’s ONEbook system will supply Bodog88 with a new in-play offering. Customers are expected to be able to access the offering from the Isle of Man-based provider by early autumn.
Betsson‘s B2B arm Betsson Business Solutions has agreed a three-year deal to become the official betting partner of English football club Arsenal, the Swedish operator has revealed today. Under the terms of the agreement, fans will be able to bet inside the club’s Emirates Stadium and online, both through the Betsson-backed GunnersGaming brand, and the Arsenal-branded product will cover casino, poker, sportsbook and other games.
Merge Network site Lock Poker is reportedly pursuing legal action against its former sponsored pro Jose Maria Macedo, according to the site’s cardroom manager Eric Lynch. Macedo had earlier admitted to scamming fellow poker players out of five-figure sums, and Lynch “ who has been in his current role since February “ explained: “What happened goes against the very core of our player based philosophy and we intend on exercising our legal rights in the most severe degree.” The site named Leo Margets as its newest sponsored pro earlier this week.
Edgar Stuchly has been named as the new president of the Pokerstars-sponsored European Poker Tour (EPT). The news comes two months after the live poker tour parted ways with tournament director Thomas Kremser, and follows Skrill being named as the official payment partner of its eighth season.