US Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is walking away from politics and departing Congress when his term expires in 2018. In an announcement posted to Facebook, the home Oversight Committee chairman said he is following the path he’s long championed: that general public service must certanly be for a restricted time and not develop into a lifetime career.
US Rep. Jason Chaffetz has taken in enough of Congress, and that is just fine with online gambling advocates.
Chaffetz’ departure is good news for on line gambling. The Utahan has become a leading sponsor of anti-internet gaming legislation, primarily his authoring and introducing of RAWA, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act.
Though RAWA gained small traction in Congress (despite billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s tried persuasion through campaign bucks), Chaffetz saying he’s making town is a welcomed development to many online gamblers and casino operators that are invested in internet gaming.
The Republican legislator has quickly become a star that is rising the GOP in recent years, as he’s overseen the Congressional investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail host during her time as United States Secretary of State. Chaffetz grilled the previous First Lady and Democratic presidential candidate, and the scrutiny provided plenty of headlines and talking points for Republicans and Donald Trump during the election that is recent.
Not About Winning
Chaffetz has made it clear that his choice has nothing regarding any concern about their potential for reelection.
‘ For those of you that would speculate otherwise, allow me be clear that i’ve no ulterior motives. I am confident I would personally continue steadily to be re-elected by large margins. I’ve the full help of Speaker Ryan . . . I’ve produced personal decision,’ Chaffetz noted.
The congressman stated he wouldn’t rule out a political run in the long run, prompting some to believe he may have his eyes set regarding the Utah governorship down the line. Sitting Republican Governor Gary Herbert’s term shall be up in 2020.
Sessions vs. States’ Rights
America is dealing with an abundance of critical issues domestically and around the world. That is why gambling that is online on the federal level does not appear likely to be always a congressional target anytime soon.
Nevertheless, concerns remain for Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, the three states with legalized on the web gambling, aswell as additional states which can be mulling internet betting legislation. The National Governors Association recently issued a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions opining that the legalization of iGaming ought to be kept up to individual states.
During Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearing, he declared he was ‘shocked’ when the Department of Justice issued an opinion last year in the Wire that is longstanding Act essentially opened up internet gambling. RAWA seeks to reverse the 2011 DOJ ruling.
It might seem unlikely that the Trump presidency would help anti-gambling legislation. But Adelson, the Las Vegas Sands tycoon who claims to be on a moral crusade to block online gaming, was Trump’s largest donor, having provided many millions to his presidential efforts.
Trump famously pledged to ‘drain the swamp’ and rid Washington of politicians providing to powerful lobbyists and donors. The issues surrounding online gambling could test that campaign promise.
Brand New England Patriots Visit White House, Trump Happy to See Pals Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick
The latest England Patriots went along to Washington this week to celebrate their Super Bowl LI title. President Donald Trump, as is customary, invited the NFL champs to the White House following the Pats overcame seemingly insurmountable odds in finding its way back from 25 down to win the big game in February.
President Trump welcomed the New England Patriots to the White House this to celebrate their Super Bowl win week. (Image: John Tlumacki/Getty Images)
Using the Atlanta Falcons up 28-3 in the quarter that is third live in-game wagering gave the Patriots little chance in hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Las Vegas sportsbooks had been taking bets in the Patriots at 16-1 and moneyline at +1600 during the half that is second.
Trump said at yesterday’s ceremony, ‘ I think I viewed the odds and you were given by them less than one half of 1 percent of winning the game.’
After scoring 31 unanswered, the comeback that is record-setting sportsbooks and capped down a disappointing NFL season for oddsmakers. But for superstar quarterback Tom Brady and head advisor Bill Belichick, the triumph was maybe their sweetest yet.
On the actions of the South Lawn, Belichick declared, ‘We’ve had the privilege that is great be right here many times, but this one, the way we had been treated and the possibilities to be in the Oval workplace, to meet up with the president, to see the inside of the White House, has simply been fabulous.’
Patriots Support Trump
The team’s leadership certainly endorses #45 while numerous Patriots players opted to skip the White House ceremony, with some publicly citing Trump’s administration as their reason.
Billionaire owner Robert Kraft, who made his fortune in paper and packaging, typically avoids the arena that is political. But this 12 months, the Kraft Group CEO donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee.
Kraft said during the White home, ‘Overcoming long chances through efforts, perseverance, and a lot of importantly, mental toughness, may be the foundation of exactly what is great about any of it country.’
He said of Trump, ‘A very good friend of mine for over 25 years, a man who’s mentally tough and hardworking as anyone I know, launched a campaign for the presidency against 16 career politicians, facing odds almost as long as we faced into the fourth quarter.’
Belichick can also be a friend of Trump’s, and the coach even composed the then-candidate a page of support during the presidential election.
Brady supported Trump in 2016 too, and the president has said the quarterback and Super Bowl LI MPV has told him he voted in his benefit.
Hernandez Commits Suicide
The sunlight was shining on the South Lawn, but a dark shadow hovered over the Patriots organization on Wednesday after news broke that former play Aaron Hernandez took his very own life in prison.
Hernandez spent three years with the Patriots and caught 18 touchdown passes from Brady. However in August of 2013, he had been convicted of murdering his friend Odin that is former Lloyd.
Hernandez was life that is serving prison without the chance of parole when he was discovered hanging in his cellular on Wednesday morning.
‘Vegas Dave’ Arrested on Misdemeanor Battery Charge After Not Guilty Plea in Federal Case
Life simply got an even more complicated for ‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea, the celebrated professional sports bettor, who ended up being indicted week that is last a federal grand jury, accused of misuse of Social Security figures.
‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea has hired a solid team that is legal David Chesnoff whom assisted Paul Phua beat an illegall recreations betting rap in 2015. (Image: Las Vegas, Nevada Review-Journal)
Oancea was arraigned on to pleaded not guilty to charges that he provided casinos with Social Security numbers that either belonged to other people, or were simply made up wednesday. The prosecution alleges he carried out the ruse in order to avoid declaring any winnings to the taxman.
But just minutes after he stood down from the dock, he was arrested by Metro Police on a warrant from the domestic battery case from July. He had been released a long time later.
‘Petty’ Move, says Lawyer
Oancea has made a title for himself being a successful handicapper and gambler. Their bet on the Kansas City Royals to win the 2015 World Series at 30-1 brought him an amount that is certain of in gambling circles, as well as $2.5 million in winnings.
As a result of the Kansas City Royals, he additionally has the means to assemble a formidable team that free slot machine games lucky 88 is legal which ended up being left unimpressed by its client’s unexpected arrest Wednesday.
‘Apparently one of the IRS agents decided him taken on the misdemeanor, even though the federal judge said we had 30 days to clear it up,’ defense attorney Tom Pitaro said, adding that his client did not know the warrant had been issued that they would call Metro to have.
‘I’ve been achieving this 40 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen pettiness that is such this sort of move,’ he added.
Chesnoff on the Case
Oancea may maintain a decent spot but there’s one man you want with you in hot water in Vegas, and that man is attorney David Chesnoff, who is also representing Vegas Dave if you ever find yourself.
Chesnoff represented the Malaysian high stakes poker player and businessman Paul Phua, whom was arrested in the summer of 2014 and accused of being the mastermind of a multi-million-dollar illegal World Cup wagering band.
Those arrested with Phua during an FBI sting at Caesars Palace pleaded accountable and and received six-figure fines and five years’ probation, during which time they are prohibited from entering the usa.
But Phua pleaded not accountable, along with good reason: he had employed Chesnoff. Having identified some suspicious FBI surveillance practices in the case, which he said amounted to a search that is illegal Chesnoff got every single piece of FBI evidence trashed of court, eviscerating the prosecution’s case. Phua walked, or rather he flew home, on his personal jet.
The judge into the Oancea case has set the test date for June 20, once the defendant will face nine counts of misuse of a Social Security number, plus 10 counts of causing a domestic organization to file false reports, and could be taking a look at five years for each count. Vegas Dave will be Chesnoff that is preying can their magic.
Sheldon Adelson’s $5 Million Trump Donation Provokes Fears of Federal On Line Gambling Ban
Is US AG Jeff Sessions preparation to ban online gambling at a federal level?
Rumors, first reported by Gambling Compliance, that Sessions is about to make good on their vow to ‘revisit’ the DOJ’s opinion on online gambling, have actually been swirling since Monday.
Is talk of Jeff Session’s intentions to revisit the 2011 Wire Act interpretation cause for alarm or just rumor? (Image: CNBC)
The revelation on Tuesday in a Federal Election Commission filing that online gambling-hater Sheldon Adelson had contributed $5 million to Trump’s inauguration did little to quell anyone’s anxieties. This is certainly on top of the $11.2 million that Adelson reportedly offered Trump and Trump-affiliated PACs during the election.
The Washington Post recently noted that Adelson donated $20 million up to a GOP super PAC called the Senate Leadership Fund September that is last just prior to the Restoration of America’s Wire Act ended up being reintroduced in the Senate.
Sessions ‘Shocked’ by 2011 Opinion
Gambling Compliance reported sources on Capitol Hill saying that Sessions could act on reversing the DOJ’s 2011 opinion on online gambling within times, although other sources have actually denied here is the case.
The opinion under consideration ended up being that the Wire Act prohibited sports that are internet alone and perhaps not casino video gaming or poker, and it paved the means for specific states to legalize and control these games of their borders.
Sessions declared himself to have been ‘shocked’ by the opinion as he was quizzed about this during his AG verification.
‘Apparently, there is some justification or argument that may be made to support the Department of Justice’s [2011] position, but used to do oppose it when it happened and it seemed to me to be unusual…’ he said.
Asked whether he’d take another look during the opinion he said, ‘we would revisit it and I also will create a decision on it based on careful study. I haven’t gone that far to present an opinion today.’
Ban Is Un-Trumpist
Still, a ban that is federal appear to be an odd one for the Trump administration which describes it self as pro-business and against regulations that stifle business.
In a 2011 interview with Forbes, Trump declared, ‘[Online gambling] has to take place because many other countries are doing it and, like typical, the US is just missing out.’
Meanwhile, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act can be an unpopular piece of legislation for its disregard of states liberties, and the National Governors Association had written to Sessions last month to gently remind him of this.
‘As you review this issue, we encourage you to observe the current regulatory mechanisms placed in place by the states to ensure that consumers and children are protected, and that licensees comply with strict standards of conduct,’ penned the NGA.
‘States are best equipped to modify and enforce gaming that is online. A ban drives this activity offshore to unregulated jurisdictions, out