
US Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is walking away from politics and departing Congress when his term expires in 2018. The House Oversight Committee chairman said he’s following the path he’s long championed: that public service should be for a limited time and not become a lifetime career in an announcement posted to Facebook.
US Rep. Jason Chaffetz has had enough of Congress, and that is simply fine with online gambling advocates.
Chaffetz’ departure is good news for online gambling. The Utahan is a huge sponsor that is leading of gaming legislation, mainly their authoring and introducing of RAWA, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act.
Though RAWA gained traction that is little Congress (despite billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s tried persuasion through campaign dollars), Chaffetz saying he’s making town is just a welcomed development to many online gamblers and casino operators that are committed to internet gaming.
The Republican legislator has quickly become a rising star in the GOP in recent years, as he’s overseen the Congressional investigation into Hillary Clinton’s usage of a private e-mail host during her time as US 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 recent election.
Not About Winning
Chaffetz has made it clear that his choice has nothing related to any concern about his prospective for reelection.
‘ For all those that will speculate otherwise, let me be clear that I have no motives that are ulterior. I have always been confident I might continue to be re-elected by large margins. I have the full help of Speaker Ryan . . . I’ve made a personal decision,’ Chaffetz noted.
The congressman said he wouldn’t rule away a political run in the long run, prompting some to believe he might have his eyes set in 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 a lot of critical issues domestically and around the world. That’s why gambling that is online on the federal level does not appear likely to become congressional target anytime quickly.
But, concerns remain for Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, the three states with legalized online gambling, also as additional states which are mulling internet legislation that is betting. The National Governors Association recently issued a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions opining that the legalization of iGaming ought to be left up to states that are individual.
During Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearing, he declared he was ‘shocked’ whenever the Department of Justice issued an opinion in 2011 in the longstanding Wire Act that essentially opened up internet gambling. RAWA seeks to reverse the 2011 DOJ ruling.
It could seem unlikely that the Trump presidency would support legislation that is anti-gambling. But Adelson, the Las Vegas Sands tycoon whom claims to be on a moral crusade to block online gaming, was Trump’s donor that is largest, having given many millions to his presidential efforts.
Trump famously pledged to ‘drain the swamp’ and rid Washington of politicians catering to effective lobbyists and donors. The issues online that is surrounding gambling 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 to Washington this to celebrate their Super Bowl LI title week. President Donald Trump, as is customary, invited the NFL champs to the White House after the Pats overcame seemingly insurmountable odds in returning from 25 down to win the big game in February.
President Trump welcomed the newest England Patriots to your White House this week to celebrate their Super Bowl win. (Image: John Tlumacki/Getty Images)
With the Atlanta Falcons up 28-3 in the third quarter, live in-game wagering gave the Patriots small chance in hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Las Vegas sportsbooks had been taking bets on the Patriots at 16-1 and moneyline at +1600 during the half that is second.
Trump said at yesterday’s ceremony, ‘ I do believe I looked at the odds and they provided you less than one half of just one percent of winning the game.’
After scoring 31 unanswered, the record-setting comeback punished sportsbooks and capped down a disappointing NFL season for oddsmakers. But for superstar quarterback Tom Brady and head advisor Bill Belichick, the victory was maybe their sweetest yet.
On the steps of the South Lawn, Belichick declared, ‘we have had the great privilege to be right here several times, but this one, the way we were treated and also the opportunities to be within the Oval workplace, to meet with the president, to see the inside of the White House, has just been fabulous.’
Patriots Support Trump
While numerous Patriots players opted to miss the White home ceremony, with a few publicly citing Trump’s administration as their explanation, the team’s leadership certainly endorses #45.
Billionaire owner Robert Kraft, who made his fortune in paper and packaging, typically avoids the political arena. But this year, the Kraft Group CEO donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee.
Kraft said at the White House, ‘Overcoming long odds through effort, perseverance, & most importantly, mental toughness, is the foundation of everything that is great relating to this nation.’
He stated of Trump, ‘A very good friend of mine for over 25 years, a man that is mentally tough and hardworking as anyone I understand, launched a campaign for the presidency against 16 career politicians, facing chances almost so long as we faced in the fourth quarter.’
Belichick is also a friend of Trump’s, and the advisor even composed the then-candidate a page of encouragement 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 sun had been shining on the South Lawn, but a shadow that is dark over the Patriots organization on Wednesday after news broke that former play Aaron Hernandez took his very own life in prison.
Hernandez invested three years with the Patriots and caught 18 touchdown passes from Brady. However in August of 2013, he was convicted of murdering their friend Odin that is former Lloyd.
Hernandez ended up being serving life in prison without the chance of parole when he was found hanging in their cell on Wednesday morning.
‘Vegas Dave’ Arrested on Misdemeanor Battery Charge After Not Guilty Plea in Federal Case
Life just got an even more complicated for ‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea, the celebrated professional sports bettor, who was indicted last week by a federal grand jury, accused of misuse of Social Security numbers.
‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea has hired a solid team that is legal David Chesnoff whom helped Paul Phua overcome an illegall activities betting rap in 2015. (Image: Las Vegas 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 prevent declaring any winnings towards the taxman.
But simply moments after he stood down from the dock, he had been arrested by Metro Police on a warrant from the domestic battery case from July. He had been released hrs later.
‘Petty’ Move, says Lawyer
Oancea has made a name for himself being a handicapper that is successful gambler. Their bet on the Kansas City Royals to win the 2015 World Series at 30-1 brought him a particular amount of celebrity in gambling circles, and of course $2.5 million in winnings.
As a result of the Kansas City Royals, he additionally has the means to construct a formidable legal team, which had been left unimpressed by its client’s unexpected arrest Wednesday.
‘Apparently one of the IRS agents decided him taken on the misdemeanor lucky 88 slot dice, 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 carrying this out 40 years, and I don’t think i have ever seen pettiness that is such this sort of move,’ he included.
Chesnoff regarding the Case
Oancea may take a good spot but there is one man you need 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, who was arrested in the summer of 2014 and accused of being the mastermind of a multi-million-dollar illegal World Cup ring that is betting.
Those arrested with Phua during an FBI sting at Caesars Palace pleaded responsible and and received fines that are six-figure 5 years’ probation, during which time they’ve been prohibited from going into the usa.
But Phua pleaded not guilty, sufficient reason for justification: he had hired Chesnoff. Having identified some suspicious FBI surveillance practices in case, which he said amounted to a search that is illegal Chesnoff got each and every piece of FBI evidence thrown out 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 trial date for June 20, whenever defendant will face nine counts of abuse of a Social Security number, plus 10 counts of causing an institution that is domestic file false reports, and could be looking at five years for each count. Vegas Dave will be preying Chesnoff can work their magic.
Sheldon Adelson’s $5 Million Trump Donation Provokes Fears of Federal On Line Gambling Ban
Is US AG Jeff Sessions planning to ban online gambling at a federal level?
Rumors, first reported by Gambling Compliance, that Sessions is mostly about to make good on their promise to ‘revisit’ the DOJ’s opinion on online gambling, have been swirling since Monday.
Is talk of Jeff Session’s intentions to revisit the 2011 Wire Act interpretation cause for alarm or simply 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 anybody’s anxieties. This is certainly along with 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 before 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 this is actually the case.
The opinion under consideration was that the Wire Act prohibited sports that are internet alone and maybe not casino gaming or poker, and it paved the means for specific states to legalize and regulate these games of their borders.
Sessions declared himself to own been ‘shocked’ by the opinion as he was quizzed about this during his AG verification.
‘Apparently, there is some reason or argument that can be made to aid the Department of Justice’s [2011] position, but I did oppose it when it happened and it seemed to me personally to be unusual…’ he said.
Asked whether he would take another look during the opinion he stated, ‘I would revisit it and I also will make a choice on it based on careful research. I haven’t gone that far to give you an opinion today.’
Ban Would be Un-Trumpist
Still, a federal ban would may actually 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 happen because numerous other countries are doing it and, like usual, the US is just missing out.’
Meanwhile, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act is an unpopular piece of legislation for the neglect of states rights, and the National Governors Association wrote to Sessions last month to gently remind him of this.
‘As you review this issue, we encourage you to definitely observe the current regulatory mechanisms placed in place by the states to make sure that customers and kiddies are protected, and that licensees comply with strict criteria of conduct,’ had written the NGA.
‘States are best equipped to regulate and enforce gaming that is online. A ban drives this activity offshore to unregulated jurisdictions, out
