
US Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is walking away from politics and Congress that is departing when term expires in 2018. In an announcement posted to Facebook, the home Oversight Committee chairman said he’s after the path he is long championed: that general public service should really be for the limited time and not turn into a lifetime career.
US Rep. Jason Chaffetz has taken in enough of Congress, and that’s just fine with online gambling advocates.
Chaffetz’ departure is good news for on line gambling. The Utahan is 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 traction that is little Congress (despite billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s attempted persuasion through campaign bucks), Chaffetz saying he’s leaving town is just a welcomed development to many online gamblers and casino operators that are invested in internet gaming.
The Republican legislator has ver quickly become a star that is rising the GOP in recent years, as he’s overseen the Congressional investigation into Hillary Clinton’s utilization of a personal e-mail host during her time as US Secretary of State. Chaffetz grilled the former 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 regarding any concern about his potential for reelection.
‘ For those that will speculate otherwise, let me be clear that I have no motives that are ulterior. I am confident I would continue steadily 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’dn’t rule down a political run in the long term, 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 plenty of critical problems domestically and around the world. That’s why gambling that is online on the federal level does not seem likely becoming a congressional target anytime quickly.
Nevertheless, concerns remain for Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, the three states with legalized on the web gambling, aswell as additional states that are mulling internet betting legislation. The National Governors Association recently issued a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions opining that the legalization of iGaming must be kept up to individual states.
During Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearing, he declared he had been ‘shocked’ whenever the Department of Justice issued an opinion last year in the longstanding Wire Act that essentially opened up internet gambling. RAWA seeks to reverse the 2011 DOJ ruling.
It might seem unlikely that the Trump presidency would support 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 offered many millions to his presidential efforts.
Trump famously pledged to ‘drain the swamp’ and rid Washington of politicians catering 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 newest England Patriots visited Washington this week to celebrate their Super Bowl LI name. President Donald Trump, as is customary, invited the NFL champs towards the White home after the Pats overcame seemingly insurmountable chances in finding its way back from 25 down seriously to win the big game in February.
President Trump welcomed this new England Patriots towards the White House this to celebrate their Super Bowl win week. (Image: John Tlumacki/Getty Images)
With the Atlanta Falcons up 28-3 in the third quarter, live in-game betting 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 we looked at the odds and they gave you less than one half of just one % 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 perhaps their sweetest yet.
On the actions of the South Lawn, Belichick declared, ‘we have had the great privilege to be here many times, but this one, the way we were addressed and also the opportunities to be within the Oval workplace, to satisfy with the president, to see the inside of the White House, has just 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, whom made his fortune in paper and packaging, typically avoids the arena that is political. But this year, the Kraft Group CEO donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee.
Kraft said at the White home, ‘Overcoming long chances through perseverance, perseverance, & most importantly, mental toughness, is the foundation of exactly what is great about any of it country.’
He stated of Trump, ‘A very good friend of mine for over 25 years, a man who’s mentally tough and hardworking as anybody I know, launched a campaign for the presidency against 16 career politicians, facing chances almost as long as we faced within the fourth quarter.’
Belichick can also be a friend of Trump’s, and the mentor even penned the then-candidate a page of support during the election that is presidential.
Brady supported Trump in 2016 too, and the elected president has said the quarterback and Super Bowl LI MPV has told him he voted in his benefit.
Hernandez Commits Suicide
Sunlight ended up being 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 invested three years with the Patriots and caught 18 touchdown passes from Brady. But in August of 2013, he was convicted of murdering their former friend Odin Lloyd.
Hernandez ended up being serving life in prison without the likelihood of parole when he was found hanging in their cellular on Wednesday early morning.
‘Vegas Dave’ Arrested on Misdemeanor Battery Charge After Not liable Plea in Federal Case
Life just got a much more complicated for ‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea, the celebrated professional sports bettor, who had been 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 aided 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 conducted the ruse in order to avoid declaring any winnings to your taxman.
But simply mins he was arrested by Metro Police on a warrant from a domestic battery case from July after he stood down from the dock. He was released hrs later.
‘Petty’ Move, says Lawyer
Oancea has made a title for himself as a successful handicapper and 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 https://myfreepokies.com/lucky-88-slot-review/ circles, as well as $2.5 million in winnings.
Thanks to the Kansas City Royals, he also has the way to construct a solid legal team, which ended up being kept 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 been doing this 40 years, and I do not think i have ever seen such pettiness as this type of move,’ he included.
Chesnoff on the Case
Oancea may take a taut spot but there’s one man you would like by your side 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 time 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 accountable and and received fines that are six-figure 5 years’ probation, during which time they have been prohibited from going into the United States.
But Phua pleaded not responsible, and with justification: he’d employed 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 little bit of FBI proof dumped of court, eviscerating the prosecution’s case. Phua walked, or rather he flew house, on their personal jet.
The judge within the Oancea case has set the trial date for June 20, if the defendant will face nine counts of misuse of a Social Security number, plus 10 counts of causing a domestic institution to file false reports, and could be looking at five years for each count. Vegas Dave will be preying Chesnoff can work his magic.
Sheldon Adelson’s $5 Million Trump Donation Provokes Fears of Federal Online 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 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 just rumor? (Image: CNBC)
The revelation on 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 tuesday. This will be together 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 last September really days prior to the Restoration of America’s Wire Act was 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 days, although other sources have denied here is the case.
The opinion in question ended up being that the Wire Act prohibited internet sports wagering alone and not casino gaming or poker, and it paved the way for specific states to legalize and control these games within their borders.
Sessions declared himself to own been ‘shocked’ by the opinion when he was quizzed about any of it during his AG verification.
‘Apparently, there is some reason or argument which can be made to aid 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 appearance during the opinion he stated, ‘I would revisit it and I will make a decision on it based on careful research. I haven’t gone that far to offer you an opinion today.’
Ban Would be Un-Trumpist
Still, a ban that is federal appear to be an odd one for the Trump administration which defines itself as pro-business and against regulations that stifle business.
In a 2011 interview with Forbes, Trump declared, ‘[Online gambling] has to happen because many other countries are doing it and, like typical, the United States is just lacking out.’
Meanwhile, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act can be an unpopular piece of legislation for its 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 one to pay attention to the current regulatory mechanisms placed in place by the states to ensure customers and kids are protected, and that licensees comply with strict standards of conduct,’ composed the NGA.
‘States are best equipped to modify and enforce gaming that is online. A ban drives this activity offshore to jurisdictions that are unregulated out