AGA Denounces ‘Damaging’ IRS Proposals On Capitol Hill

Geoff Freeman, AGA president: ‘This would have implications that are enormous simply for loyalty cards in the casino industry but in the broader hospitality industry.’
American Gaming Association (AGA) President and Chief Executive Geoff Freeman testified at an IRS hearing on Capitol Hill this week, voicing industry issues over intends to lower the tax reporting threshold for slot winnings from $1,200 to $600.
Also present during the hearing were casino executives and tribal representatives.
The consensus in the casino industry is the fact that proposals would be harmful to customer experience, while increasing paper work for casinos and disrupting the casino floor.
Casinos would also require upgrades that are expensive their backend systems.
You will find concerns, in particular, about IRS suggestions that the proposed rule might be enforced through the tracking that is electronic of’ gambling practices through their customer loyalty cards.
‘ The gaming industry understands no other industry into the nation for which the IRS has issued regulations requiring the industry to deploy its client loyalty system for federal tax collection purposes,’ the AGA said recently.
‘Customer Would Walk’
‘While we recognize the IRS’ concerns and goals, we question the necessity to impose mandatory, across-the-board use of this player-tracking tool for tax reporting purposes,’ said Freeman. ‘Instead than mandating use that is across-the-board tax reporting, we think a more targeted approach can be done for achieving the IRS’ objective.’
‘The customer would walk away,’ Freeman said in a post-hearing interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal. ‘This would have enormous implications perhaps not only for loyalty cards into the casino industry however in the broader hospitality industry: hotels, airlines and other people.’
‘The reduction in the threshold that is reportable have a devastating effect on our company, and we strongly oppose the decrease,’ included John Canham, VP of casino operations at Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.
The AGA has launched a petition that is online the proposals, already finalized by 10,000 people. These signatures were from casino employees and clients alike, from across all 50 states, said Freeman.
The AGA represents operators and gaming suppliers that collectively support 1.7 million US jobs.
Prohibited Gambling Advisory Board Established
Elsewhere, the AGA’s brand new Illegal Gambling Advisory Board held its inaugural meeting this week.
That is maybe not, because the true name may recommend, a hotline offering advice on finding top chances from illicit bookmakers, it is, in reality, the opposite.
The board was set up as part of the AGA’s ‘Stop Illegal Gambling: Play it Safe’ initiative, and seeks to distinguish the regulated gaming market from the ‘criminal companies that depend on illegal gambling to fund violent crimes and drug and human trafficking.’
‘The Illegal Gambling Advisory Board, along side forthcoming partnerships, will make sure that illegal gambling is brought to the forefront of public conversation so that people can clearly distinguish our highly controlled industry from the enterprises that are illegal investment negative activities and tarnish our reputation,’ explained Brian Cohen, director of Ally developing for the AGA.
Californians for Responsible iPoker Latest Effort to Legalize online Gaming in Golden State
Californians for Responsible iPoker has been created to promote market inclusivity by PokerStars and its coalition lovers, calling for the end to ‘divisive politics.’ (Image: calvinayre.com)
A fresh PokerStars-backed coalition called Californians for Responsible iPoker is searching for supporters in the Golden State through the new advocacy group. Too as collecting signatures from resident proponents, the alliance lays down its aims and principles in a ten-point plan for accountable regulation.
Additionally announces the establishment associated with the PokerStars Pro Tour, which will see well-known players like Chris Moneymaker, Daniel Negreanu, Vanessa Selbst, and Jason Somerville visiting card spaces across Ca so that you can win hearts and minds.
‘ The Morongo Band of Mission Indians, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California’s three largest card clubs (the Commerce Club, Hawaiian Gardens Casino and the Bicycle Casino) and Amaya Inc, which owns and operates PokerStars, have formed a business alliance to market legislation that authorizes and regulates intrastate real-money online poker in California,’ states the site.
Market Inclusivity
‘Today, an incredible number of California poker players cannot play the game we love online, while other states and dozens of countries have authorized iPoker,’ it says. ‘Authorizing an ipoker that is well-regulated in California will protect the state’s poker-playing customers, support regional business, and create both jobs and revenue in California.’
The coalition demands market inclusivity and an end to the ‘failed, divisive politics of the past,’ which have derailed efforts that are previous regulation and is set doing so this year. The group is opposed by an alliance of tribal operators who wish to exclude PokerStars and the Ca racetracks from a regulated on-line poker market.
‘After more than six years of failed attempts in California, it is clear that stakeholders must achieve consensus that is substantial order for any bill to pass. We must abandon the failed, divisive politics associated with the past that motivated anti-competitive and likely unconstitutional legislative proposals specifically meant to exclude very successful and iPoker that is well-regulated provider from Ca’s market,’ the group’s message continues.
Implicit Support for Racetracks
CRP may or may not wish race tracks along for the trip, but the wording of its agenda would mean that tracks would be included in any positive outcome.
‘ We ought to support legislation which allows California’s existing licensed gaming providers, including tribes, card spaces, yet others, to engage in the marketplace after stringent regulatory vetting for suitability.’
The group’s opponents, but, remain as steadfast as ever. The Viejas Band of Kumayaay Indians recently launched a radio ad campaign that went straight for the jugular.
‘California Legislature must be attempting to stop Internet scam artists and conmen,’ it began, before it became clear that the Viejas includes PokerStars in that category.
The operator accused PokerStars of being ‘corrupt’ because of this Black Friday indictments and the securities that are current investigation into Amaya Inc.
‘This hasn’t stopped PokerStars from lobbying our state legislature to enable them to engage in on-line poker here in California, gaining access to every computer, tablet and smartphone in the state,’ the spot proceeded.
The poker wars will no doubt be heating up for the second half of 2015 with this new coalition. a current $280 million investment in the global iPoker company’s moms and dad’s parent Amaya by PointState Capital, a hedge fund, has had many wondering if at least the much-touted PokerStars New Jersey launch may at last be imminent.
Once the operator gains a foothold back into the US market, A ca presence could become much more tenable. Perhaps it is this possibility for which Californians for Responsible iPoker is readying itself.
Slot Machines At US Army Bases Generate $100 Million
The Department of Defense operates some 3,000 slots in military bases across the world; that’s two times as many Caesars Palace. (Image: stripes.com)
Military slot machines rake in millions but none of that money goes to soldiers that are supporting gambling problems.
As such, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has demanded a report be conducted by the political Accountability Office into whether recourses are needed to help US servicemen who are battling gambling addiction.
This uses the revelation that the Department of Defense runs some 3,000 slots at US bases that are military the entire world that yield estimated annual revenues of $100 million per year.
The US Senate this adopted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act in order to pave the way for the study week.
‘If the military is going to operate gambling facilities that bring in tens of millions of dollars in income, it needs to ensure there is certainly adequate prevention, therapy, and financial guidance readily available for service people fighting gambling addictions,’ said Warren.
Problem Gambling High among Soldiers and Veterans
‘By examining the risk of issue gambling among service members and the resources currently available, this amendment is an important step that is first helping members for the military and their families who’re suffering from issue gambling,’ she added.
Regardless of the millions that slot machines bring in each to Defense Department coffers, and the millions more generated by bingo games, it has never established any form of treatment program or prevention efforts to help combat gambling problems among its servicemen and women year.
Meanwhile, studies have consistently found that members regarding the armed forces are in a greater risk of pathological gambling than the population that is general.
According to the nationwide Council on Problem Gambling, around 36,000 active-duty users of this meet that is military for a gambling issue.
A study by the University of Georgia recently reported that prices of pathological gambling and problem gambling was much higher than average among veterans, armed forces recruits and service that is current.
May Affect Military Readiness
‘Research suggests that army personnel are at risk of experiencing negative effects as a result of gambling associated issues such as for example stress from economic debts, that might have a negative impact on military readiness,’ the research said. ‘Furthermore, military and veteran populations are more prone to drug abuse, mental health issues, and suicide, every one of which are highly co-morbid with problem gambling.
‘There is a need that is clear screen military personnel and veterans for problem gambling,’ it continued. planet 7 oz bonus codes june 2018 ‘The identification of those at risk of and suffering from problem gambling provides opportunities to intervene, which could decrease the incidence and prevalence of problem gambling, too as alleviate associated negative impacts to public health.’
The study concluded that problem gambling is associated with increased risk-taking and overconfidence, while combat experiences, including experience of violent combat, killing someone, and experiencing high degrees of trauma, predicated a larger risk-taking propensity on return from deployment.
