
US Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is walking away from politics and Congress that is departing when 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 just fine with online gambling advocates.
Chaffetz’ departure is good news for on the web gambling. The Utahan is a huge leading sponsor of anti-internet gaming legislation, mainly his authoring and introducing of RAWA, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act.
Though RAWA gained little traction in Congress (despite billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s tried persuasion through campaign bucks), Chaffetz saying he’s making town is really a welcomed development to many online gamblers and casino operators that are purchased 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 email server during her time as United States 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 election that is recent.
Not About Winning
Chaffetz has made it clear that his choice has nothing to do with any concern about his possible for reelection.
‘ For those that would 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 support that is full of Ryan . . . I’ve made a personal decision,’ Chaffetz noted.
The congressman stated he’dn’t rule away a political run in the near future, prompting some to believe he could have his eyes set in the Utah governorship down the road. Sitting Republican Governor Gary Herbert’s term shall be up in 2020.
Sessions vs. States’ Rights
America is dealing with lots of critical problems domestically and around the world. That’s why online gambling legislation on the federal level doesn’t appear likely becoming a congressional target anytime quickly.
Nevertheless, concerns remain for Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey, the 3 states with legalized on line gambling, aswell as additional states which are mulling internet betting legislation. The nationwide Governors Association recently issued a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions opining that the legalization of iGaming must be kept up to states that are individual.
During Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearing, he declared he had been ‘shocked’ when the Department of Justice issued an opinion last year on 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 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 largest donor, having offered many millions to his presidential efforts.
Trump famously pledged to ‘drain the swamp’ and Washington that is rid of providing to effective 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 visited Washington this week to commemorate their Super Bowl LI name. President Donald Trump, as is customary, invited the NFL champs towards the White home following 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 to your White House this week to commemorate their Super Bowl winnings. (Image: John Tlumacki/Getty Images)
With all the Atlanta Falcons up 28-3 in the quarter that is third live in-game betting gave the Patriots small chance in hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Las Vegas sportsbooks were taking wagers 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 gave you less than one half of 1 % 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 mentor Bill Belichick, the success had been perhaps their sweetest yet.
On the actions of the South Lawn, Belichick declared, ‘We’ve had the great privilege to be here many times, but this one, the way we were treated while the opportunities to be within the Oval workplace, to meet up 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 political arena. But this the Kraft Group CEO donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee year.
Kraft said at the White House, ‘Overcoming long odds through hard work, perseverance, and a lot of importantly, mental toughness, could be the foundation of everything that is great about this nation.’
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 am aware, launched a campaign for the presidency against 16 career politicians, facing odds almost provided that we faced into the fourth quarter.’
Belichick can be a friend of Trump’s, and the advisor even had written 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’s rays ended up being 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 their 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 ended up being serving life in prison without the possibility of parole when he was found hanging in their mobile 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 was indicted week that is last a federal grand jury, accused of misuse of Social Security numbers.
‘Vegas’ Dave Oancea has hired a formidable team that is legal David Chesnoff whom helped Paul Phua overcome an illegall recreations betting rap in 2015. (Image: 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 your taxman.
But just minutes after he stood down from the dock, he was arrested by Metro Police for a warrant from a domestic battery case from July. He was released hours that are several.
‘Petty’ Move, says Lawyer
Oancea has made a title for himself as a handicapper that is successful gambler. His bet on the Kansas City Royals to win the 2015 World Series at 30-1 brought him a specific amount of celebrity in gambling circles, not to mention $2.5 million in winnings.
Because of the Kansas City Royals, he also has the methods to construct a formidable team that is legal which had been kept unimpressed by its customer’s unexpected arrest Wednesday.
‘Apparently certainly one of the IRS agents decided that they might call Metro to have him taken on the misdemeanor, although the federal judge said we’d 30 times to clear it,’ defense attorney Tom Pitaro stated, adding that his client did not know the warrant was indeed issued.
‘I been carrying this out 40 years, and I don’t think i have ever seen such pettiness as this sort of move,’ he included.
Chesnoff on the Case
Oancea may maintain a decent 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 responsible and and received six-figure fines and five years’ probation, during which time they’re prohibited from entering the united states of america.
But Phua pleaded not accountable, and with justification: he’d employed Chesnoff. Having identified some suspicious FBI surveillance practices in case, which he said amounted to an illegal search, Chesnoff got every single bit of FBI proof dumped of court, eviscerating the prosecution’s case. Phua walked, or rather he travelled house, on his private jet.
The judge within the Oancea case has set the test 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 taking a look 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 On Line Gambling Ban
Is US AG Jeff Sessions planning to ban online gambling at a level that is federal?
Rumors, first reported by Gambling Compliance, that Sessions is mostly about to make good on his promise to ‘revisit’ the DOJ’s opinion on online gambling, have been swirling since Monday.
Is talk of Jeff Session’s motives to revisit the 2011 Wire Act interpretation cause for alarm or simply 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 might be on top of the $11.2 million that Adelson reportedly gave Trump and Trump-affiliated PACs during the election.
The Washington Post recently noted that Adelson donated $20 million to a GOP super PAC called the Senate Leadership Fund last September just days prior to the Restoration of America’s Wire Act had been 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 denied this is the case.
The opinion in question had been that the Wire Act prohibited sports that are internet alone and not casino gaming or poker, and it paved the way for specific states to legalize and control these games inside their borders.
Sessions declared himself to own been ‘shocked’ by the opinion when he was quizzed about it during his AG verification.
‘Apparently, there is some reason or argument which can be made to guide the Department of Justice’s [2011] position, but i did so oppose it whenever it happened and it seemed to me personally to be unusual…’ he said.
Asked whether he’d take another appearance during the viewpoint he stated, ‘I would revisit it and I will produce a choice on it based on careful study. I haven’t gone that far to provide an opinion today.’
Ban Is Un-Trumpist
Still, a ban that is federal seem 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 numerous other countries are doing it and, like usual, the US is just missing out.’
Meanwhile, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act can be an unpopular piece of legislation because of its disregard of states rights, and the National Governors Association published to Sessions last month to carefully remind him of this.
‘As you review this issue, we encourage one to observe the current regulatory mechanisms put in place by the states to ensure that consumers and kiddies are protected, and that licensees comply with strict requirements of conduct,’ penned 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