Washington, DC (January 26, 2011) - The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide and more than 10,000 in South Carolina, today praised the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee's 15-6 vote on Tuesday to advance S. 254 a bill legalizing games of poker in people's homes to the Senate floor. The bill would replace an anti-gambling law established in 1802 which banned any games with cards or dice.

The Florida Senate voted last Friday to advance a bill that would go beyond Governor Charlie Crist’s compact with Seminole casinos, bringing expanded gambling to both racinos and tribal gaming venues. The new bill would continue allowing blackjack at the Seminole casinos, but would also raise poker limits, provide blackjack at existing racinos, and give the tribe roulette and craps.

Pierre, South Dakota - A proposed constitutional amendment that could lead to a huge casino in Sioux Falls was approved Wednesday by a South Dakota Senate Committee. The measure's main sponsor, Senate Democratic Leader Scott Heidepriem of Sioux Falls, said SJ1 is not aimed at building a Sioux Falls casino but is intended to be a threat to prevent construction of a casino in Larchwood, Iowa, only a few miles from Sioux Falls.

Commission of Constitution, Justice and Citizenship (CCJ) approved last week the bill presented by senator Jarbas Vasconcelos (PMDB-PE), who criminalizes games of chance operation, including traditional “juego del bicho”and electronic games. The proposal (PLS 274/06) withdraws the games of chance operators from the Law of Penal Violation (Decree-Law 3.688/41) to insert it in the Penal Code (Decreree-Law nº 2.848/40).

Holland has cleared a proposed taxation bill that would allow the Dutch Government to tax games of chance such as blackjack and online craps. The government would also be able to tax those companies for whom the Dutch have prosecuted or attempted to prosecute. There is also a provision that would allow Holland to tax foreign customers.

Despite objections from religious conservatives, Florida’s Senate voted to allow slot machines at ever race track and jai-alai fronton across the state. The bill permits “electronic gaming machines” similar to bingo-like slot machines. The measure would generate up to USD 500 million, all of which would go to public schools. The bill (SB 1380) would allow dog and horse track operators as well as jai- alai frontons to offer video slot machines...

The Senate today approved a bill that would limit casinos to the counties where they are already operating. Senate Bill 2199 passed 36-14. “After 15 or 16 years of legalized gaming, every county along the (Mississippi) river or the coast has had ample opportunity to approve it,” said Sen. Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, principle author of the bill.

The Senate approved this week a bill that authorizes the opening of an international tender process for the casino operation of Carrasco Hotel Casino. The debate was intense and the opposition remarked that it is a “historical contradition” from the left wing, which now boosts privatizations, something that was against their own ideas. Besides, legislator Jorge Gandini, from Partido Blanco, said he was afraid that this tender is “customized, as part of a series of irregularities in local casinos”.

In order to try and churn out more revenue to provide for a USD 13 billion construction program, the Illinois Senate approved three separate casinos to be built in the state. The expansion was passed with a 37-15 vote in the Senate and will be sent to the House for further deliberation. "Right now, this is about the best option we have to try and provide money for our many projects we have throughout the state," Sen. David Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said.

Only the signature of President George Maxwell Richards remains for the Finance Bill that will ban slot machines to become law, as it was passed in the Senate after midnight yesterday. Among its many measures, the bill is meant to amend the Gambling and Betting Act that will phase out slot machines which are used in casinos and private members clubs.

Harrisburg - The Senate approved a statewide smoking ban with an amendment that carves out exemptions for smaller liquor licensees, private clubs and 25 percent of the casino gaming floor space where slot machines are located. It is expected to cast a final vote today on the legislation sponsored by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery. The House is poised to consider a smoking ban bill sponsored by Rep. Michael Gerber, D-Montgomery.

Trenton, New Jersey - More than a year after New Jersey's wide-reaching public smoking ban went into effect, the state Senate voted Thursday to close its biggest loophole, which allows smoking in Atlantic City's casinos. The Senate voted 35-0 to eliminate the exemption that allows gamblers to light up in casinos and horse race simulcasting facilities. The Assembly has yet to consider the bill.