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Las Vegas club's Web ties investigated
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada regulators are investigating the relationship between an Internet betting site and a September poker tournament scheduled at the Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas.
Advertisements in national poker magazines circulated in Nevada card rooms say the online poker site, ultimatebet.com, is charging customers $15 or $30 apiece to compete in small, Internet card tournaments.
Winners of the events receive buy-ins to the 4 Queens Poker Classic, a tournament slated for Sept. 5-23 at the downtown casino.
State Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said he's troubled that a Nevada casino has ties to a Web betting site, especially at a time when state law prohibits people from online betting within Nevada's borders.
"I'm concerned about the link," Neilander said, noting that the board has tried to ensure that Nevada-licensed casinos aren't involved with Web gambling sites that take bets from players in the United States.
Cory Aronovitz, a Chicago lawyer representing UltimateBet, denied there is any link between the Web site and the Las Vegas casino. Aronovitz declined to name the investors in the Web site, which is regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Quebec.
"There is no affiliation between UltimateBet and the Four Queens," Aronovitz said.
The U.S. Justice Department has considered online betting to be illegal from within U.S. borders because of a 40-year-old federal law prohibiting sports betting over phone lines.
Four Queens' executive director of marketing, Doug Hoppe, said Wednesday that tournament producer Bonnie Damiano hadn't advised him of the UltimateBet satellite tournaments.
"This is the first I've heard of this," Hoppe said. "This is something she's done on her own."
Hoppe said the casino has a contract with Damiano's company, ECC Services, to run the tournament at Four Queens.
"The Four Queens will abide by all state rules and regulations," Hoppe added. "If UltimateBet is not allowed to conduct satellite tournaments we'll take whatever steps are necessary to remain in compliance with those rules."
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada regulators are investigating the relationship between an Internet betting site and a September poker tournament scheduled at the Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas.
Advertisements in national poker magazines circulated in Nevada card rooms say the online poker site, ultimatebet.com, is charging customers $15 or $30 apiece to compete in small, Internet card tournaments.
Winners of the events receive buy-ins to the 4 Queens Poker Classic, a tournament slated for Sept. 5-23 at the downtown casino.
State Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said he's troubled that a Nevada casino has ties to a Web betting site, especially at a time when state law prohibits people from online betting within Nevada's borders.
"I'm concerned about the link," Neilander said, noting that the board has tried to ensure that Nevada-licensed casinos aren't involved with Web gambling sites that take bets from players in the United States.
Cory Aronovitz, a Chicago lawyer representing UltimateBet, denied there is any link between the Web site and the Las Vegas casino. Aronovitz declined to name the investors in the Web site, which is regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Quebec.
"There is no affiliation between UltimateBet and the Four Queens," Aronovitz said.
The U.S. Justice Department has considered online betting to be illegal from within U.S. borders because of a 40-year-old federal law prohibiting sports betting over phone lines.
Four Queens' executive director of marketing, Doug Hoppe, said Wednesday that tournament producer Bonnie Damiano hadn't advised him of the UltimateBet satellite tournaments.
"This is the first I've heard of this," Hoppe said. "This is something she's done on her own."
Hoppe said the casino has a contract with Damiano's company, ECC Services, to run the tournament at Four Queens.
"The Four Queens will abide by all state rules and regulations," Hoppe added. "If UltimateBet is not allowed to conduct satellite tournaments we'll take whatever steps are necessary to remain in compliance with those rules."