Author Jennifer Newell's poker week in review March 18-24: news on Nevada and Delaware's iGaming plans, Party Poker's move to #2 in online traffic, PokerStars growing US presence, Bitcoin guidelines issued and a legislation round-up.

Poker to the Point: Week ending March 24

Our consolidation of the week's news is quick and to the point, seven of them to be exact. Let's go.

#1 - Nevada Increases Momentum in iGaming Growth

The state of Nevada is quickly gearing up for more movement in the iGaming world, first with the advancement of its interstate compact regulations. The bill was signed into law in February to allow Nevada's governor to enter into state-to-state compacts regarding online gambling, but the Nevada Gaming Commission is admittedly in need of input to draft the framework. A request has been posted on its website seeking comments from licensees and anyone else with a legal background in that area of expertise. The deadline for suggestions is April 12.

The NGC was also busy this week with more licensing applications. Interactive gaming licenses were on the line for 888 Holdings and Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, and the Commission did grant those licenses this week. There are now 21 approved interactive gaming licenses approved in Nevada.

#2 - Even More US States Examine iGaming

A Washington State lawmaker failed earlier this year in an attempt to decriminalize online poker. However, a poker player is taking up the cause in a different way. Curtis Woodard is creating two ballot initiatives that he will use to drum up public support. Through the obtaining of 300,000 signatures, he hopes to get the proposals on the November 2014 general election ballot. The Internet Poker Player Decriminalization Act of 2014 looks to reverse the 2006 law that makes online poker a felony. The Washington State Internet Poker Act of 2014 will legalize online poker in order for the state to regulate it and compete with other states in America.

Kentucky has decided to move very slowly toward online gaming. The Kentucky Lottery Board approved keno and Internet lottery for the state, which will help a serious revenue problem for the state. The movement of those games online may take some time, but the hope is to then move to online scratch-off tickets. A fully-developed online offering of those two games could bring in $85 million annually to Kentucky.

#3 - Delaware Moves Forward in iGaming Process

The first state to legalize online gaming in the United States has been slow to move forward, but recent jumps by Nevada and New Jersey have prompted Delaware to accelerate the process. The deadline to accept proposals for online gambling services ended last week, and there were 14 companies that properly filed requests to provide iGaming to Delaware. PokerStars was among those companies, as were 888, Amaya Gaming, SHFL Entertainment, IGT, Stan James, and Continent 8 Technologies.

The Delaware Lottery Assistant Director also revealed that they hope to have online poker ready to launch on September 30, 2013.

#4 - PokerStars Plans Larger US Presence

PokerStars parent company, PokerStars, revealed more of its intentions in the United States over the past week, via the Atlantic Club Hotel and Casino's COO. He noted that PokerStars plans to invest more than $40 million into the property if the acquisition is approved by the state of New Jersey, and the process will begin with $20 million in the first year and similar spending over the five years to follow. Some of the funds will go toward online gaming servers in order to participate in the New Jersey online gaming community.

Even further, Rational Group is seeking other investments in New Jersey to invest further in Atlantic City and establish a solid American presence with a commitment to again serving American customers.

#5 - PartyPoker Grows, Prepares for More Changes

While Full Tilt Poker has been steadily losing ground in second place among online poker websites with regard to traffic, PartyPoker has been rising in popularity. Over the past week, it became apparent that PartyPoker was in a solid second place behind PokerStars, while Full Tilt Poker fell to fourth place in the rankings. Though iPoker is in third and gaining some ground on PartyPoker, the latter looks to solidify its position in the coming months.

Recently, PartyPoker made the change to segregate players, with stronger players kept away from newer or less successful players. PartyPoker wasn't the first to implement such a policy, and though it upset some of the higher states players, the company chose to pursue the ring-fencing. In addition, PartyPoker ended one aspect of its VIP policy aimed at higher stakes players and plans to launch new software in the first half of 2013. The software will focus more on recreational players and the integration of social media. This has been touted as the revitalization of the PartyPoker brand.

#6 - UK Leads Process of Updating iGaming Laws in Europe

The United Kingdom is leading the way in terms of updating Internet gaming laws in the European Union. Despite controversy surrounding the proposed Place of Consumption tax, the UK is moving forward with the process of implementation, which is now ahead of schedule. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced that the tax could be in place by April 2014 but no later than October, instead of the originally-planned December 2014. The country's Office of Budgetary Responsibility also released an estimate of future gaming revenue based on the POC tax and noted that it could bring in more than £1 billion over the next three years.

Gibraltar's MEP, Ashley Fox, was outspoken over the last week about decreasing state monopolies throughout Europe and creating more of a general iGaming framework amongst the countries. He called for member states to consider expanding businesses across the European Union instead of continuing to keep the online gaming industry fragmented. Most countries have not yet been open to the idea, but individual markets like France, Spain, and Italy are feeling the negative effects of limiting their reach.

#7 - Bitcoin Addressed by US Laws

The topic of Bitcoin usage in place of money in the United States has been a hot topic, especially in an attempt to increase online gaming in spite of the slow legal process in America to do the same. In order to keep Bitcoin promoters from exploiting an unregulated market, the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a division of the Treasure Department, issued guidelines specific to Bitcoin. Dealers have now been advised to comply with the rules of anti-money laundering regulations, meaning that the dealers must register as Money Services Businesses with the Treasury. Users are exempt from registration, but Bitcoin processors are now being monitored by the government for compliance.

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