On October 23, 2013, the Innovation Law of 2013 was introduced by Bob Goodlatte, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. This law aims to combat patent trolls, individuals or companies who purchase patents solely to later sue other companies for patent infringement. Patent trolls often target software patents, which has had a detrimental impact on the online gaming industry. Geoff Freeman, the president of the AGA and the CEP, commended Goodlatte for his efforts to prevent "the abuse of patent purchasing." It is estimated that patent trolls cost the United States $29 billion in 2011, reflecting a 400% increase in losses since 2005. The Innovation Law will significantly reduce this number for the United States.
New Jersey Gears Up for Betting!
On October 23rd, Trump Plaza revealed its collaboration with a UK-based online gambling company, Betfair, to provide casino games now that they are being legalized. Betfair boasts approximately 4 million registered users and owns TVG, a platform provider for 4NJBets. The latter will serve as a horse racing betting platform exclusively for New Jersey residents.
With the release date just a few weeks away, Betfair has kickstarted an advertising campaign to excite gamers about playing online in New Jersey, while also aiming to collect consumers' email addresses.
Betfair has yet to receive official approval to launch its website in New Jersey. The company is simply awaiting the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement's review. Naturally, it is anticipated that the approval will arrive before the scheduled launch date of November 26, 2013.
Don't Wait for Pennsylvania
While neighboring states Delaware and New Jersey have plans to launch online gambling by the end of October and November respectively, Pennsylvania is not eager to follow in their footsteps. William H. Ryan Junior, the President of Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, has clearly stated that legalization is not currently a priority for the state. However, there are certain factions advocating for legislation to legalize games of chance. The hope is that such games will boost state revenue, as a percentage of the profits will flow into the state coffers.
Ryan added that perhaps Delaware is waiting to see how the state of New Jersey implements the law and also to assess the potential profit that will arise from the legalization of online gambling.
Delaware Releases the Data.
While New Jersey has been receiving the majority of media attention regarding the legalization of online gambling, the state of Delaware has also passed legislation to legalize online gambling, with its launch planned to precede New Jersey's. Despite the focus on New Jersey, it should not overshadow the fact that Delaware has taken significant steps in the realm of online gambling and is poised to make its mark in the industry. The attention may be on the Garden State, but the First State is not far behind in embracing this new frontier of entertainment.
The anticipated launch date for Delaware is set for October 31st, as Delaware authorities are determined to proceed with this date. However, they have also made it clear that most games will not be available. Even though the game is set to go live on October 31st, it will still take a few days for the desired game offerings to be made available.
