With last week's temporary stall of New Jersey's online poker legislation due to Gov. Christie's veto to address certain security issues before re-introduction, supporters of legislating online poker in the US found positive news from Nevada and Iowa which both introduced several bills to address the issue. In the absence of federal leadership on the issue, individual states are introducing their own intrastate solutions.
In Nevada, Assembly Majority Whip William Horne introduce AB258 on Thursday calling for legalized intrastate online poker.
Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas said "“I’m hoping something like this in Majority Leader Harry Reid’s backyard serves as a further clarion call that the Federal Government needs to step up and do this first.”
It appears the driving force behind the current legislation is Rational Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., which dos business under the name PokerStars. They have influenced the language greatly to allow offshore operators free reign.“The Commission shall not deny a license to an operator of internet poker… solely because the operator… before the effective date of this act, operates, operated, or was associated with interstate or foreign commerce… while licensed in another jurisdiction.” The Nevada bill only applies to online poker and explicitly forbids sports betting, even though betting on football, basketball, and other games is legal in the desert state.
"Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, to the extent that players of Internet poker are located in jurisdictions other than this State, the licensee shall pay the license fee based on gross revenue at the rate of 4 percent on the gross revenue resulting from the play of players located in such other jurisdictions."
In a partially unrelated move, Nevada gaming authorities approved the partnership of Caesars Entertainment, which owns and operates the World Series of Poker, to partner with 888 on providing services to support European based gaming sites. It is the first time that international partnerships between land based casinos in Nevada with sites involved in online gambling.
In Iowa, less details are forthcoming, but potential legislation to establish intrastate online poker moved out of committee by a 9-6 vote headed to the full state Senate.
In Nevada, Assembly Majority Whip William Horne introduce AB258 on Thursday calling for legalized intrastate online poker.
Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas said "“I’m hoping something like this in Majority Leader Harry Reid’s backyard serves as a further clarion call that the Federal Government needs to step up and do this first.”
It appears the driving force behind the current legislation is Rational Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., which dos business under the name PokerStars. They have influenced the language greatly to allow offshore operators free reign.“The Commission shall not deny a license to an operator of internet poker… solely because the operator… before the effective date of this act, operates, operated, or was associated with interstate or foreign commerce… while licensed in another jurisdiction.” The Nevada bill only applies to online poker and explicitly forbids sports betting, even though betting on football, basketball, and other games is legal in the desert state.
"Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, to the extent that players of Internet poker are located in jurisdictions other than this State, the licensee shall pay the license fee based on gross revenue at the rate of 4 percent on the gross revenue resulting from the play of players located in such other jurisdictions."
In a partially unrelated move, Nevada gaming authorities approved the partnership of Caesars Entertainment, which owns and operates the World Series of Poker, to partner with 888 on providing services to support European based gaming sites. It is the first time that international partnerships between land based casinos in Nevada with sites involved in online gambling.
In Iowa, less details are forthcoming, but potential legislation to establish intrastate online poker moved out of committee by a 9-6 vote headed to the full state Senate.
