Online Poker Bill Up For Vote in February
The Poker Player’s Alliance is hoping to help Representative Barney Frank push a bill through the House of Representatives. They hope to establish real regulation for online poker rooms that will be taxed by the United States government and will be fully legal for US players.
John Pappas, President of the Alliance said, “We expect within a few short weeks, most likely in the month of February, there will be a committee vote on this legislation. This is a very critical and important for vote for the Poker Players Alliance, as well as the poker community, and we need everyone to step up and make sure that their voices are heard.”
It’s not only a bi-partisan matter, either. Different states have differing interests. For example, New Jersey and Nevada have large gaming industries in-state and have an interest in keeping as much gambling as possible within the state. New Jersey has even gone so far as to try to push through a bill to allow intrastate online poker. Other states, including California and Florida, have also considered similar bills which would allow the states to collect state taxes. Those states would also have an interest in keeping online poker illegal on the national level.
Other states, including Utah, have moral objections to legalization. Many, of course, worry about the increase in problem gamblers. Of course, many are more practical-minded, realizing that many Americans currently play poker and other gambling games online and legalization would allow regulation and taxation, which would benefit both those who currently play and the country as a whole.
Of course, if online poker were to be legalized in the United States, then American players could hope to be able to see easier deposits and withdrawals and the return of sites like PokerStars to the American arena.
