Could this be the year for a Federal Bill on online gaming?

October 20, 2011 - Change may be in the air for the US Congress when it comes to online gaming.

There are at least two proposals before Congress:  The first, H.R. 1174, would give the federal government the power and authority to allow the licensing of Internet casino games and poker. The second, H.R. 2366, would delegate most power and authority to state and tribal regulators, and allow the licensing of Internet poker only.

During the last Congress, the House saw only one proposal, which was similar to H.R. 1174. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, was sent to the floor of the House after the House Financial Services Committee approved it 41-22, but a vote on the floor never occurred.

One sign that Congress members may be seriously considering the legislation this time around is a letter sent from key U.S. Senators to Attorney General Eric Holder this past summer. The letter, cosigned by Arizona's notoriously anti-gaming Senator Jon Kyl and Nevada's notoriously pro-gaming Senator and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, asked Holder and the Department of Justice to aggressively pursue those offering illegal Internet gambling in the United States.

The letter also requests that Holder "reiterate the Department's longstanding position that federal law prohibits gambling over the Internet, including intra-state gambling (e.g., lotteries)." The Senators do not address the intrastate Internet exception Congress included in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

While the letter could be interpreted as an indication that any form of Internet gaming is not likely to occur before the November 2012 national elections, it might also be seen as an indication that the federal government is getting ready to take action before states decide to pass their own intrastate legislation.

Venture Bets On Online Gambling Future

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Whats Next For Online Poker Players?

According to the Poker Players Alliance, there are 50,000 professional poker players now looking for jobs as a result of the shutdown. Not surprisingly, some are talking about moving overseas, where online poker is legal, in order to earn their living. Since studies have shown that many online poker players are young without families of their own and can therefore move more easily, there is reason to believe that at least some players will follow through on this. The PokerStars Q&A section has even addressed this topic, advising players that their accounts will be reactivated if they can provide proof of residency outside the United States. However, players must permanently relocate in order to play. American players merely traveling outside of the United States are not permitted to play from abroad.

After the shutdown, poker players do have other options available to play. However, `none is as secure and convenient as the affected websites which had earned such trust and massive player followings. Players hope for the return of those sites even as the government pushes them toward riskier options.

Read the full article here 

Bill Brewing to Legalize Internet Poker

June 21, 2011

If Rep. Joe Barton had his way, it would be legal for Americans to bet money on online poker.

The Texas Republican, senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and an avid poker player, is readying a bill that would legalize online poker and create a new federal regulatory agency to oversee the websites.

But Barton isn't the only lawmaker pushing the issue on the federal level. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., will reintroduce legislation to tax licensed Internet gaming in the United States. His measure is a companion to legislation introduced by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., that would legalize and regulate online gambling.

"Legalizing, regulating and taxing Internet gambling just makes sense," McDermott said. "Right now, the U.S. loses billion of dollars to off-shore gambling and illegal gambling rings because of an unrealistic and virtually unenforceable policy."

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

EU Court of Justice rules that national gambling monopolies must be regulated in a consistent and systematic manner and that sanctions cannot discriminate between local and international providers

The ECJ confirmed in all cases its case law that EU member states have wide discretion to regulate their local markets by means of monopolies and to protect their citizens against risks associated with games of chance. As a consequence, they are not obliged to recognize licenses for the provision of games of chance granted by other member states. However, if they regulate games of chance by means of granting monopolies, they must do so in a manner proportionate to the public policy objectives pursued and in a non-discriminatory fashion.