Will America Re-Open its Doors to the Online Poker Community?

Speculations and rumours have been rife in the last year over whether or not the American market will finally re-open after closing its door to online gambling following UIEGA in 2006. We have gathered some of the experts present at the iGaming Super Show to expand on whether there is any truth to the rumours: 

“Most knowledgeable experts believe that Harry Reid, the Senates Majority Leader, and representative for Nevada (La Vegas) will soon introduce a bill which will legalise and regulate online poker” Joseph M. Kelly, Ph.D., J.D., Professor of Business Law at State College at Buffalo and speaker at the iGaming Super Show stated “This will be separate from the current bill that currently exist in the house of Representative. Although what this Senator Reid bill encompasses is still at this stage only pure conjuncture, we are certainly witnessing a very interesting time in the regulation of online gambling in the US on a federal level”

However it’s not just the federal government which seems to have picked-up its pace on regulation. With only six states in America not facing budget shortfalls in 2011, many state policy-makers are faced with exploring options that would bring regulated internet gambling to their jurisdictions in the absence of federal movement. An industry which would generate new revenues and create new jobs would be welcomed by states such as California, New Jersey, Florida and Iowa, who would be looking to back out of their budget deficit.

"Florida has just passed the first piece of legislation in the US which recognizes the inevitable regulation of the online gaming market and California is only weeks away from the introduction of an intrastate online poker regulation bill.” Melanie Brenner, President of Poker Voters of America confirmed “Poker Voters has been heavily involved in both states and worked closely with legislative leadership to help develop clear and fair regulation.  With New Jersey, Iowa, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and other states taking a hard look at online gaming regulation as a good way to fill the gaps in budget shortfalls, the odds are pretty high that something is going to happen on an intrastate basis first."

And if Poker paves the way, will casino and the rest of the online gambling industry rush through the floodgates? Melanie Brenner will be joined by Joe Brennan Jr, Chairman of the iMEGA and Martin Owens, Attorney-in-law, on a panel discussion on The Progress of State Legislation in America on Thursday 27th of May, back to back with Joseph M. Kelly who will be presenting on The Progress of Federal iGaming Legislation. A full schedule can be found on www.igamingsupershow.com and attendance is completely free for all delegates in the iGaming Industry.