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Nevada Mulls Online Poker

Posted on March 13th, 2011

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The largest gambling destination in the United States has joined in on the frenzy to legalize online gambing. This comes after Nevada Assembly Majority Whip William Horne proposed AB258 on Thursday calling for the legalization of online poker. Much like legislation in other states, and in compliance to federal laws prohibiting online gambling from spilling beyond a state’s borders, the proposal will seek to authorize and regulate online poker within Nevada alone. Other states are already deep into the action with Iowa, Florida, and California in various stages of bill review. New Jersey, whose House of Representatives moved the fastest with its own version of online gambling, hit a snag when it was vetoed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

The Poker Players Alliance backed the Nevada proposal. Executive John Pappas through the Wall Street Journal 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.” The Poker Players Alliance is in league with Caesars Entertainment Inc., owners and operators of the Caesars, Horseshoe, and Harrah casino brands to build a nationwide online poker network instead of offering it piecemeal from state to state. Adds the Wall Street Journal, “The lobbying force behind the Nevada bill is Rational Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., which does business under the name PokerStars. Based in Britain’s Isle of Man, it runs gambling sites the U.S. considers illegal.” The definition of illegal, however, remains up for grabs. There is little enforcement in laws that prohibit online gambling. In Iowa alone, an estimated 150,000 players take to the internet to play online poker.

There is also no denying the support from PokerStars. An initial review of the bill seems to suggest that it specifically tailored to established online poker sites that are not sanctioned in the U.S. The bill explicit says this of existing gambling sites, “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.” PokerStars is based in The Isle of Man while FullTilt conducts its operations out of Ireland.

A key aspect of the bill is that it limits legalization to online poker only, choosing to not include sports betting even if it is currently already an acceptable venture in Las Vegas. The bill would also allow government officials to find suitable compacts that they can enter to “with other jurisdictions that allow internet gaming” although this is limited to online poker alone. The bill also provides that “The Commission may issue a license as an operator of internet poker to a person or an affiliate of a person who has been licensed to operate internet poker by a recognized body of another jurisdiction with licensing requirements that are similar to the licensing requirements of this state and who has successfully operated internet poker pursuant to such a license for at least two years before the date on which the application for the license is submitted,”

As of Thursday, Caesars Entertainment, operators of the world-famous World Series of Poker brand will look to partner with 888’s Dragonfish to help Caesars “provide services to support the U.K. launch and rollout of CIE’s World Series of Poker and Caesars Casino brands.” Much like New Jersey, Nevada also has provisions that could lead to a constitutional challenge that will eventually require a referendum. A critical concern remains in that online gambling, especially as it is worded in the Nevada proposal, will allow offshore companies to gain access into the U.S. Markets, which can create a very significant competition for local casinos, both online casinos and traditional brick and mortar ones.

Whether Las Vegas does better than New Jersey remains to be seen. Nevada has always been at the forefront of gambling innovations. It could very well be that Nevada will be the first domino to fall in terms of legalizing online. As of the moment, opponents and supporters of the bill are poised to throw in their opposition or support for and against the bill.