Online poker and other forms of gambling were illegal in the United States in 2011. Similar laws were in force in multiple European and Asian countries around the world as well, yet Hollywood movies are promoted, shipped to, and viewed in every corner of the globe. And yet even so, Hollywood barely matched a mere 20% of the amount of income created by online wagering and gambling in 2011 in South America alone. Hollywood movies grossed a little under $26 billion worldwide in 2011, but online gaming in poker rooms, casinos, bingo halls and sportsbooks in just South America totaled more than $124 billion.
Month: August 2012
October Online Poker Possible in Nevada
After becoming the first state in the US to legalize online poker after the Department of Justice changed their tune regarding its legalities in December of 2011, online poker enthusiasts have wondered ever since when Nevada will virtually shuffle up and deal for the first time. On the manufacturing side of the equation, Bally Technologies, International Game Technology and Shuffle Master have all been granted online interactive gaming licenses in that state, and earlier predictions this year showed mid-2013 as the earliest date that actual play would transpire. But recent proceedings and developments, coupled with the fact that Nevada desperately wants to become the first state to offer legalized online poker in the US since the friendlier DOJ legislation was adopted, means that the online poker community may see Nevada Internet poker as early as October of this year.
California Web Poker 2012 Deadline Is August 31
With such an incredibly rich history of offering legalized poker play in brick-and-mortar poker rooms around the state, as well as far and away the largest population to draw from for a potential player pool, coupled with crushing debt problems, you would think that online poker legislation in California would pass with flying colors. Unfortunately, that is not the case. California is probably also the only state in the US which could entirely act as a single entity, without having to make multistate deals because their player pool is potentially so large. Many smaller states will have to make multistate partnerships to be able to finance an online poker experience for their citizens and visitors.
Maryland Next Up For US Online Poker
Delaware and Nevada are already in, and New Jersey is knocking on the door. What are we referring to? Online poker in the United States of course. With the US Department of Justice now allowing the individual states in the US to declare their online poker destiny, Nevada and Delaware have quickly moved to legalize online poker. Delaware has gone further and legalized betting on NFL football games as well as a full slate of online casino wagering. New Jersey appears to be closer than the other US states in the race to become the third to adopt online poker legislation, and Marilyn wants to do something about that.
Tribal Officials Wary as US Online Poker Pushes for Federal Approval
Indian tribes have had a brick-and-mortar lock-down monopoly on legalized casino gambling and poker in many states for many years now. So you can certainly understand why tribal officials currently benefiting from being the only game in town are concerned that legalized online poker in the United States will drastically hurt their business. After all, if the federal government in the United States adopts a pro-online poker policy and passes legislation to that end, the same person who used to have to make a special trip to a physical Indian tribal casino can now fire up their laptop, smartphone or home computer and play wherever they like, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without leaving their home.
Nevada Game Developer Betting on Internet Gambling Jackpot
With Delaware and Nevada both now preparing to offer online poker legally for the first time in the United States, companies are lining up to try to get a piece of the billion-dollar online gambling pie. 3G Studios is one such game developer based in Reno, Nevada and they are betting heavily that online gambling will be more than a passing fancy in the United States and abroad. They are a privately held company who recently hired more than 75 contractors in China and India, and stateside they have 47 US employees.