Gambling industry analysts expect the United States online gambling marketplace to reach $10 billion in annual sales as early as 2017. That estimate comes in spite of the fact that no state in the US has yet to actually offer any form of legalized online gambling since the Department of Justice changed their stance on the legalities of gambling online. Nevada and Delaware have each legalized online poker and a full slate of online gambling offerings respectively since that the DOJ flip-flop, but both states are still in the approval and licensing process currently. But that has not stopped major US casino operations from rushing to understand and fully embrace Internet gaming.
Year: 2012
Maryland Legalizes Online Fantasy Sports Wagering
In the first step towards passing legislation that would legalize online poker like the state of Nevada, or a full cadre of online wagering like Delaware, Maryland on October 1 legalized online fantasy sports wagering. Maryland’s about face on the issue came about as a way to clear the air on what was currently a very uncertain and confusing state of affairs regarding popular fantasy sports played online for money in The Old Line State. Federal legislation seems to allow for online fantasy sports betting, but in the past Maryland has ruled the practice as illegal, while turning a blind eye on participants.
Northern Nevada Future Bigwig of US Online Casino Games
Sometime in the next couple of months, the Reno based software developer 3G Studios will debut their online poker site. They recently launched their SlotALot.com online slots room, and just became the first video game company to apply for an online poker license in the United States. And until Nevada works out all the kinks in their online poker infrastructure, the up-and-coming software and video game developer will have to be happy with allowing players to gamble with free tokens. But that is still an incredibly lucrative undertaking, as virtual gambling with fake money or tokens created $2.4 billion in 2011.
First Ever Online Poker License Granted – 3 New Licenses
With now close to 40 companies having applied for online interactive gaming licenses in Nevada, three new companies came one step closer to benefiting from Nevada’s “first-ever” online poker status in the United States by receiving an approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday, September 18. Companies must first receive a go-ahead from the State Gaming Control Board after an intense vetting process, then the voting moves on to the Nevada Gaming Commission, and three new companies received the most recent thumbs up approval in last week’s round of voting. Nevada was the first state to pass online intrastate poker legislation since the United States Department of Justice passed that responsibility to the state level in December of last year.
Proposed US Online Gambling Bill Specifics Revealed Publicly
As reported by the Las Vegas Review Journal (LVRJ) online this week, the details of a proposed national online gaming and gambling bill are now a matter of public record. While the bill has been tweaked and reworked on several occasions to garner more support, this is the first time that bill specifics have been released. LVRJ reporter Steve Tetreault first revealed the release of the bill’s outlines on the 14th, and recently updated the information on Monday, 17 September. Several key senators have attempted to reshape online wagering by legalizing poker over the Internet but outlawing most other forms of Internet gambling. That is the summation of the details that were “leaked” to the World Wide Web in the four-page document that spell out important details of the current bill.
California Senator Wright Continues Online Poker Fight
Between native Indian tribes with a virtual monopoly on poker revenue and a rapidly ticking timer which continues to rule out 2012 as a possibility for legalized online poker play in the state, California’s poker proponents are stuck between a clock and a hard place. However, one of the senators who authored the current online poker bill which awaits approval or rejection is not about to give up without a fight. Senator Rod Wright co-authored online intrastate poker Bill SB 1463 with state Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, and it currently stands against heavy opposition from Native American groups in California, as well as financial skeptics concerning online poker’s fiduciary promises.
California Internet Poker – A Hard to Kill Topic
A proposed Internet poker bill for California has died in committee at the end of August, but it seems the topic of Internet poker in the Golden State is proving hard to kill. Even with the Republican National Committee staunchly announcing their stance that online poker and other forms of gambling in the United States be deemed illegal in all forms, many leaders in California’s gaming industry persist in keeping Internet poker alive in the minds of prospective players and legislators. In a recent interview with Card Player magazine, a source close to the California Internet poker legislative situation, speaking on a condition of anonymity, said that the top players in that state’s gaming industry have vowed to keep Internet poker front and center in the eyes of both California’s residents and their legislators.
Online Gambling Crushed Hollywood Receipts in 2011
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.
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.