First, a quick chronological breakdown of the evolution of online poker and online gambling in the United States the past couple of years. Up until late last year, it was illegal for American-based companies to offer online poker and online casinos to American residents. In December the US Department of Justice reversed their decision regarding online lottery ticket sales and online poker. They dictated that interactive gaming could legally be policed at the individual state level. Since then Nevada and Delaware have both passed a legislative package allowing online poker and online gambling respectively.
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US States Ignore Federal Delays With Their Own Online Gambling Regulation
In what many industry analysts saw as one of the best opportunities for a federal online gambling legislation package, the 2012 lame duck session has come and gone in the US. After the ruling by the United States Department of Justice in late 2011 that many forms of online gambling were no longer considered illegal, the door was open for a follow-up announcement of a federal interactive online gaming package. That never occurred, and with the election and fiscal cliff doom and gloom hanging over American’s heads, federal passage of online gaming legislation in the United States was pushed to the back burner.
Interstate Online Gaming Bill Hits Nevada Legislature
Thanks to the Department of Justice changing their long-held opinion regarding online gambling in the United States, each individual state can decide their own online gambling destiny. Since that changed late last year, both Nevada and Delaware have passed legislation which allows online gambling for residents and visitors when located in those state boundaries. A recent interactive gaming bill just hit the Nevada legislative branch that, if passed, would allow for players in other states to enjoy online poker and other online gaming options offered by the Silver State.
NJ Senate Says OK to Online Gambling – Governor Christie’s Turn Once Again
New Jersey online gambling proponents are holding their breath. In 2011 a legislative package which would legalize online casino gambling in New Jersey passed through the State Assembly by nearly a 6 to 1 margin. The Internet interactive gaming bill was then easily approved by the state Senate, and needed only to receive Governor Christie’s okay and signature to make the Garden State the first US state at that time to legalize an online gambling package. It didn’t happen.
Iowa Regulators Ready to OK Online Poker in Hawkeye State
With the Fiscal Cliff plunge a near economic reality in the United States, individual states are looking to add much needed revenue to their coffers. Rather than hope and pray that the federal level of legislators will contain the impending economic doom that appears close to inevitable, states like New Jersey and California are edging …
NJ Assembly Says Yes to Online Gambling Bill
Just last year the New Jersey State Assembly okayed an online gaming legislation package by a nearly 6 to 1 margin. The assembly approved passage with a vote of 63 to 11, but that was still not enough to convince Governor Christie that online gambling was right for his state. He vetoed that legislation, and pro-internet gambling lawmakers were forced back to the drawing board. A revised package recently made its way to the Assembly, and on Monday, December 17, that online gaming bill received an early holiday present when it was okayed by a vote of 48 for, 25 against and 3 uncommitted votes.
Poker Stars Positioning For Online Poker In New Jersey Casino
Is Poker Stars positioning themselves for online poker in the Garden State? US gambling laws currently allow for the individual states in the US to adopt whatever form of online poker legislation they agree upon. But since the change in the Department of Justice opinion came last December, only Delaware and Nevada have decided to legalize online poker play for their residents and travelers located in their state boundaries. While Poker Stars currently enjoys a favorable status with the DOJ, it appears they are making the move into the off-line poker community in New Jersey with their eyes on offering online poker in the near future.
Can Online Poker Stop US from Plummeting off Fiscal Cliff?
If you live in the United States, you have no doubt heard about the impending “Fiscal Cliff” from which we are about to plummet in 2013. Let me be straightforward here, I am in no way discounting our current problematic economic situation in the United States. But it seems like all we have heard about lately is the impending fiscal cliff from which our currently unstable economic situation will fall if our lame-duck Congress doesn’t take drastic measures before the end of this year. Why are we discussing this in an online poker blog? Because online poker very well could prove to be the much-needed brakes that keep the United States economic vehicle from crashing.
Nevada Brick-and-Mortar Casinos Apply for Virtual Poker Licenses
During this wonderful holiday season, Americans generally take a moment to reflect on the past year and count their blessings. Online poker players in Nevada, as well as travelers to The Silver State, can be thankful that Nevada was the first state to pass online poker legislation in the United States this year. Delaware is the only other state to follow up on the United States Department of Justice allowance that each individual state choose their online poker destiny, but it appears Nevada is the clear front runner to officially shuffle up and deal online with the legal blessing of the United States government. Currently 12 operators have been approved for online interactive gaming licenses in Nevada, but the list of applicants continues to grow.
Lame-Duck Session in Congress Good or Bad for Online Poker
Is the possible passage of gambling laws in the United States more favorable or less favorable now that Congress is in a lame-duck session? With the inability of Congress to agree on just about anything, it is hard to envision any situation that would guarantee a clear-cut legislative victory which would allow Internet gambling in the United States. But whether you voted for him or not, Obama’s reelection actually speaks volumes for the possibilities of getting some nationwide gambling laws passed before Congress reconvenes in 2013, possibly in 2012.