Poker Law Update
Introduction
Just over a week ago the poker blogosphere was awash with excited comments about Barney Frank’s Bill to license and regulate internet poker finally being approved. Alas, but if you were thinking “alleluia” and “about time too” – well sorry, but again the state of play regarding the legality of playing online poker is yet again back in limbo.
Some progress made
It is true and fair to say that last week the Barney Frank Bill did make some progress through the House of Representatives, but the speed of that progress is truly glacial. One report that I read last week boldly stated that the Barney Frank Bill had been “voted on and approved by the senate”. Now whilst that statement was true, some further digging reveals that unfortunately it does not tell the whole story, so you still can’t be that fully 100% sure that the law won’t come knocking on your door if you start betting in your favorite online poker cash game - even in the privacy of your own home! The reason is that – yes, the Bill was voted on and did secure enough votes to be passed (approved if you will) but the vote only referred to it passing through the committee stage, of the House Financial Services Committee. Sadly even that doesn’t mean it will now be voted on by the House as Jim McDermott’s separate Bill to tax internet gambling is stuck in the Ways and Means committee. Yes, you guessed it, until that Bill passes through its Congress committee as well – legalized poker online is held in limbo.
Legalized online poker in 2010 – no way?
They all look like legal poker players to me.
With the summer recess rapidly approaching then mid-term elections further delaying proceedings the chances of McDermott’s Bill clearing it’s committee, both Bills being voted through by Congress and then their equivalent Bills passing through Senate by the end of 2010 is, at best, fanciful. In fact, despite having made some real progress this year, the whole prospect of legalized online poker could be sunk for a couple of years at least, if the Republicans end up with a majority in both houses come November. So, whilst progress is undoubtedly being made in terms of being able to play online casino games legally, it is hard to see that online poker will be legalized and poker players protected by the law until next year at the very earliest.