<img src="http://www.liquidpoker.net/staff/Raidern/legislation.jpg" align="right" style="margin:5px; border: 1px solid black;">According to the Associated Press, New York Republican Representative Peter King has introduced a bill titled Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2013. The bill seeks to regulate both online poker as well as online versions of casino games.
“A common federal standard will ensure strong protections for consumers, protect against problem and underage gambling, and make it easier for businesses, players, lawmakers and regulators to navigate and freely participate,” King said in a statement.
The PPA worked with the office of Peter King in drafting the latest version of the measure, which is similar to previous bills introduced by Congressmen Barney Frank (D–MA) and John Campbell (R–CA) in early 2011. You can read a summary of it on Quadjacks.com. Beside (several) other things, the bill gives the States the ability to opt-out or to operate intrastate gaming within its borders. The current version of the bill only allows bets from players located in States that have opted-in. In addition to that, it mandates that player balances be segregated from operating accounts, and taxation under it will be outlined in a separate bill.
Rep. Joe Barton, a long time supporter of online poker, plans to introduce an online poker bill by the end of next month. Barton introduced a bill in 2011 but it didn't get the necessary support. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) have also tried to introduce federal bill last year but ultimately gave up before even introducing it. Since then, states decided to move aheand on their own. So far, Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have passed online gaming bills.
The complete text of the bill is available at theppa.org.
|