Online Poker Left Out in the Cold Again: Cali, PA Still Some Promise
New York State has just legalized Daily Fantasy Sports while giving online poker the cold shoulder.
Following legalization in three states three years ago, online gambling in the US appears to have come to an abrupt halt (although you still can play online casino games in other countries such as the UK and more)
2016 had shown tremendous promise but the meltdown has been swift in recent weeks with some states (i.e. California, New York) about to retire their legislature for the year (if they haven’t done so already).
This week’s New York failure comes following that state’s Senate Finance Committee voting 20-8 in favor of Senator John Bonacic’s online poker bill, S5302C. This followed with a 53-5 vote in favor of Web poker in the Senate.
Reality quickly set in. The bill simply stalled as New York’s legislative session came to a close.
California is in a similar boat.
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PokerStars wants in on the California i-Poker market but some powerful tribal casinos say "not so fast"
After nearly a decade of trying, the state appeared to be on the cusp of legalizing online poker.
Old wounds re-appeared with concerns over an online poker firm, PokerStars, looking to break into the world’s 8th largest economy after having already demonstrated the ability to upend the competition in markets like the United States. Tribes not associated with Stars continue to argue the company should be prohibited from operating in the US after doing so illegally for nearly six years.
A vote was scheduled in the California Assembly Appropriations Committee Wednesday morning with another vote anticipated in the full Assembly if it passes but time is running out and there are no guarantees of full support here.
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State Sen. Mike Kowall and his wife Eileen said to both be in bed with the online poker heavyweights
Michigan could ultimately vote to allow Internet poker but the sponsor of that state’s bill last month was caught in a conflict of interest scandal. Turns out his wife works for the very lobbying firm pushing for i-Poker legalization.
Some glimmer of hope perhaps: A bill that died in Pennsylvania a few weeks ago could once again come under review before the year is over.
Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania’s House say that another vote was possible as early as this week to determine the viability of legalized Web poker in the state.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
