Churchill Downs Applies for Online Poker License

Kentucky’s Churchill Downs is the latest entity to apply for an online poker license in the state of Nevada.

The Silver State became the first to legalize online poker late last year and has been accepting applications over the past few months. 

Churchill Downs, which currently offers legalized horse betting on the Web, already signaled its interest in offering Internet poker after purchasing the media venture Bluff Magazine earlier in the year.

If approved, Churchill Downs would be permitted to offer legal “real money” online poker within the state of Nevada.

Nevada is one of a handful of states that has either legalized or is pursuing the legalization of Internet poker.  Last month, Delaware became the second US state to approve a measure allowing its citizens to play for real money on Web card rooms.  Delaware has indicated it would like to form multi-state compacts, quite possibly with Rhode Island and West Virginia.

Late last year the US Justice Department gave the green light to individual states to offer “real money” online poker.  Federal measures to regulate the activity have been drafted in both the House and Senate. 

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com