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TAMPA, FL -- Online casinos are based in Antigua, the United Kingdom, and the British Isles, pretty much anywhere you can think of except for the United States.
They generate billions of dollars a year, but they are illegal in the U.S. and some say states, including Florida, are missing out on a major pay day.
One Florida lawmaker says Florida is holding a losing hand.
"This legislation is important to make sure the state receives its fair share of the online poker play that is currently taking place overseas," says Representative Joseph Abruzzo (D-Wellington). He filed a bill in Tallahassee to legalize and regulate online gambling in Florida. It's first bill of its kind filed in the country this year.
Abruzzo estimates if Florida sanctioned online gambling sites, the state could rake in $600,000 a day, or $200 million a year. He also thinks it will make online gambling safer.
"We currently have the technology where if a player bets too much or bets too many times we can cut them off," Abruzzo says.
Abruzzo claims some of the overseas operations actually rig their games, stacking the deck against players.
So how can they regulate this under his bill? The new Florida based online gambling sites pay for the technology to monitor fair play through their license fees. To gain a license, hub operators would be chosen by the state.
Source: ABC Action News Tampa
