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Texas Republican Congressman Joe Barton has introduced his highly anticipated online poker bill, HR2666. It is indeed an appropriate ending set of numbers we at Gambling911.com couldn’t help but notice the irony, a la the “666”. Previous bills to legalize online gambling in the US have all pretty much gone to Hell.
Okay, so this one does actually give us some degree of hope.
His bill is titled the “Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013” and is designed to help individual states legalize real money online poker. It would allow for states to opt out of the federal system while recognizing the United States v. DiCristina ruling that poker is a game of skill.
The bill contains the following language:
“There is uncertainty about the laws of the United States governing Internet poker, though not about laws governing Internet sports betting. In United States v. DiCristina a Federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York held that poker is a game in which skill is the predominant factor in determining the outcome and that in passing the Illegal Gambling Businesses Act, Congress only intended to criminalize clear games of chance.”
“United States consumers would benefit from a program of Internet poker regulation which recognizes the interstate nature of the Internet, but nevertheless preserves the prerogatives of States and Federally recognized Indian tribes.”
- Effective means to prevent minors from playing online poker.
- Identify and help treat problem gamblers.
- Prevent players from non-participating state from playing.
- Allow players to self-exclude and limit losses.
- Prevent money laundering.
Credit cards would also be permitted under Barton's bill.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
