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The US Government is inching closer to legalizing Internet poker as a follow up hearing has just been scheduled for November 18. Once again, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade will oversee the hearing. A list of speakers is yet to be finalized.
Last month’s hearing focused mostly on the pros of online poker with concerns expressed over Indian gaming sovereignty, under aged gambling and collusion in card rooms, specifically how to prevent so-called “bots”.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas introduced a bill this summer calling for legalization and federal regulation of online poker while Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., works on related legislation. Barton has also revealed that the House-Senate debt reduction “subcommittee” is considering including the online gambling initiative as part of its recommendations due to Congress by Thanksgiving. Supporters of the initiative believe that Internet poker can pump substantial funds into the sagging US economy. Currently, it is a multi-billion industry for which the US is not receiving any share even though citizens in the States continue to place online wagers with betting sites overseas.
Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
