House Committee Hearing on Internet Poker Next Week has Many Excited

The House Energy and Commerce Manufacturing subpanel will hold a hearing Tuesday on Internet gambling.

“I am pleased that Chairman Bono-Mack is holding a hearing on the important issue of Internet gaming," said Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas in an interview with The Hill.  The Congressman introduced a bill that would legalize online poker in the United States. 

"It’s a first step to showing why the current law is a lose, lose for everyone — the public, the taxpayer, the banking industry, and the people who want to play poker openly and honestly on the Internet. I look forward to an open exchange of ideas.”

Staunch opponents of legalized online gambling including Spencer Bachus of Alabama say they have no intention of revisiting the issue while one of the industry’s most outspoken critics, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl, has since indicated he was on board with supporting a regulated form of the activity. 

Barton’s bill would only permit currently licensed casinos to operate online poker sites including the South Point Casino in Las Vegas, which will be advertising its free-to-play Web poker room on the Gambling911.com website beginning in November with the intention of offering cash play once the activity is legalized. 

A number of European operators have already indicated they will likely partner with established US-based casino firms.

- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com