Legalized Online Poker in Florida: New Bill Proposed

A bill has been proposed by Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington, that would ultimately legalize online poker in the state of Florida. 

The Internet Poker Consumer Protection & Revenue Generation Act would license online poker rooms through state operated pari-mutuels.

Abruzzo’s bill follows in the footsteps of other measures proposed in the state of New Jersey and California.  The New Jersey bill could go into law within the next two months. 

"It's common sense," said Florida Rep. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington in an interview with the Sun-Sentinel. "There are hundreds of thousands of players in Florida in unregulated and unprotected offshore sites.

"Why not legalize, regulate and bring in revenue from something that's already occurring?"

Scott Long, co-publisher of Ante Up Magazine writes:

"Opponents to our legislation in Florida, HB 77 by Representative Joseph Abruzzo (D-Wellington) want to open the regulation to other ‘affiliates’ instead of keeping to our model of only allowing the activity to flow through our existing state regulated and licensed card rooms. This would constitute expansion of gaming and would be a very heavy lift to pass in this current legislative climate. Keeping the activity flowing through poker rooms that currently have a solid reputation and are strictly licensed and regulated is, in my opinion, the only way to ensure the protection of those players who are active in those unregulated environments today."

- Ace King, Gambling911.com