US States Decide Gaming Future

The future of internet gambling is to be decided in the state of New Jersey on Thursday. Whatever the outcome may be and if Governor Chris Christie does not sign, other states in America are lining up to legalize and regulate it. Florida might impose legislation that will to a degree permit internet gambling, while Virginia will outlaw it entirely.

Florida has been eyeing internet poker for a while now. According to the Daytona Beach News Journal intrastate internet poker may well be legalized on the 1^st of July 1, 2011. Given the current state of the economy in the U.S legislators aim to raise taxes from internet casinos to plug the budget deficit of $4 billion.

The bill has already been proposed by the state Representative Democrat who hails from Washington, Joseph Abruzzo. Abruzzo informed the Daytona Beach News Journal, “Our aim is to regulate and to legalize it since Florida will benefit from it in terms of revenue. At the same token should it be legalized it’s imperative we protect our players.” The next session of the state congress the bill will be dissected which is on the 8^th of March. We endeavour to allow race tracks and jai-alai frontons which will generate portals enabling players to play internet poker against other players within the state.

In effect the bill aims to license three gambling sites that will operate in accordance with the state’s 23 pari-mutuels and provide portals for internet poker. The bill seeks legalize internet betting such as horse and dog racing. Under consideration is one of the pari-mutuels Daytona Beach Kennel Club & Poker Room.

Daniel Francati said, “In short, it will hopefully convert players into land-based players. One always questions when people are wagering online for cash. Are they paying the clients if it’s not regulated?” Jamie Hinks at the Calvin Ayre web site feels that the permission of internet poker will not bring players back to land casinos. He said if New Jersey’s Governor turns down the internet gambling bill, Florida would then be the first state in the U.S to allow internet poker.

Virginia has opted to follow in the footsteps of Washington State. Clifford L. Athey Jr. His bill bans all formats of internet wagering such as lotteries, sweepstake style action at Internet cafes, and poker rooms. The bill just stopped short of implementing a Washington State style ban on real players.

State Senator Obenshain and the Delegate Order introduced companion bills permitting restaurants to offer Internet games that do not involve gambling in any form. Should the bills be implemented into law, law enforcement agencies could impose criminal charges against the owners of any establishment/s that puts forward internet gambling, counting in any person/s trying to exploit loopholes in current laws.