Online Poker in USA Approved by House Panel
It seems that the time might have come for the USA to overturn their draconian online gambling laws and permit online poker and other forms of online gambling.
Yesterday a US House Financial Services Committee Panel voted by almost two to one in favour of a measure that seeks to regulate online gambling and which will replace the current legislation which bans it. The votes were 42 in favour and 22 against.
The next stage is for the measure to be debated by the House Democratic leadership. Legal experts believe that it is more likely that the new measure will be incorporated into a much larger bill which addresses the totality of internet gambling rather than it being introduced as a stand alone bill. The larger bill will be drafted in such a way that it will be what is described as a “must pass” bill.
The new measure seeks to bring the many offshore poker and gambling sites that are used by American citizens back within US borders and regulating them rather than outlawing them. The major target is online poker which attracts many Americans though other forms of gambling will also be regulated including bingo, though sports betting on American Football, Baseball and other professional league sports will continue to be banned.
The current law criminalises American citizens and a current sentiment within the House is that the law should not prevent adults engaging in online gambling if that is what they wish to do.
Financial organisations such as credit care companies are in favour of legalisation. Currently if a customer attempts to use a credit card to finance his online poker account and succeeds, then it is considered that the credit card company has broken the law and could be put out of business.
Live casinos are opposed to the legalisation as they are concerned that their revenues would be reduced.
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