A bill to enact provisions governing the licensing and operation of Internet poker

PPA applauds Chairman Horne for holding hearing on A.B. 258

(US).- The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) commended Nevada State Assembly Judiciary Chairman William Horne for hosting an informational hearing on A.B. 258, a bill to enact provisions governing the licensing and operation of Internet poker.
2011-03-29
Reading time 1:47 min

“Our organization has reviewed state initiated Internet poker bills that have been introduced from coast-to-coast, and A.B. 258 is the first to earn our support,” said John Pappas, executive director of the PPA. “While it is still our preference to have a federal bill that allows for poker players from across the country to benefit from the regulated marketplace, the new Nevada bill is the best attempt at the state level to address the consumer concerns with intra-state regulation.”

Key player-friendly aspects of A.B. 258 include:

• Provisions to expand player pools through state and international compacts.

• Seamless transition to a regulated market so that players are not left without a place to play online poker during the licensing period.

• Ensuring no new crime is created that penalizes players.

• Imposing reasonable tax rates on operators which will keep player costs down and playing benefits up.

• An open and competitive licensing process that will not lead to anti-consumer monopolies.

“To date, this bill represents the best possible approach to intra-state regulated Internet poker. It contains many of the elements we have called for in other state and federal proposals,” said Pappas. “The bill is also geared to maximize economic growth in Nevada. An economic impact study will reveal that tens of millions in annual tax revenue could be raised and that regulated Internet poker could provide billions in other economic stimulus for Nevada. It will be hard for lawmakers to ignore the potential job creation and tax revenue.” 

The legislation would put the Silver State on the leading edge of this burgeoning industry. With the state’s history as a preeminent brick and mortar gaming regulator, Nevada is poised to be the premier regulator of Internet poker in the United States. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has already entered into a memorandum of understanding with a leading European regulator so they can hit the ground running when this legislation becomes law.

“The PPA still remains fully committed to federal legislation and we wholeheartedly believe that it should be the U.S. Congress who takes the lead. Just last week, bipartisan internet gaming regulation legislation (H.R. 1174) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. We support that bill. Further, the poker community is lucky to have Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) as an ally for regulated Internet poker and we look forward to continuing to work with him on a federal solution this year,” said Pappas.

“Even still, we recognize the prerogative of states to engage and seek their own solutions. We have raised serious concerns with other state-based efforts, but feel confident that Nevada is on the right track with its proposal and that it could serve as model for future state action,” Pappas concluded.

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