Nevada Latest State to Introduce Bill That Would Legalize Online Poker

The state of Nevada is the latest to introduce legislation that would allow online poker for its nearly 3 million residents.  California, Florida and Iowa are among the other states looking to enact similar legislation.  A federal bill is also scheduled to be introduced next month.

Bill AB258 was introduced Friday and contains the following language: “The Commission shall not deny a license to an operator of internet poker… solely because the operator… before the effective date of this act, operates, operated, or was associated with interstate or foreign commerce… while licensed in another jurisdiction. The Commission may issue a license as an operator of internet poker to a person or an affiliate of a person who has been licensed to operate internet poker by a recognized body of another jurisdiction with licensing requirements that are similar to the licensing requirements of this state and who has successfully operated internet poker pursuant to such a license for at least two years before the date on which the application for the license is submitted.”

PokerStars is reportedly behind the lobbying efforts in Nevada. 

The bill opens up the possibility of partnerships between established Nevada casinos and major offshore poker operators, said Jeff Ifrah, a Washington-based attorney who represents both PokerStars and Full Tilt. 

He told the Associated Press:  "If the state is serious about raising revenue for this endeavor, then it needs to be able to obtain the participation of the leading operators.”

Assemblyman William Horne introduced the bill.

Last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have made the Garden State the first to legalize Web gambling in the US.

- Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher