Barton’s Bill Legalizing Online Poker Gets Strong Support
The online poker bill created by Rep. Joe Barton and other Republican lawmakers such as Long Island’s Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford is causing a lot of ripples in the online poker community. Poker players are now hoping that they will put a regulatory system in place considering the amount of online poker players in the US. They have been supporting a bill that would legitimize online poker in America. Barton’s bill will give player’s the choice of making poker legal to the state but having said that, the states should have an existing online gambling license.
Chicago based NGO, Heartland Institute, commended the bill for allowing online poker to be played in the country again post the incident that happened in April but it also mentioned the need for a few definitive measures that have to be enforced.
Senior Partner of Heartland Institute, Maureen Martin claimed that the poker bill was pleasant news. However, she also added “if you’ll pardon the pun, I’m keeping a ‘poker face’ on at least one part of. Legalizing online poker is an outstanding idea, but establishing still another federal agency to regulate it is where I’m going to hold, for two reasons. First, many online poker platforms are based in foreign countries, and thus are beyond the regulatory powers of the United States. Second, if these platforms cheat customers, that’s fraud. It’s already illegal in the United States and such laws are enforced by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.”
A handful of Republican lawmakers think that this bill is needed for the development of the country’s economy as it would benefit from the revenues made in the online poker industry. They hope to see it being reviewed by Congress soon.
Barton also stated that poker is a game of skill and not chance and this may have put those against the online poker industry to shame.
