Internet Poker Busts for 2012
In Las Vegas, Nevada, there are talks and rumours spreading of the imminent fall of Internet Poker’s stride towards legalization, where it seems that prospects for federal legalization have faced fast. The constant mixes and mystery of the integration of the legislation have caused confusion amongst those who are involved with legalizing it as well as with those who simply wish for it to see the light of day.
Congress has already managed to fail, abstaining from attaching an online gaming legislation to the payroll tax cut extension that took place in the early days of February. This was seen as a major problem, as the legislation was set to take place through the extension and had been speculated and discussed for many months. It has been theorised that talks were merely a guise to place false hope on the legalization of online poker.
Passing legislation has become increasingly more difficult over the years as there has been less control over lawmakers and lobbyist, who hold great power in the process. The looming control of the White House and Congress at stake in the coming November, Internet Poker will be pushed aside and forgotten in the dark.
Another factor impacting on the progress of the Internet Poker legislation is the considered importance of it in the grand scheme of things. One Capitol Hill lobbyist expressed his opinion on the matter, stating that most members of Congress do not give it a second thought, nor does it really cross their minds.
However, it seems that there may be one last grasp for Online Poker to push through. The rushed period between the November election and the New Year is anticipated to be the final attempt for legislation to pass, where outgoing lawmakers and departing party leaders try to push through last-minute initiatives.
The past has shown that these may not always be successful, where two years ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Arizona Republican Senator John Kyl attempted and failed to push through legalization during the period. Despite this, Kyl (now retiring) and Reid (Guaranteed to not gain a majority leader seat if the Republicans win the Senate) might try their luck again for 2012.
“Trying to peg a time for Congress is never easily predictable,” said the Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Mark Lipparelli, who was in Washington, D.C. last week.
The issue of legalization has also been stalled by the strength and influence of the gaming industry itself, which is seemingly closed to the idea of expansion. Former Nevada Republican Jon Porter has said that a lack of consensus amongst the commercial casinos, Indiand casinos, recetracks and also the state lotteries have helped to stall the issue.
“The gaming industry itself is the biggest problem. They have put up too many roadblocks,” Porter said.
Source: Casino City Times
