The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) seems to be finally seeing some results for its intense lobbying efforts in Washington last month, after it was announced that New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez was introducing legislation to make online poker and games of skill legal in the United States.
The online poker bill, aka the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, could bring in around $3 billion each year in annual revenue for the US government from US poker sites. The other appeal of the bill is that it calls for tough regulations to prevent underage gambling and protect problem gamblers.
The chairman of the Poker Players Alliance and himself a former Senator, Alfonse D’Amato said: “Today’s action by Senator Menendez is yet another powerful step towards protecting Internet freedom, protecting consumers and protecting online poker.”
“The PPA is pleased that Senator Menendez chose to introduce his bill to license and regulate Internet poker and include additional consumer protections,” he added. “His continued support for protecting the Internet freedoms of poker players specifically, and Americans generally, is greatly appreciated.”
The new bill calls for the mandatory implementation of the latest technologies to prevent all kinds of underage gambling. It also calls for the prevention, detection and treatment of problem gamblers and their families.
Menendez said that by pulling online poker “out of the shadows and into the light of the law”, the US government has the perfect opportunity to aid its ailing economy, and at the same time protect families.
“By bringing these games of skill into the mainstream, we can generate billions in revenue for businesses and the Treasury during these tough times. The safety benefits of the bill are particularly crucial,” said Menendez.
Menendez also noted that with proper regulation pertaining to online poker, the government could prevent minors from playing the game on the internet and crack down on predatory operations.
The bill will make provisions for 10% of all money deposited into a playing customer’s account to be split between Federal government and the local government of the state where the player is located in the United States.
