Poker Now Legal? Jury Is Still Out

Federal Judge Jack Weinstein played the role of hero on Tuesday when he ruled that poker was more a game of skill than luck. That ruling overturned a lower court prosecution of a man convicted of running an illegal gambling operation. The ruling also had millions of poker players in the US feeling like their luck was about to change.

Almost immediately after the ruling, John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, claimed that the ruling was a "major victory for the game of poker and the millions of Americans who enjoy playing it."

Similar statements were made by other groups lobbying for the regulation of online poker, but as quickly as the poker community rejoiced, some analysts dispelled the notion that this was a direct victory for poker enthusiasts.

"Judge Weinstein made it clear in his ruling that this was not a ruling on the legality of poker, but a ruling based on this specific situation," said gaming Analyst Brad Dawkins. "It may turn out to be a beneficial ruling for the poker community, but only in the fact that lawmakers can now use the ruling to help lobby for new laws."

Federal lawmakers have been debating online gambling regulations for the past five years, since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was enacted in 2006. Liberal legislators have been attempting to overturn the law since, and in recent years, they have gained the support of many of their Conservative colleagues.

Nevada lawmakers have already passed online poker legislation, and on Wednesday regulators gave approval for what could become the first online casino in the state. Nevada regulators are hoping to have online poker rooms open by the end of the year.

Delaware is another state that has regulated Internet gambling, but they are not expected to have operational online casinos until early in 2013.

New Jersey, Florida, Iowa, Hawaii, California, and New York are among the dozens of states that have started the discussion in legislature surrounding the online gaming regulation issue.

August 23, 2012
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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