Will Florida be the First State to Legalize Online Poker?

While extensive focus was on the legislative ratification of the gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe and an omnibus gaming reform bill to help Florida's ailing pari-mutuel industry, Florida lawmakers quietly tucked a measure into an unrelated regulatory bill which could pave the way for Florida to become the first state to embrace internet poker for its citizens.

House bill 425, which passed the Florida Legislature by overwhelming margins, contains a provision which requires the legislature's policy research arm to complete a study into the effects of internet poker on Florida's bricks and mortar poker rooms. The measure pushed by lobbyists representing American Poker Ventures, LLC. requires the policy arm to report by December 1 "regarding the enactment of laws to provide for protection and remedies from existing and unregulated online poker activities."

American Poker Ventures is a newly formed California LLC headed by Jim Tabilio a political consultant based in California. He lists political clients from all across the country and serves as President of Poker Voters of America, a national grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the rights of American poker players by educating elected officials, the media and opinion makers about the impact on poker players of current and pending legislation at state and federal levels. Florida's regulated cardrooms could provide nexus for the first attempt at regulating the multi-billion dollar online poker industry. For more information on the progress of the study and proposed legislation resulting from it, keep an eye on Floridagamingwatch.com , Florida's most comprehensive gaming specific website.

###

May 23, 2009
Posted By Susan Torres
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!