It's been about 2 months the issue of the legalization of online poker in Nevada (State in which we find especially Las Vegas) is discussed. Last Thursday, the Nevada gaming Commission approved the regulation of online poker. Members of the Gaming Commission voted unanimously in favour of this regulation. The regulation voted yesterday should reassure all opponents to the project by combating fraud, identity theft, addiction problems and respect for the age limit to play because nothing was left to chance (the bar has been set high level security and control).
It is important to mention that this decision affects only Nevada and other States poker players will not be able to play.
The companies who already have a license in Nevada and who may be playing poker in 2012 are: Cantor Gaming, Shuffle Master, International Game Technology, Bally's Technology, South Point and Caesars Entertainment. These companies now have a good head start on their competitors.
The constraints are not relaxing, however: "the new regulation requires that candidates demonstrate their ability to control the inclusion of players, to block players who do not have the required age and to establish the location of the players before a licence. The regulation specifies also which information should be mentioned on their website, record keeping, dispute resolution, the amount of commissions and taxation as well as a warning about gambling."
Other companies that have no license will be able to submit one for investigation.
Other constraints are of either: all player with funds on an online poker room may at any time withdraw all its funds. In other words, all players funds must be available at all times (in a share account).
The safety bar has been set very high according to Micheal Lipparelli, president of the commission of control by the Commission of the games: "we are already existing standards in the casinos hard at another level. We will continue to become even more flexible, but we believe have set the bar quite high in relation to the obtaining of the approvals and safety".
Licenses may be issued before next summer (spring 2012 say some). And as a reminder: only the Nevada players play on the tables of online poker! Online poker sites will offer a poker in the State, with the possibility to operate throughout the territory of the United States when a federal law will be passed by Congress (we hope).
Discuss this news on PokerCollectif forums: the legal poker in Nevada for summer 2012?
