New Online Gambling Initiative Pursued in Nevada

Feb 11, 2013
New Online Gambling Initiative Pursued in Nevada
In an attempt to spearhead the licensing and regulation of US online gambling, the state of Nevada decided to expand its existing online poker legalisation law and a fully developed regulatory system. It's been weeks since Nevada governor Brian Sandoval has been pushing for Legislative authority to make cooperation agreements with other like-minded states to overcome player liquidity problems. But at present, he seems to be determined to push the legislation that may help him to do so, introduced by Assembly Majority Leader William Horne. It has been reported that the proposed bill will have two major components: removing state statutes requiring Nevada to wait for Congress to pass online gaming legislation, and enabling the governor to enter into mutually beneficial compacts with other states that pass bills to legalize online gaming. Furthermore, according to the media, Horne will be the one to lead the Nevada governor's drive for the changes, and he will attempt to do so within the next 30 days. In a statement given last week regarding this new legalization push, Gov. Sandoval said that Nevada is now in a “critical” race with New Jersey to pass an online gaming bill into law. “In light of the developments in New Jersey, the need to act quickly has become even more important, a fact that both I and Assemblyman Horne agree on,” he asserted. Horne is of similar opinion, saying that “Online gaming is a creature that is out of the bottle, and Nevada needs to be first. “The population of Nevada is not enough for online gaming so we think we can have some good relationships with other states who may have large populations but don't have the gaming expertise, particularly in regulations, that Nevada has,” he concluded, expressing high hope for bi-partisan political support, given the governor's Republican background. It was also specified that the Nevada Gaming Control Board's bill seeking to enable the governor to enter into interstate compacts on internet poker will not be in Horne's way, even though it remains unclear whether he plans to push a new bill or sign on to the Gaming Control Board's measure. However, it was revealed by Governor Sandoval's staff that Horne's participation will speed along the legislative process. Mary-Sarah Kinner, the governor's communications director on the occasion stated: “Teaming up with the Assembly Majority Leader will only enhance the opportunity to pass the legislation as quickly as possible.”
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