Barton to make another attempt
It has been reported in the US media recently that Texas Republican Representative Joe Barton is planning to launch a new attempt at federal legalization and regulation of online poker, which is due very soon, perhaps next week.
It has also been confirmed this week that the bill, which is nearly ready, plans to legalize only online poker, and that it envisages the appointment of a federal regulatory body. It also suggests that online poker sites would have to be registered in a state where gambling is already allowed, such as Nevada or New Jersey, and that operators would be required to register with the gaming commissions in those states.
The bill would also enable customers throughout the States to play on the sites for real money, but it would also allow the states to opt out of the law and ban online poker in an intrastate state ruling.
In addition, the bill is promised wider support from Congressmen Frank and Campbell, who are in the process of drafting their own and wider internet gambling legalization bill, whereas Nevada senator Harry Reid has also showed certain interest in backing the federal legalization proposal.
In a statement released by Barton's spokesman, it was stated that the bill would be launched through the House Energy and Commerce Committee, since it seems more open to such legalization than the House Financial Services Committee which is under Republican chairman and anti-gambling politician Spencer Bachus.
Still, the spokesman expressed hopes that Barton's office will manage to reach bipartisan support, in addition to the estimated 10 million Americans that want to play poker online.
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