It seemed that online poker was gaining momentum in the United States with Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware leading the way with services being successful for several years now. Threat of an online poker ban seemed to be a thing of the past as other states have been considering online gaming legislation as well including Pennsylvania and California. However, now it seems support has reemerged with ten state attorney general’s signing a letter to President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence to see the provisions of the Wire Act restored.
While Nevada is one of only three offering online poker in the United States, it did not stop the state’s Attorney General Adam Laxalt from signing the letter that was dated November 17th. Laxalt along with nine other state AG’s signed the letter in support of outlawing iPoker across the nation. Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, A.G. Burnett, are not happy with the move, speaking out against Laxalt.
Back in November, Laxalt stated that he intended to sign the letter, saying that the US needed to return back to status quo. ‘Gaming is a different animal. We need to know the sources of money.’ Sandoval commented as well stating that he is very concerned that anyone who is representing the state’s legal interests would speak out against state law that is currently in place within a leading industry.
Aside from Nevada, the other states included in the letter are: Utah, Louisiana, Texas, Michigan, South Carolina, Nebraska, Oklahoma, North Dakota and South Dakota. In the letter, it asked Trump and Pence to help in restoring the Wire Act’s provisions. The Wire Act was changed back in 2011 when the Department of Justice decided to reinterpret it to allow states the right to offer online casino as well as lottery services.
Trump does have a past in the gaming industry and has shown to be in favor of the activity while Pence has a history of being opposed to iGaming. For now, it seems that certain states are looking to see the activity banned on a federal once again, now that new individuals will be in the White House. Only time will tell if online poker will remain an activity that states can choose to offer or if legislation will once again rear its ugly head and try to ban the activity across the board.
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