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Fans of Online Poker Be Aware of State Laws Too
- 11-5-2008
Last week Microgaming announced that it was going to block some U.S. based customers from their online gaming network. The states being blocked all have state laws that make online gaming a misdemeanor or felony. After Kentucky Governor Beshear moved to seize domain names of online gaming operators, Microgaming decided to proactively limit access. The residents of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Utah, and Washington, D.C. are all affected by this voluntary block.
While Microgaming is a relatively small player in the online gaming and online poker world their restrictions on the above states could have a far more lasting impact. Players at PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker should be aware of what could happen with the newly minted Congress. Depending on the language used in any bill introduced in Congress to nullify or overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, states may be free to opt in or out of allowing their own residents the right to online gaming. Gaming has traditionally been seen as a state initiative and will probably be viewed this way in the future as well. If a bill like this moves forward the states currently prohibiting online poker and gaming will probably continue this stance. So while the rest of the country may be allowed to play online poker freely, states may have the final say. Current residents of states that have legal restrictions on online gaming may find themselves on the outside looking in.
After the elections of November 4th online poker players have more hope of having the UIGEA overturned. However the next fight for fans of online poker and gaming may be found at the state level. Encouraging their state representatives, senators, and governors to sign legislation allowing them to participate will be an important grassroots activity. There are many “ifs†involved but it is possible that the major online poker rooms will have no choice but to follow the path of Microgaming to comply with federal law and state law to operate in the lucrative U.S. market.
While Microgaming is a relatively small player in the online gaming and online poker world their restrictions on the above states could have a far more lasting impact. Players at PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker should be aware of what could happen with the newly minted Congress. Depending on the language used in any bill introduced in Congress to nullify or overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, states may be free to opt in or out of allowing their own residents the right to online gaming. Gaming has traditionally been seen as a state initiative and will probably be viewed this way in the future as well. If a bill like this moves forward the states currently prohibiting online poker and gaming will probably continue this stance. So while the rest of the country may be allowed to play online poker freely, states may have the final say. Current residents of states that have legal restrictions on online gaming may find themselves on the outside looking in.
After the elections of November 4th online poker players have more hope of having the UIGEA overturned. However the next fight for fans of online poker and gaming may be found at the state level. Encouraging their state representatives, senators, and governors to sign legislation allowing them to participate will be an important grassroots activity. There are many “ifs†involved but it is possible that the major online poker rooms will have no choice but to follow the path of Microgaming to comply with federal law and state law to operate in the lucrative U.S. market.