As US states jockey for position in the online gambling stakes, efforts to pass a federal bill are being resumed.
As US states jockey for position in the online gambling stakes, efforts to pass a federal bill are being resumed.The Reid-Kyl online poker bill floundered last year in the face of stiff political opposition and was ultimately set adrfit by the lame-duck session of Congress, which customarily follows a US presidential election. Despite considerable cross-party support and with Barack Obama himself reportedly holding no objections to online gaming in principle, Reid-Kyl was felt by many to favour Nevada’s agenda.
With Nevada having now joined Delaware and New Jersey in legalising some form or another of online gambling, US senate majority leader Harry Reid – the Democrat senator for Nevada, pictured – is now seeking to form a coalition to support a revitalised bill.
But any new legislation will be in a race against time with many states now considering similar moves. As recently as last week, Illinois indicated it might soon follow suit with the state’s senate committee filing a bill that could authorise online gambling there.
A draft federal online gambling bill is expected to be introduced before the summer.
