Poker in Florida - reasons to be cheerful
The OPPAGA think tank's report to Florida lawmakers on legalising online poker in the state presents four supposed obstacles to legalising the online game. Poker Voters of America (PVA) boss Melanie Brenner knocks each down in turn....
THE REPORT ON ONLINE POKER presented to the Florida legislature by the OPPAGA think tank is a great first step to legalising the online game within the state, but contains four arguments against legalising the online game within the state that are erroneous, Poker Voters of America believes.
The first disadvantage listed by OPPAGA is that the state would need clarification from the federal government on whether intrastate online poker violated federal laws before proceeding.
However the Unlawful Internet Gambing Enforcement Act (UIGEA) clearly authorises state online regulation, and despite claims that the Wire Act prohibits all forms of internet gambling, the federal Department of Justice has never prosecuted any individual or company for playing online poker under the Wire Act.
Any intrastate system would need to focus instead on UIGEA compliance, by enacting procedures to block minors from players and ensure that all adult are players are within state. And all such requirements are currently being met by online operators through existing technologies in regulated jurisdictions in Europe and elsewhere.
On the second disadvantage, that an intrastate poker system could only be introduced at great expense to the state, Brenner, the APV in October proposed a model that is revenue-neutral to Florida, involving a single-hub system run by a private operator selected through a public tender process, that we will continue to discuss going forward. Once that contract is awarded, that operator will be required to present a sizeable cheque to the state of Florida to cover all costs.
On the third potential drawback of an intrastate online poker system cited by OPPAGA, that it would increase societal problems associated with problem gaming, this is quite wrong. Online poker is already commonly played in the state, and a regulated system is in fact the best safeguard against problem gamblers as they are easily identified and can then be treated accordingly.
OPPAGA’s fourth criticism is that an expansion of internet gaming could affect the state’s pending gaming compact with the Seminole tribe. However legislators have already proved unhappy with what the governor and the Seminoles came back with, and we feel it is highly unlikely that it will be ratified. Any new deal is now going to have to wait until the 2010 session “ giving us all plenty of time to hammer out a deal that keeps all stakeholders happy.
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