Will 2012 bring legalized online gambling to USA?
The New Year is already showing promise in terms of progress in the legalizing of online gambling across the globe. To start things off, Denmark, a leading market in Europe recently put its new online gambling regulations into effect and has opened its market to online casino operators. But what about online gambling in USA?
Gambling operators and legislative authorities who have been in favor of the legalization of online gambling in the US have been trying hard to get the online gambling bill passed and they are hopeful that 2012 will be the year where things finally fall in place. So far the New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak has been trying hard to push the bill for legalization of online gambling in the state, but his only obstacle seems to be the Governor Chris Christie who has been doing everything in his power to prevent online gambling within state borders. Fortunately, the gambling capital of the nation – Nevada, has been making advancements with online poker.
The State of Nevada has been backing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who has been for legalization of online gambling. Under the Obama administration the Department of Justice recently announced that even if communications do cross state borders, online gambling can be regulated by the state under state law. This would mean that online lotteries and online poker sites could offer their services within the state of Nevada. The only exception would be online sports betting which comes under the Wire Act of 1961. The Nevada Gaming Commission has been working in favor of online poker. And according to State regulations companies that have already been licensed by the state can expand their current status onto the internet.
In all it looks like Nevada will lead the way to legalized online gambling and hopefully other states will follow en suite.