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Sen. Reid Says He Supports Online Poker Regulation

United States legislation that would regulate online poker and gambling is on hold during a recess in Congress, but that hasn’t stopped news on the bill from happening.

First, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the majority leader of the U.S. Senate, has caused some buzz with his stance on online gambling. Reid’s position was outlined in a story in the Reno Gazette-Journal. Here’s part of the story:

[Northern Nevada] executives said Reid, D-Nev., told them he would support the legalization of online poker in the United States but drew the line there — he would not support any other form of online gaming -—during an Aug. 16 meeting at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.

Reid’s stance was troublesome because executives said they fear that once online poker is legalized, the legalization of other online casino games will follow, draining their businesses of customers.

Reid’s support is considered crucial if H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act — or similar legislation — is to become law in the United States. That bill has passed a vote in House of Representatives committee and is still awaiting a vote by the full House. As the leader of the Senate, Reid would be crucial to the bill making its way through Congress. Reid’s stance on online poker and gambling had not really been voiced in public before, and this is the first solid indication that Reid might be willing to support the bill, or at least something like it.

Some of the brick and mortar casinos in Las Vegas, like Harrah’s, are apparently interested in getting into the online poker and gambling market. But the Gazette-Journal piece makes it clear that not all casinos in Nevada back the opening of the U.S. market to all forms of gambling.

A later Gazette-Journal piece also handicapped the possibility of the bill getting through Congress this session, and, as many have been saying, the prospects are not good. Another excerpt:

With Congress winding down, any legislation getting out of the House of Representatives or through Congress this session are remote, said U.S. Rep. Dean Heller, R-Carson City.

“We only have two or three weeks and if I were a betting man today, I don’t think that this thing will get a House vote (this session),” Heller said. “I could be wrong. But I don’t know if there is enough appetite right now to get that down to the House floor.”

Regardless, the news that Reid is not outright opposed to the legislation is good news for the bill’s proponents, and anyone who would like to see online poker fully legal and regulated in the United States. However, Reid faces an election in November for his seat, so it’s conceivable Reid might not even be in office if and when the bill gets to the Senate.

The other piece of news came from the Poker Players Alliance, a lobbying group in the United States. The PPA, in conjunction with dozens of poker players, sent an open letter to L.A.’s Commerce Casino, which has come out against H.R. 2267. Here’s part of the letter:

As dedicated poker players, both online and live, both professional and amateur, we are extremely disappointed in the position Commerce Casino has taken in opposition to federal legislation to license and regulate online poker. Your opposition puts your narrow corporate interests ahead of the interests of America’s poker players.

By testifying before Congress in opposition to HR 2267 — where Commerce Casino allied itself with those seeking to ban online poker across the nation — your organization demonstrated complete disregard for every poker player who has ever patronized your establishment.

Among the players who signed the letter were Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Barry Greenstein, Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth.

You can read the whole letter here.

We will keep you updated on regulation efforts as events warrant.

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