The question of when and whether online poker will be made legal and in which US states is a highly debatable one. Experienced poker experts are optimistic, if not hopeful, of an early solution where poker fans will be able to gamble on their desktops and smartphones. A change in federal rules, improvements in technology, and most importantly, a shift in political calculations have proponents of online poker confident of some form of legislation being passed in their states.

With residents of Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware already enjoying the benefits of online poker since November last year, it’s inevitable that the trend will spread sooner than many may expect. Many tech companies are waiting to cash in, which is a good sign as well. Several legislation proposals have been introduced in other states like California and with interstate compacts now a reality, we are hoping to see more poker players around the country being able to play online without any hassles.

One of the major factors to influence online poker legislation is the amount of tax dollars that can be generated to fill each government’s coffers. Many states have adopted a wait and watch approach with all eyes on New Jersey, one of the most populated states to have legalized online poker and other casino games. Cash-strapped state governments see great potential in online gambling when it comes to collecting taxes.

It is also worth noting that one of California’s tribes, the Ipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, launched a free-play online poker room called \”Private Table\”. Recently, the tribe announced that it will launch a real money version of the same online poker room soon. This makes it perfectly legal for any resident of California above the age of 18 to play real money poker in their own homes. The tribe claims that it has the legal rights to operate a real money online poker business in its own reservation under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Several casino operators and tech firms like Zynga are taking proactive measures to push for legalization. Besides, it would reduce the risk of gamblers turning to unregulated offshore casinos. Many poker fans already gamble online on offshore sites, exposing themselves to a number of risks. On the other hand, legalizing online poker will allow states to not only collect revenue from taxes but also regulate it while the U.S. gambling industry will stand to benefit.

For the most part, experts are of the opinion that online poker legalization is the best way to recapture revenues while restrictions can only add to the risk factors. The U.S. Department of Justice revised its interpretation of the Federal Wire Act in 2011, and applied a ban only on sports betting instead of all online gambling. This leaves a multibillion dollar opportunity for state governments and everyone involved in the gambling industry. It also offers non-traditional players to get a piece of the action.

This is a huge opportunity for game developers and casino operators while poker fans needn’t have to worry about getting all dressed up and heading to a land-based casino. While Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have taken a bold step, there are states considering the prospects of online poker legislation seriously.

The author is web master and and plays poker online. This poker web site focuses on the reviews of online poker networks.

http://www.onlinepokerexperience.com is a web site created by online factory web design in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Author Bio: The author is web master and and plays poker online. This poker web site focuses on the reviews of online poker networks.

Category: Recreation
Keywords: poker,online