NCSL against Federal Poker Legislation

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has not changed its mind about introducing the federal legislation for the online gambling market as the group’s mainly goals is only the state-by-state online poker regulation. The NCSL has been pushing US iGaming for a state regulation that would only bring a very isolated market frame. While groups like the NCSL only see that federal online gambling legislation affects state’s situation and self-sufficiency, those states that have already passed a state legislation are already working together to offer intrastate networks, some sort of national network for poker rooms and even land-based casinos’ games. The meeting held in Minneapolis discussed the states’ sovereignty but disregarded the facts that the online gambling companies are not state based but worldwide known. Representatives of the NCSL stated that a federal legislation would overrule and annul states’ autonomy to control their own online gambling. The NCSL addressed these concerns in an official letter to Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, bringing the Restoration of America’s Wire Act: “On behalf of the NCSL we write to express our strong opposition to the Restoration of America’s Wire Act, and urge you to respect the sovereignty of states to decide whether or not to allow gambling, and in particular online gambling. Since its inception, NCSL has resisted unwarranted preemptions of state laws and federal legislation that threatens state authority and autonomy – especially in areas of successfully demonstrated state stewardship like gambling. States have proven that they are effective regulators of the gambling industry and the proponents of this legislation fail to make a case that we have been negligent in our responsibilities to the industry and consumers. This attempt to enact a wholesale prohibition of online gambling with the Restoration of America’s Wire Act is merely a solution seeking a problem. Since the 2011 Department of Justice opinion clarifying the scope of the Wire Act, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey and the US Virgin Islands have legalized some form of online gambling within their state, while Utah and Maine have acted to forbid such activity Many more states are considering bills that would authorize, expand or restrict Internet gambling as well. This is the way it should work, each state making the decision that is best suited to the desires of its residents and not through a congressional mandate. We appreciate the opportunity to express the views of our colleagues across the country on this topic. We respectfully request the state legislative perspective be considered as Congress continues to examine this issue”.