Delaware Online Poker Proposal Delayed In Senate

A bill in Delaware that would legalize online table games, including poker, and expand other forms of gambling in the state will have to wait for another day before going to the governor’s desk. The Senate delayed Tuesday’s scheduled voted, the Associated Press reported.

Supporters thought that they wouldn’t have enough votes due to the absence of a single Democratic lawmaker, the Associated Press reported. The proposal was voted on favorably by the House nearly two weeks ago.

The Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 would authorize Internet gaming under the control and operation of the Delaware Lottery. The state is looking to partner with West Virgina and Rhode Island in offering online poker.

The bill has seen two proposed amendments thus far in the Senate, while receiving two in its time in the House. The latest addition, which was placed with the bill on Tuesday, calls for a portion of revenue from Internet table games to support harness racing purses at the same percentage that they are supported by brick-and-mortar slot machines.

The earlier Senate amendment outlines the goal of keeping the tracks competitive as “they struggle to survive” amidst casino expansion in neighboring states. Some lawmakers in Delaware are particularly worried about the possibility of table game authorization in Maryland.

A sticking point in the talks reportedly could be how much of the new revenue goes to the tracks.

If online gaming legalization occurs, Delaware would be third behind The District of Columbia and Nevada. D.C. repealed its online gaming legislation earlier this year.

Nevada has already licensed two companies to begin their respective web poker businesses. Nevada-based Bally Technologies and International Game Technology are set to go through technology inspection before providing software to brick-and-mortar casinos.

Follow Brian Pempus on Twitter — @brianpempus

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