Texas Congressman Re-Introduces Online Poker BillRep. Joe Barton Submits 'The Internet Poker Freedom Act' |
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In contrast to efforts to ban online poker nationwide, a lawmaker from Texas is pushing a bill to legalize it in America.
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) re-introduced his proposal, dubbed “The Internet Poker Freedom Act,” on Thursday, just days after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced his legislation aiming to “restore” America’s 1961 Wire Act and ban most forms of Internet gaming.
Graham’s proposal is backed by billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson.
“Poker is an all-American game," Barton said in a statement. “It’s a game that I learned as a teen and continue to play today. Just like millions of other players I enjoy the strategy and skill involved. I continue to be supportive of the Americans who play poker online.”
He added that his bill “is needed now more than ever.”
“I believe H.R. 2888, the Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2015, creates a federal standard and provides players proper protections. At the same time, it includes safeguards for children and problem gamblers,” he said, addressing concerns some opponents have.
Barton indicated several months ago that he was planning another online poker push on Capitol Hill, despite his efforts in the past not panning out.
Below is a copy of Barton’s bill.
It’s still not very likely that federal legislation pertaining to online poker, in either direction, becomes law, especially if more states legalize and regulate in the meantime. Pennsylvania and California are looking to join Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey in the web poker space.
“Historical voting data shows that RAWA—or any other federal Internet gambling bill introduced in this congressional session, whether it be prohibitory or not—is facing very long odds indeed," GamblingCompliance’s Chris Krafcik told Card Player earlier this year. "According to our research and to figures from GovTrack.us, the enactment rate for Internet gambling bills introduced between 1995 and 2014 was approximately 2 percent, which is well below the approximate 3.7 percent enactment rate for all bills introduced during that 20-year period.”
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