The U.S Department of Justice recently gave the online gaming world a big boost. In an opinion made public just before Christmas, the DOJ declared that almost every form of intra-state internet gambling is legal under federal law. In other words, legalized internet poker is coming to a state near you.
But is this a good thing? Proponents like New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak contend it’s the wave of the future. Cash-strapped states like California argue that online gambling provides a much-needed source of revenue. Questions remain about what exactly will be legal and whether the feds or individual states will legislate the internet gambling explosion. Traditionally it has always been up to the states to determine their own policy towards gambling.
Now, the big players like Caesar’s want a federal law because they don’t want to compete against powerful players in states to get their licenses. Regardless of who will oversee the action, critics of legalized online gambling point to studies indicating that the instant gratification of Internet games, combined with the privacy they offer, may exacerbate problem gambling.
WEIGH IN:
Does it concern you that legalized online poker is coming your way? Who will be the winners and the losers?
Guest:
I. Nelson Rose, Professor at Whittier Law School; consultant and expert witness on gambling law for governments, industry and players; he writes regularly about gambling developments on his blog, Gambling and The Law