NEVADA MOVES AHEAD WITH ONLINE POKER REGULATIONS

Friday August 26,2011 : First drafts delivered to the Nevada Gaming Board
 
The gambling state of Nevada has moved ahead quickly following the legislature's approval earlier this year of legalised internet poker subject to prior federal legalization
 
The passage of the new law included a tasking for the Nevada Gaming Control Board to draw up appropriate regulations for the state to implement following federal legalization.
 
This week the Board's drafters published their proposals on the organisation's website; these include applicant vetting requirements, technology aspects, customer protection, record-keeping and auditing rules. There are state oversight provisions and a disciplinary regime for use in non-compliance issues involving licensees.
 
Gaming Control Board chairman Mark Lipparelli told the Las Vegas Review Journal that internet poker has become a multibillion dollar business around the world.
 
"The technology supporting it, while not perfect, has improved dramatically since its introduction," he said. "Similar to our land-based requirements, Nevada will establish high standards giving players as much confidence as possible in the entities and technologies that might eventually gain approval."
 
The draft regulations will now be considered through a public consultation workshop process starting towards the end of September and may be amended before becoming the subject of public hearings.
 
These are necessary in terms of the legalization so that both the Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission can grant approval to the final version of the regulations.