Nevada Poker bill AB 414

Monday March 23,2015 :  NEW NEVADA BILL CONFINES INTERSTATE COMPACTS TO ONLINE POKER
 
Nevada bill AB 414 currently in the state's House Judiciary Committee.
 
Unconfirmed reports from usually reliable sources like Nevada gambling journalist Jon Ralston have suggested that land casino billionaire and anti-online gambling crusader Sheldon Adelson is the behind-the-scenes driver of a new Nevada political proposal that seeks to restrict any state player-sharing agreement with other states to online poker only.
 
Whilst that may be conjecture, what is clear is that such a bill – AB414 – has been introduced to the state legislature and is currently awaiting progress in the House Judiciary Committee.
 
InfoPowa readers will recall that there is provision in Nevada state law for the governor to negotiate player-sharing compacts with like-minded states, and that such an agreement has already been sealed with Delaware and is due for implementation soon.
 
That compact is based on online poker as the only form of general online gambling allowed in Nevada, although the state permits sports betting and on-premises mobile gambling. It seems this is not regarded as sufficient "protection" against the introduction of online casino games, hence the preemptive launch of AB414, which clarifies that only online poker sharing agreements may be agreed.
 
The published summary of the new bill is succinct and to the point, declaring:
 
"Existing law authorizes the Governor, upon recommendation of the Nevada Gaming Commission, to enter into agreements with certain governments to enable patrons in the signatory states to participate in interactive gaming. (NRS 463.747)
 
"This bill: (1) provides that such agreements may only be entered into to enable patrons in the signatory states to participate in Internet poker; and (2) defines Internet poker for such purposes.