Nevada Governor Sandoval signs poker bills into state law

Saturday, June 11,2011 : NEVADA GEARS UP FOR ONLINE POKER
 
Governor Sandoval signs bills into state law
 
When federal legalization legalising online poker in the United States passes – and some say that could be as early as this year – the gambling state of Nevada will be good to go, thanks to two bills signed into state law Friday by Governor Brian Sandoval.

Assembly Bill AB 258 is the measure most likely to attract the attention of the internet gambling community as it instructs the Nevada Gaming Commission to prepare regulations in anticipation of, and conditional upon, the federal legalization of online poker.
 
Authored by Assemblyman William Horne, the bill has received strong support since the removal of clauses favouring the now-banned Pokerstars company, not least from land gambling corporates with an eye on a new revenue stream now that offshore opposition has been largely decapitated.
 
The second bill, AB294, authorises on-premises wireless gambling at Nevada-licensed resort casinos, allowing the use of mobile gaming devices in hotel rooms or sleeping areas.
 
The signings end a week in which the prospects for regulated online poker in the United States appear more positive, with news of collaboration between Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and Texas Congressman Joe Barton on a possible internet poker legalization initiative, supported by the PPA and Congressmen Barney Frank and John Campbell (see previous InfoPowa report).
 
During brisk passages through the Nevada legislature, both bills signed off by the Governor Friday appeared to be well received, with only two dissenting votes on AB258, and no real opposition to AB294.