Tribal Groups Planning Own federal online poker legalization bill

Wednesday July 25,2012 :  ARE TRIBAL GROUPS PREPARING THEIR OWN ONLINE POKER LEGALISATION BILL?
 
The PPA's John Pappas appears to think so
 
Tomorrow's Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on "the regulation of tribal gaming, focusing on brick and mortar to the internet" has revitalised speculation that tribal operators may be planning their own federal online poker legalization bill.
 
Approached for comment Tuesday by Poker News, John Pappas, the executive director of the Poker Players Association action group said:
 
"I think the timing [of the hearing] is around the idea that Indian tribes are interested in drafting their own legalization. They want to stake a claim to the process and feel that the best way for them to assert their interests is through their own bill."
 
Among the witnesses at the hearing  is former Nevada Congressman Jon Porter, who pushed the legalization issue forward whilst in office and is a PPA ambassador.
 
The hearing is being held against a background of renewed industry rumours of a Kyl-Reid deal to attempt a federal internet poker legalization bill in the lame-duck session of Congress after the elections this year, the quid pro quo for Kyl being tighter restrictions on online casino gambling.