With a presidential election year looming, there is little reason to expect this bitterly partisan Congress to enact a good internet gambling law. But Nevada is proceeding with its intrastate poker regulations nonetheless, and California’s legislature seems poised to enact an intrastate law of its own.
The inevitable result is that US markets will be segregated for the first several years. A Nevada license will be good in Nevada only, and a California license will be good in California only.
Incidentally, Nevada and its population of 2.7 million (0.86% of the US) is much less appetizing than California and its population of 37.25 million (11.91% of the US).
I recently wrote a chapter for Global Betting & Gaming Consultants’ Interactive Gaming Report which provides an overview of the policy discussion in America, including the anticipated roles of the state and federal governments, as well as the shape of regulations in states that are likely to be first movers. The latest edition also examines the potential strength of several strategic alliances that have been formed to compete in American markets, including MGM and Boyd’s technology agreements with Bwin.Party, Caesar’s long-term agreement with 888 Holdings’ Dragonfish, and the Fertitta brothers’ purchase of Cyberarts.
To read an article I wrote promoting the report, please see: US E-gaming Markets Will Be Segregated At First.