A Look at the Current State of Online Gambling in the US Monday, Jan 9 2012
US Casinos 11:25 am
Online casino and other forms of online gambling are now considered hot items in the US and have been hugging the limelight these past few weeks. Certain sectors are now looking at the potential impact of such activities in the overall effort to stabilize the economy, which has been floundering in tenuous grounds in the past couple of years. Specifically, there is now a growing call for a more liberalized approach to online poker and other forms of online gambling as online casinos are seen as a major force that can strengthen the economy and improve the standards of living of Americans.We are now seeing positive signs and initiatives by both the government and the private sectors which are expected to favor the legalization of online poker and online casinos in various states. Some observers and industry analysts are actually optimistic that a liberalized regime in the online gaming business will become a reality in a year or so. All these major shifts and positive signals have encouraged key personalities and stakeholders in the online gaming business to take steps and find opportunities to expand or enter into joint venture agreements in anticipation of the possible entry of the US market into the mainstream online poker and online casino business.
At present, there are several states that are now seriously contemplating to take the lead and establish their respective online casinos along with the relevant legislative measures, and these have led to increased pressure for the federal government to take the necessary steps and define the directions for the online gaming industry. Most of the legislative measures are focused on the legalization of online gaming activities as well as tax measures that directly apply to activities and business operations linked to online poker and other forms of online gambling.
Stakeholders and policymakers consider this move as appropriate and smart as there seems to be a lot of confusion and contradicting views when it comes to the legal aspects of online gambling. All these issues and concerns are expected to be straightened out as soon as the federal government comes up and clarifies its position on the legality of online gambling.
This major development has been brought to the fore by the recent actions taken by two protagonists in the online gambling scene – the top honcho of Las Vegas Sands and a staunch critic of online gambling. In the past, most operators and stakeholders of large casinos in the US were resisting moves that would legalize online poker and other forms of online gambling. Interestingly, top players and stakeholders in the gambling scene are now taking a different tack and are now supportive of measures that will legalize online gambling. Business analysts explain that stakeholders in large casino businesses are now looking at the synergy that would come about in the event that online gambling is allowed to enter the mainstream.
There are unnamed sources who confirmed that US House Speaker John Boehner is supportive of the proposed measures to legalize online gambling and this has given the impetus for key players in the government and the private sector to push through with their plans to finally put in place the legal basis for the operation of online gambling and the establishment of regulated online poker rooms and online casinos within a year or two. sb

