In California they’re working on proposed legislation to allow online poker within the state, a proposal that still leaves some poker players dissatisfied but it’s light years ahead of the state of online poker in Washington state. After all, in Washington State playing poker online is a federal offence. And in New Jersey, legislation to legalize and regulate online gambling has already passed the state legislature but has faced a delay in getting the final sign off from the governor. And now Florida is entering the race to legalizing online gambling.
In Florida, legislation has been proposed that could result in legalize online poker by July 1st. The summer date could push Florida ahead of both California and New Jersey in allow residents to play poker for real money online. So what would make the difference in Florida? Well, the state faces a budget deficit that it needs to make up, but so do many other states. But in Florida, lawmakers are admitting that many residents already gamble online and play poker online. Florida knows it isn’t going to stop them but that legalizing and regulating online poker would allow them to try to protect those players. Of course it would also allow them to collect money from those players. So poker players will get to play poker and the state will get some much needed revenue.
Of course, Florida does have one thing inmon with New Jersey. Florida has a Republican governor. And if that governor thinks he may be a potential presidential candidate, then Florida may be looking at facing another standoff between gamblers and the governor.
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