Skeptics worry about Barton’s Online Gambling Bill


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Senator Joe Barton, a Republican from Texas, introduced an online gambling bill that would allow states to vote on whether or not they will allow their residents to play online poker. Under the new rules, operators of online poker rooms will need to have a gambling license in at least one state if they want to operate in the United States. The bill also contains measures to monitor players who might have a gambling problem and cut them off.

Online poker is popular with many players. Players go online to practice their skills in games like Texas Hold ‘Em, 5 Card Draw, and 7 Card stud. Many of the online poker operations that allow players to use real money are based outside of the United States, and they are not subject to the regulation of the Federal government. Law makers opposed to Barton’s bill wonder if changes in the rules will have any effect on the current poker rooms. Because of the way the Internet works are not likely to move their operations into the Untied States.

Barton introduced his bill as the push for easier access to online gambling continues g in the United States. Local and state government hope that they can cash in on the virtual casino trend to put money into their coffers. The online casino have lower overhead than the real-world gambling establishments, because they require fewer employees, less property space. Barton’s bill may have support from the online gaming industry, but his Republican colleagues do not feel the same way about it.

Critics are not worried about the impact of online gambling or the moral issues involved, but the bill creates another federal agency to provide oversight of the new poker rooms. When new federal agencies are created, they often prove to be hard difficult to remove or eliminate. The proposed bill will not gain Republican support until these measures are removed. Barton’s bill will remain in committee until these issues can be resolved. Even if he and his colleagues can resolve this issue, there is no guarantee that congress will pass the legislation.