Promoters of online poker legislation have their money bet on the US election. All eyes are watching the clock until judgment day and online poker advocates are hoping regardless of the results, their cause will have the support necessary to make it law.
Laws were changed under the previous Republican administration of George W. Bush that enforced tougher laws against online gambling that gamers were hoping would change under successor Barack Obama. The first four years of Obama’s term did little to change the tougher sanctions but gamers believe the likelihood of changing the laws would be much easier with Obama still in office rather than a switch to Romney.
Currently on hold in the Senate body is the Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act. The legislation is a bipartisan agreement between both political sides to lobby for the legalization of online poker across the United States. Senator Harry Reid out of Nevada and Senator Jon Kyl out of Arizona are the two representatives at the center of the bill currently fighting for their reelection bids on November 6. Until the election is over the bill is unable to be debated.
The bill will need a majority of votes from both sides of the political equation. Democrats for the most part, appear to be in favor of supporting the bill but only a minority group of Republicans agree with it. Regardless how it happens, poker players are hoping that an agreement can be reached sooner rather than later to allow their favorite game to be legally playable online across the country.
As they say all eyes are on Washington.
