The American Gaming Association (AGA) is making a pointed stand to promote the legalization of online poker in the wake of Black Friday. CEO Frank Fahrenkopf said, “Americans like to gamble online. Millions of Americans bet billions of dollars a year at offshore foreign websites and have demonstrated that they will do so even if their government tells them it is illegal. However, many of the websites offering these activities have been in direct violation of U.S. law. They have been run by individuals who, according to the Justice Department, engaged in serious criminal activity, including bank fraud and money-laundering.”
Fahrenkopf concluded his argument, by saying, “Moreover, online gaming operators who fill this void will be even less regulated and less trustworthy than their predecessors, which will only hurt American consumers. That’s why we need to use this moment to create a safe, regulated online gaming experience.”
The AGA represents many players in the gambling industry, notably land-based casinos, and focuses on federal legislation, taxation, and regulation laws.
Heavyweights Kevin Smith, President of Boyd Gaming, Gordon Kanofsky, CEO of Ameristar Casinos, and Virginia McDowell, President of Isle of Capri Casinos, chipped in to have their voice heard. Each stated that federal regulation would provide security and safeguards to online poker which is otherwise impossible.
In spite of the U.S. government’s continued crack down on online poker, the American online poker industry is still more than sizable. Democratic Nevada Senator Harry Reid is planning a Wednesday meeting for top gaming executives. Reid hopes to, again, pass a new online poker bill, but this time will aim to ride on the ripples of Black Friday’s industry-wide effects. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and John Campbell (R-Calif.) have also introduced new versions of their gaming bills.
Fahrenkopf explained the legislation as a mix of federal and state regulations. The core idea is to have the Department of Commerce or a similar group license responsibilities to states who can demonstrate competence and capability. Fahrenkopf said, “At this point in time we are just in the preliminaries to determine what might and what might not be in it.”