Powerful U.S. Forces Lining Up For New Poker Legislation

On Wednesday, The New York Post published an article confirming that while there hasn't been much public news regarding U.S. online poker legislation, powerful business and political players are starting to line up in favor of legislation that could begin to be written as soon as this fall.

Five moves in recent months indicate that elements are starting to line up for significant progress to be made in writing a passable bill that would legalize online poker.

1) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Jon Kyl in the last few weeks asked the Justice Department to stop state efforts to legalize gambling as they would be disruptive to the federal process.

2) Large Republican donor and Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson is said to be now on board with such a federal move seeing it as an opportunity to grow sales. Adelson is close to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who will be important for gambling advocates to win over.

3) House Speaker John Boehner is another important Congressional leader to show support. His long-time aide, Lee Askew, earlier this year became vice president of government affairs for the American Gaming Association. The American Gaming Association spent over $600k in the second quarter to lobby pertinent parties in this issue.

4) Sen. Jon Kyl, who has been a staunch opponent is not seeking re-election and expressed a softening of his stance on his website. Back in July 2006, when the House passed the UIGEA bill outlawing Internet gambling, Kyl likened the addictiveness of e-gaming to “crack cocaine.” 5) Ceasar's CEO Gary Loveman has taken up the mantle of land based casinos pushing for legislation and has been quite persuasive in public appearances utilizing all the right push buttons of respecting individual rights, creating jobs and revenue, while ensuring protection for players.