Joe Barton’s Online Poker Bill Gaining Ground

Joe Barton has been labeled as someone on the “cutting edge” of the field of lawmaking, but when he first introduced the H.R. 2666 to a panel of lawmakers in the United States, they were anything but impressed. This is thought to have changed in recent months. A committee meeting held only a couple of weeks ago has shown the Poker Freedom Act a great deal more respect, which has helped to bring this proposal into the light so that others can find out more about it. Many professional lawmakers believe that while the concept of legalizing gambling in the United States is a hotly debated one, it is also one that should be taken very seriously.

The Poker Freedom Act

What is this act all about, and why is it causing so many waves? Well, firstly, the online poker bill was brought to Congress very quickly after the states of New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware legalized online gaming. The reason for this was that Barton felt it unfair that certain states had the freedom to access online gaming, such as poker, and others weren’t. As he put it, if Americans found enjoyment in the game, and certain states were already legalizing it, there was no reason why all Americans shouldn’t be able to enjoy the game.

Shedding Light On The Issue

One of the biggest changes that this proposed bill has brought about is that it has forced lawmakers to look at the issue a lot more closely. It is also attracting some of the biggest names in online gaming and allowing them to speak out on the matter, based on their own experience. In the least, the online poker bill has got people talking about the issue, which might have been beneficial on its own, but it has also started to gain a lot of respect, and this is truly what is helping to push the issue forward.

Improving The Odds Of Introducing Online Gambling To America

As it stands, there isn’t much chance that this bill will suddenly turn things around within the United States, particularly in those states where lawmakers are vehemently protesting online gambling, but it is certainly raising the chances that more states will follow suit. When asked to comment on his bill, Barton stated that it wasn’t a perfect bill, but it does seem to be making somewhat of an impact. It must come as a relief that while the bill was once just about ridiculed, it is now gaining the respect of more and more lawmakers throughout the country. Who knows, maybe one day it will play a pivotal role in the regulation of online poker at a federal level? This might be hard to believe now, but in this industry, just about anything is possible.