Legal Online Poker In D.C.

P.V.

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Wow, this one caught me off guard. Online poker may in fact now be legal for D.C. residents, coming soon.

It appears that it must be operated by the D.C. Lottery, only available to D.C. residents but still a major breakthrough for online gaming if in fact this comes to life.

Looks like someone took their eye off the ball and any objections expired Thursday.

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This proposal was reported in Casinomeister News last year, but the issue is now again topical because the deadline for objections has come into focus.

However, I believe the deadline is in fact April 14, and somehow I don't see the Republicans allowing this one to get away from them.
 
How long do they get for objections? I thought it was 30 or 45 days. In any case it might rub some the wrong way if they (D.C.) become one of the first to do it. Interesting. Thanks P.V.
 
D.C. internet gambling law clears Congress

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D.C. Internet gambling law clears Congress

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Freeman Klopott

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By: Freeman Klopott 04/12/11 8:05 PM
Examiner Staff Writer Follow Him @FKlopott
A District law to establish Internet gambling through the D.C. Lottery has cleared the congressional approval process, making the city the first U.S. jurisdiction authorized to allow online poker and betting on fantasy sports. At-large D.C. Councilman Michael Brown introduced the idea as an amendment to a December spending bill needed to close a $175 million budget gap in the current fiscal year. The council gave its approval and the 30-day waiting period for Congress to act on it ended last week.

The law allows the D.C. Lottery to create online poker and other "games of chance" and betting on fantasy sports leagues similar to those already established on the web, officials said. The city's chief financial officer estimates the city could raise $13 million in additional revenue from the gambling in fiscal 2014.

A D.C. Lottery spokeswoman said they're in the early stages of planning and could not immediately comment on specifics.

fklopott@washingtonexaminer.com

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If what gambling911's report from the other day about PokerStars' revenue is even 1/20th true (they said it was 20bn in 2010) I think it is going to be very difficult for cash strapped states to continue ignoring this as a source of additional income, especially once they see DC giving them something to be jelous of.

I have cynically said in the past that I didn't care about the UIGEA, that myself and everyone else would keep making money in spite of it, which was true. How much have we lost in stolen opportunity though? For those of us still in the US this is one of the most exciting stories over the last couple years. I'm starting to think online gambling might be coming back to the US - this time to stay.
 
Oh yeah, times are changing for sure so hang on for the ride!

This is very big news for U.S. online gambling as the rest of the states will follow in some form or fashion. :thumbsup:
 
I am very excited about this and was just thinking that it would be turned down just like every other bill that has come our way. It's been rough getting our hopes up for each one and then let down. This was a particularly bad week for US gambling legislation with Nevada, Florida and Hawaii all turning down the idea, so it was a complete treat to get up in the morning on Wednesday to see that it had indeed passed!

I'm no expert on things like this, but I'd like to know what this means for the rest of the US. Is it likely that other places in the US will follow suit? Or is that just wishful thinking?

I don't think this has really sunk in with a lot of people quite yet but by the time the lottery starts offering poker online, it will become a really big deal. One thing is kind of sad though. Only the lottery has permission and sites that are from other jurisdictions probably wont get to that market for a long time.
 
not quite

They have charged the principal owners and are seeking large sums but they haven't apprehended anyone (most, if not all, are out of country) and none of the sites are closed.
 
correction

They have charged the principal owners and are seeking large sums but they haven't apprehended anyone (most, if not all, are out of country) and none of the sites are closed.

Seems that I was not accurate (or things have changed) with the above posting. Maybe it was wishful thinking.
 
CNN just had a spot about this. From what the DC official said, it was already a done deal. A Greek company, Intralot, will oversee it. Don't know anything about them or maybe I do and just don't know it. :D Didn't just look like poker to me. He called it online gaming.

I just find it interesting that on one hand, the DOJ has a hissy fit and goes after the poker sites and on the other hand, the District of Columbia turns around and says it's legal. WTH?
 
current indictment

The current DOJ indictment is not at all about online poker but abot bank fraud due to the way the poker sites got around the UIGEA with fake companies to process the cc and bank wire and checks through. I think it's horrible, but the law is the law, and this indictment is not about whether or not online poker is legal or illegal or good or bad. Had the companies paid in checks that said "poker stars" etc, there would be zero in this indictment. I read all 80 pages of the indictment, and it's mostly about bank fraud.
 
Are we not getting two different issues mixed up in this thread, which is supposed to be about the 'online gambling authority by default" in Washington DC.

BTW Casinomeister News has coverage on this.
 
The deadline for Congress to object has come and went... Congress took no action and Online Poker became legal in D.C. by default.

Online Poker is now LEGAL in Washington D.C.
 
It's interesting that so far Congress has not reacted to this 'oversight', other than a spokesman saying late last week that Congress retained the right to revisit and revise the situation if it felt there was a need to do so.

But in the meantime the council is forging ahead with its regulations and plans initially for some 20 to 30 hotspots in the capital where poker players can go to gamble online (not just poker).

It seems too good to be true, and I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop :rolleyes:
 
OK, so if it is legal to 'game' in DC, just how do they plan for the players to be able to fund their gambling?

Unless the UIGEA is repealed, it's still illegal to fund any gaming activites in the US. And FYI, horse racing doesn't fall under the UIGEA but you still can't use some bank cards, WF for one, to fund and you can't fund online with a card, you have to call. I play at Twinspires which is a US based online horseplaying site, owned by Churchill Downs Inc. and some other US companies, and you can't use a Visa card.
 
Annie, the UGIEA is specifically targeted at "Illegal" or "Unlawful" Online Gambling transactions.

With D.C. going 'legal', the UGIEA does not apply to residents of D.C.

Added... this is going to be a real headache for the Banks and Cards(hehe)... if you live in DC and the banks/cards deny your online gambling transaction, you may have grounds to sue... ;)
 
My guess is that you won't fund your online accounts like you do right now with the DC online gaming and lottery poker. My guess is that they'll sell you either a scratch like ticket to play online or there terminals will just ask how much you want to play. Then it'll spit out a pin number for you to use online. I can't see lotteries getting too involved with the processing of check or credit cards. Just because of the expense. Considering most of them deal with straight cash anyways. At least in Iowa you can't buy anything lottery related except for in cash, but if I were a lottery getting into the business. This is how I would go about handling online gaming. If you want to game online, go to your local grocery store or gas station, buy a ticket or a pin number. Then be allowed to play.
 
Lotso,

That's what I was getting at when I said you couldn't fund horseracing accounts with Visa cards now. Online horsebetting doesn't fall under UIGEA but the sites still carry the gambling code.

I just don't see what good it is going to do to make it legal in DC and not everywhere else. A poker room where you have to go and play is no different than calling it a casino. Makes no sense. But then none of the crap does.
 
The current DOJ indictment is not at all about online poker but abot bank fraud

I think that misses an important point - if state lotteries, existing casinos et al. begin the process of creating their own poker networks which would they rather have, entrenched competition or absolutely none? The blackout's here and it didn't even need to pass a vote. That's not a trivial fact.

My guess is that you won't fund your online accounts like you do right now with the DC online gaming...

It would be very silly of them to tinker with the current funding model. All that would accomplish is to unnecessarily cost them business when potential customers' attention wanes from being forced to jump through too many hoops.
 
This garbage pisses me off!! I am not allowed to fund casinos and play on line, according to my government, since it makes my bank act illegally if I use it to fund and or accept winnings.

Yet, my government's very own district, the one that says gambling is bad for people, will be allowed to gamble, but only in D.C.? Our people that we vote into office to "represent" us? They can play and we can't? What is this, do as I say, not as I do?What is wrong with this picture? I know I am going to be absolutely relentless to my state's representatives over this. I hope everyone else will hammer this home, also.

Totally, completely, absolutely a pile of #%$&!
 

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