US State Legalizes Interstate Online Poker

The state of Nevada has made history by becoming the first US state to approve interstate online poker. On Thursday, Bill AB114 was unanimously passed in the Assembly and Senate, before then being signed into law by Governor Brian Sandoval.
The bill was actually presented as an “emergency measure” in the Nevada Legislature and, as a matter of state pride, managed to beat fellow gambling resort New Jersey to the finish line. which is expected to approve a similar piece of legislation next week.
Before officially signing the bill, Gov. Sandoval announced: “This is an historic day for the great state of Nevada. Today I sign into law the framework that will usher in the next frontier of gaming in Nevada. This bill is critical to our state’s economy and ensures that we will continue to be the gold standard for gaming regulation.”
Nevada’s licensed operators are currently preparing to launch their real money online sites, but have also been expressing concern over the potential low liquidity of Nevada. After all, the Silver State is ranked 35th in terms of population with just 2,758,931 residents.
It will now be hoped that by pooling their players together with other states the online operators will be able to boost their liquidity, generate more tax revenue, create jobs and strengthen local business.
Highlighting what the new law means to Nevada, Caesars Interactive Entertainment CEO Mitch Garber explained: “We now, as a state, have the ability to go into this place we haven’t had the ability to go before with regard to online gaming. This is the beginning of a domino effect across the United States. Nevada is the leader, it is the first of many, and so today is a historic day. It is the first day of legalized online poker in the United States.”
Nevertheless, Nevada will still have to first convince other states to pool their players with them, but officials have said they are confident that this would not be a problem. All in all, Thursday proved a monumental day in the history of online poker in the US.