The state of Nevada wants to offer its online poker to other players in other states, but that is a hard a row to hoe, it seems. Even so, Nevada gaming regulators are not giving up. Recently, the state Gaming Control Board held a meeting that went into ideas on how companies may be able to offer progressive jackpots to players who live across state lines.
International Game Technology and Bally Technologies, which happens to be the state’s largest slot machine manufacturer, asked the Nevada Gaming Commission if it would change its regulations so as to allow multijurisdictional progressive prizes. According to A.G. Burnett, the Gaming Control Board Chairman, he agreed that adoption of the amendments could be seen as a good first step heading toward acceptance of online poker across various state lines.
The governor of Nevada, Brian Sandoval, has already signed legislation that was approved in the 2013 Nevada Legislature’s session that would pave the way for drafting regulations that would allow online play by those who live outside Nevada. As it is now, people are allowed to play online poker as long as they are inside the state’s borders. To date, Station Casinos is licensed operating an online poker site and is doing this through the Ultimate Poker brand. Many other companies are working to get licensing as well. So far, Station has not said just how much revenue it has been able to earn, but some suggest that the company is doing just fine.
Back in July, the Control Board said it had gross earnings for the month that totaled some $12 which is an increase of 3.4 percent over July of 2012. The Control Board said that it is not able to breakdown how much of that came from internet play until it has at least three licensees. This is done to keep Station’s winnings as confidential as possible. It was reported though that poker winnings have passed revenue that was generated by bingo, keno, pai gow poker and sports and race books.
While there is much to do to get access across state lines, one thing that must be done is for the governor to work out agreements with other states. Also they must work on developing the technical specifications that would be needed to handle cross state play. In order to do this, the governor says he needs the Gaming Board to set up regulations. He says his talks with other states have been productive. He just needs to have the regs in place to more ahead.
It may be a while before Nevada lawmakers get into any real action on this issue. There are some who believe that cross state play will be more trouble than it is worth. There are others who feel that it will be too expensive to get all the tech in place to handle such a complex venture as cross state poker play and then there are those who simply do not know what they want just yet and are waiting for more information.