Legislation
US – Nevada and Delaware sign intra-state online poker deal
By Phil - 26 February 2014
Two of the United States’ three online gaming states; Nevada and Delaware, will allow their residents to play against each other at virtual poker tables in the country’s first ever intra-state, online agreement.
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and Delaware Governor Jack Markell confirmed the deal, the first of its kind, announcing they would create a framework for regulating interstate gambling.
Governor Sandoval described the agreement as historic, saying the states were entering a ‘new frontier of gaming.’
“The possibilities that are ahead of us are truly extraordinary,” Governor Sandoval said. “The agreement we’ve signed today provides the tools and the structure necessary for us to pioneer this expanding industry together, as states and as partners. We can’t wait. I see this as an opportunity for the states to show leadership, and it’s good for gaming, it’s good for business, and it’s good for the economies of our two states. We’re standing in a moment of history today. We hope the deal will serve as a model for multistate collaboration and that other states will see the benefits of the agreement and soon decide to join for themselves.”
Governor Markell added: “Governor Sandoval and I both share the goal of ensuring that our states’ gaming industries are as competitive as they can be, while ensuring that games are conducted fairly, honestly, and securely.”
Players in Nevada would still have to log in via the websites of the sites licensed in the Silver State and Delaware players would have to do the same with sites licensed in their state.
Players still need to be physically in either Nevada or Delaware to take advantage of the virtual gaming arena. Once logged in though, players would be able to play poker against each other at the same virtual tables. The states would split the revenues made from the games based on where the participating players are from.
Nevada is only currently allowing its residents to play online poker but this new agreement offers the possibility of additional games. It also could let new states sign up as members of a multi-state Internet gaming association.
Governor Sandoval added: “We are two small states but we’re two proud states and we can set a shining example of how to do this. The whole point of this is to have more players and to set this example, so that other states will see there’s a great opportunity to join this agreement. It’s up to the providers whether they want to be part of this.”
“More states means more players, which means more revenue for participating states,” Governor Markell added. “That’s why we wanted this agreement to be able to expand. We don’t have any [launch] dates yet.”
Caesar’s Entertainment is one of the operators ideally placed to take advantage of the intra-state deal.
“This is a good first step for states to decide how they want to play, what they want to play,” said Jan Jones, Chief Lobbyist for Caesar’s Entertainment. “We’re very optimistic.”
Caesar’s operates WSOP.com, one of three gaming sites that has been licensed in Nevada. Station Casinos and South Point operate the other two. Caesar’s also has a partnership with 888, which operates all three of Delaware’s licensed poker sites.
