A bill introduced to the Florida legislature by State Representative Joseph Abruzzo would legalize intrastate online gambling and regulate it through the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering.

[vixen777]

A bill introduced to the Florida legislature Friday would legalize intrastate online gambling and regulate it through the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering. State Representative Joseph Abruzzo authored the Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010.

If the bill passes, it would create a position as Internet hub operator, which would administer online poker rooms connecting players residing in Florida. Players would register accounts at affiliated card rooms, which would be responsible for providing patrons to the Internet gaming operator.

The online gambling operator would be charged a $500,000 licensing fee, while each card room that wished to be an affiliate would pay $1000 for a license. The rake would be taxed 20 percent by the state before being divided among operator and affiliates.

Internet operational licensing would require that applicants be incorporated in the state of Florida, ruling out attempts by established overseas Internet gambling companies from assuming the mantle of Florida online poker operator. However, the bill leaves open the possibility of more than one hub operator.

Provisions are included that require age checking at the time of funding of accounts, as well as measures designed to affirm identity, guard against money-laundering, and allow for self-exclusion and other problem gambling safeguards.

Abruzzo says almost one million Floridians already participate in online gambling at unregulated sites run by offshore operators. He states his bill would generate over $200 million for the state in the first year of operation.

Abruzzo expressly draws in the bill the right to create intrastate online gambling regulation from the wording of the UIGEA federal Internet gambling ban.

Published on March 1, 2010 by MattMiller

HB 1441 - Internet Poker
Internet Poker: Creates "Internet Poker Consumer Protection & Revenue Generation Act of 2010"; provides for intrastate Internet poker to be provided to public by cardroom operators through state Internet poker network operated by Internet poker hub operators; provides for administration & regulation by Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering of DBPR.
Effective Date: July 1, 2010

Last Event: Filed on Friday, February 26, 2010 2:00 PM

[violet57]

sounds like this maybe what the USA has been waiting for

hopefully it all turns out

[pevangel]

Wooohooooo I knew there was something good about living in FL.
Thank you for the post Vixen.



pevangel

[eishagirl]

20%? seems like alot but i guess its a good step in the right direction.

[Mouche12]

It's a step in the right direction I think, but this only applies to poker rooms, hope casinos will be included one day too...