Can Texas Hold’Em Hold Up in Texas?

Poker, and gambling in general – both online and live – are always going to be intricately linked to all kinds of legal ramifications, and those involved can find themselves walking a thin and blurry line.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 in the United States, for example, led to a mass exodus of major online poker operators whose stocks in the London Stock Exchange suffered freefall within literally 24 hours of the bill being passed.

Fastforward to the present day, and legislation surrounding poker continues to be a complex and contentious issue in the country that, ironically, hosts the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Will Texas Hold’Em Hold Up in Texas?

Many of us naturally associate Texas with poker – not least because it gives its name to Texas Hold’em, the most popular format of the game. However, the Lone Star State has in place some of the USA’s strictest gambling laws, and it’s the redefining of one such key law that is currently being addressed.

Four major Texas poker rooms – including the Lodge Card Club, co-owned by Doug Polk – are seeking to clear the murky legal waters that lawmakers could currently interpret as suggesting their business model – in which the clubs circumvent the fact that gambling is illegal in the state by charging membership and seat fees instead of the usual practice of collecting rake – is illegal.

The HB2345 bill aims to update Texas gaming laws to include poker clubs under private game definitions, and adjust/clarify the meaning of “economic benefit” so that a business – while not taking a rake – can legally earn revenue via (primarily) fees.

After the House Licensing Committee voted in favour this week, the next hurdle will be the House Calendars Committee, so while it’s good news thus far for Polk and others looking to serve the poker community (and, in turn, not insignificant in terms of the bigger picture), there could still be a long way to go.

Black Book for Online Poker

Meanwhile, poker is also the subject of legislative consideration in the state of Nevada, where it has been proposed that an existing bricks & mortar casino policy is introduced to online poker in the shape of a Black Book for those caught cheating.   

The AB380 Bill would enable the Nevada Gaming Commission to have a list – provided by online poker operators – of players found cheating online, the point being to have the facility to ban them from a roster of online poker rooms in the same way that people are banned from entering multiple casinos.

Again, the ramifications of such a development could be crucial when taking into account the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement and the accompanying need to demonstrate the integrity (and player safety) of the online poker sector.

It should be noted, however, that there isn’t universal support for this legislation from those within the industry, as some (understandably) are already confident that they can police their respective poker sites themselves without outside interference.

No doubt the struggle will continue but, hopefully, the overall cause for poker in the United States will hopefully progress in 2023…

Can Texas Hold’Em Hold Up in Texas?

SHARE THIS quote ON:

• Telegram
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Link