The Senate Criminal Justice Committee in Florida USA dismissed efforts to bring online poker into the lawful and taxable world. For a long time, Florida has been endeavoring to make legal internet poker, recognizing the online gambling trend, which is undeniably growing at a gargantuan rate.
The bill initiated by Republican rep from Miami, Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla was tied vote of 2 against 2. Through an intranet system operated out of the pari-mutuel card rooms already existing, the bill would have regulated online poker games.
Thanks to a suggested 10 percent tax on gross receipts, the bill, sponsored by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, would have brought in an estimated $10.5 million a year, with another 4 percent going to assist parimutel horse and dog tracks in the state.
SB812 was successfully killed by voting, which resulted in a 2-2 tie. Florida Sheriff’s Association and the Poker Players Alliance powerfully resisted the measure and the bill created an unfair domination that promoted only the state-run parimutel card rooms. Had the bill passed from existing offshore poker sites, it would have successfully barred outside competition.
Lobbyist for the internet poker operators, Gus Corbella said that to go up against the bill, 80,000 Floridians have called lawmakers since it is “severely limiting the access that Florida players currently have” and it is “monopolistic and unfair”. He said that the law is “unclear at best” for online poker, while the federal law makes sports betting illegal.
