US State Governors Oppose Federal Poker Bill

The National Governor's Association addressed a letter to leaders of both the US House and Senate in which it voiced its opposition to the Reid-Kyl bill which would legalize online poker on a federal level.

The letter comes shortly before the bill is supposedly set to be introduced to Congress. Rumors are swirling that the bill could be introduced in the Lame Duck Session of Congress after the November 6th election.

"The draft would pre-empt emerging state regulatory authority recently established by the U.S. Justice Department under a reinterpretation of the federal Wire Act, which could restrict state revenues derived from gaming." the NGA letter said.

“As you know, states that authorize gaming in whatever form derive significant revenues critical to help fund programs for education, senior citizens, military veterans, and other important services," the letter claims, hitting on the point that the bill would cause interference on the state's ability to collect gaming revenues.