Florida's legislature ponders new poker law

Legislation that would legalize and regulate intrastate online poker within the US state of Florida is being considered by that state's legislature.

The legislation is named the 'Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010' and it has been drafted and introduced by State Rep. Joseph Abruzzo.

If passed, the law would allow online poker operators to apply for a license to offer their product to Florida residents. A licensing fee and tax structure will of course be imposed and is possibly the major motivation behind the proposed bill. In fact one of the bill's stated aims is to 'ensure consumer protections and additional revenue to the state by authorizing, implementing and creating a licensing and regulatory structure and system of internet poker.'

Abruzzo claims that the bill could raise as much as $200 million for Florida's State treasury in its first year of operation alone - a figure that is no doubt enticing to legislators in the current fiscal climate.

Another argument being run by supporters of the new law, is the fact that an estimated 1 million Floridians gambling online using foreign sites presently anyway.