Virginia Online Poker Law

Virginia Online Poker Law

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Virginia is one of the strictest states against gambling activities and if residents of Virginia are seeking ways to play online poker legally then they need to wait for many years to come. There is only one way that could make online poker legal in Virginia and that is the thinking of lawmakers. If lawmakers believe that online poker is not gambling and stop seeing this game with negative attitude then only they will make online poker legal.

In 2013, lawmakers didn’t introduce the online poker bill and they never even discussed the online poker issue. It seems that lawmakers are taking strict actions against online poker as they introduced special bill in 2011 to remove all the loopholes that might give way to internet cafes and online poker. Introducing this law, lawmakers made online poker illegal activity.

Clifford L. “Clay” Athey Jr. (sponsor of this bill in 2011) gave declaration with harsh words when this bill was passed under his influence. “The Virginia General Assembly is taking stand for the Virginia values and left Las Vegas belonging to clear the path.

It is very apparent that Virginians remain protected from the Las Vegas and changes in the laws are on the cards. It all depends on the conservatives status of Virginian Assembly, but change is coming according to the Poker experts. Virginians elected Democrat Governor and other moderates candidates that took over the seats from conservatives in the Senate.

In normal circumstances, Virginia has been harsh on the online poker particularly players that belongs to this state. The two men that proposed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 were Virginia Congressmen. There was a time when Virginia offered many poker rooms to the people but lawmakers took steps against them and in 2010 they closed this service, permanently. After 2010, a restaurant owner was arrested for organizing the poker game at his house with his family members and friends.

That man said that poker is game of skill and it can’t be treated as illegal activity according to the gambling law. The case was taken in front of the Supreme Court but the court refused to interrupt the case and allowed the trail against that person to take place.

When Can I Play Online Poker in Virginia?

Even though there are lot many things against the legalization of online gambling, online poker still has great chances of being legalized. A simple online poker bill will support the fight for legalizing the game with minimum interference. The newly introduced internet gambling law needed to be challenged for making online poker legal in the state.

There is no intension of lawmakers to make online poker legal and Virginian people can only hope to play online poker under the Federal Internet Poker Freedom act of 2013. If the Virginia citizens will start playing online poker then lawmakers have to see this issue from other prospective. But without the federal law, Virginia will not provide online poker legally to the people in under any circumstances.

Texas Online Poker Law

Texas Online Poker Law

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Texas doesn’t have any law that makes online poker legal in the state but Texas residents will be able to play online gambling very soon. In 2013, Texas have offered online poker bill for making online poker legal in the state. Lawmakers are taking very sensible decision by making online poker legal because people were proactively putting pressure on the lawmakers.

Online poker also have great chances of becoming legalized because there is supporter at federal level (Rep. Joe Barton) who is putting lots of efforts for legalizing online poker throughout the nation with Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013.

This was the step that all the online poker lovers were waiting for and now they can enjoy their favorite game in the entire country, legally. This bill is on the president table and it is expected that it will be signed by the president very soon. But states have the choice to keep their citizens away from the online poker as per the bill.

The online poker bill (state level), House Bill 3529, which is sponsored by Rep. John Kuempel have ensured that Texas should not opt out of the Internet Poker Freedom Act, in case it makes through the congress. This bill is the result of persistent efforts of Barton and he is very hopeful that Texas people will play online poker very soon.

All the things won’t be smooth as there are many people that are opposing but Republican Party lead by Gov. Rick Perry has putted lots of pressure on the lawmakers to stop the bill in 2009 that would have given way to the seven dog tracks and horse tracks as well as online poker.

Poker Gaming Act is another bill that lawmakers will consider that is offered for making poker legal by the tracks and Indian Casinos of Texas. The Texas Lottery Commission would manage all the activities of poker, if that bill is passed. Another poker bill is also introduced for making online poker legal for charity events.

It is very clear that Texas Senators only meet after two years and before 2015, it is impossible to say what is going to happen in further future. It is really hard to even think that Gov. Perry won’t give permission to Texas residents that they should play online poker, if their fellow party members satisfy the dysfunctional congress.

At present, there is no bill that can make online poker legal in the Texas and it won’t happen until 2015 for sure.

When Will Texans be Allowed to Play Online Poker?

If Internet Poker Freedom Act of 2013 is passed by the president then there are great chances that Texas citizens will be playing online poker legally in 2015. But if the federal law is not applied then it comes to the state lawmakers to create online poker law. It is clear that many lawmakers are in favor of making online poker legal in the Texas but until 2015 they can’t do anything. Keeping all the facts in mind, it is impossible for the people of Texas to play online poker legally before 2018.

Tennessee Online Poker Law

Tennessee Online Poker Law

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Tennessee is not paying any sort of attention to make online poker legal in the state as lawmakers are keener on some other matters. Tennessee is very religious place that is strongly against gambling and if online poker bill is represented in front of the lawmakers then it won’t get their approval. It is also making impact on the current political situation as introducing this idea might lead to re-election.

Online poker idea is not apt in Tennessee as there are many people that are against gambling acts and games because of their religious values. There is only one hope that people of Tennessee should come together to force the lawmakers to pass the online poker bill. Without the help of local people, it is impossible to make online poker legal in the Tennessee.

If anyone found playing poker or other gambling games then they will face serious charges. Police is actively conducting raids even if there are very few fines such as $1 to $50 if caught playing poker and $250 with Class B misdemeanor for organizing poker tournament. Law Enforcers and Lawmakers both are really against any kind of gambling activity inside the boundaries of Tennessee.

Democrat Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver made headlines by helping gambling enterprises and he had to leave the politics under tremendous pressure of local public. This happened in 1950s but the tradition of punishing people that are involved in gambling still remains the same.

It is very clear that gambling has made many states very famous such as Las Vegas. If Las Vegas hasn’t legalized the gambling then it would be only a rail depot in the desert.

PBS.org stated that casino operators were getting anxious after getting the news that Kefauver won’t help in facing the committee that is coming for the visit. It really made impact on the casino owners because they were not sure about their deep connection with the lawmakers. One of the Syndicate member stated that “you just got to the point where bribe is not required at least in Nevada for keeping all the things on right place.

In 2013, 13 people were charged for playing poker in Tennessee and legal trails were conducted by the courts. It is very clear that you should only play poker for fun, not for the money if you want to avoid the legal complications.

When Can I Play Online Poker in Tennessee?

Tennessee is not offering any kind of legal gambling to their residents and Tennessee joins Utah as both the states are strictly against the poker and other gambling games. There are no casinos or in the Tennessee and with very powerful religious influence on the lawmakers, it denies any opportunity to make online poker legal.

It is very clear that Tennessee is a wasteland of online poker and if anyone is founded playing poker then they will face serious legal actions. Even there is federal law that offers freedom to play poker in the entire country but Tennessee has opted out from providing such service.

South Dakota Online Poker Law

South Dakota Online Poker Law

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South Dakota is the most prestigious and renowned city of Deadwood west side of the border, where 1200 people of barely are carrying tradition of card room from many years. It is well known tourist attraction because famous Wild Bill Hickok found dead while holding his cards (Aces and eight). Nowadays, if you possess this card combination then you can proudly name it Dead Man’s Hand. It is a tribute to the great man for remembering his style and skills.

Poker is the game that has deep roots into the South Dakota’s history but lawmakers are not interested in making online poker legal in the South Dakota. Authorities are very strict against the online gambling and that is why they have banned the online gambling which includes online poker.

Lawmakers of South Dakota are under consistent pressure of protectionist for casino industry that is lead by Indian casinos. They are trying very hard for making online casinos legal with their 100% efforts.

If South Dakota authorities make online poker legal then many tribes and local people will definitely welcome this facility. Indian tribes are looking forward to carry on their traditions but they are not well aware of how they will play and provide online poker.

It is very sure that tribes and legislators will consider their option very soon. South Dakota has enjoyed $16.6 millions in terms of taxes from casinos and if they make online poker legal then they can enjoy increased revenue, significantly. But at present it is the smallest casino market in the entire United States.

There are many ways that Indian tribes can opt for making online poker legal as many Indians are enjoying legal online gambling in the others states of country. There is special provision for Indian tribes that they can enjoy casino games as their heritage.

The tribes are trying their level best for making online poker legal in the state by following the path of Oklahoma tribes. They are making very hard efforts for settling the terms and conditions with government, so they can provide online poker legally to the international market. There is another way that casinos should show the profits that state can earn by legalizing the online poker. It is beneficial deal for the people of South Dakota because more than 1600 people are working in casinos.

It is very clear that lawmakers are not making any efforts for legalizing the online poker legal. Formally, there is no bill offered in the Senate that is in favor of legalizing online poker. Poker is popular sport in South Dakota and that gives hope that in future people might be able to play online poker without any problem.

As per stats of American Gaming Association, implementing the online poker won’t cost anything to the local casinos but if they legalize the online poker then it can affect the general player numbers in casinos.

When Will I Play Online Poker in South Dakota?

It seems that people of South Dakota have to wait for 2015 for enjoying online poker service. There is only one way to legalizing the online poker and that is making a separate online poker bill for reducing the discussion and implementing it quickly.

South Carolina Online Poker Law

South Carolina Online Poker Law

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South Carolina has the great history of stopping gambling expansion especially when it comes to the online gambling and online poker. In fact, playing gambling with machines and dices are banned by the South Carolina authorities. You can’t even play board games such as Monopoly or other famous games such as cribbage.

The gambling laws were made in 1802 but they were revised in 1980 to prevent any loop holes in the law system. In 2013, illicit online poker industry was tracked down by the authorities and they conducted special operations to remove poker from the state.

Till 2013, there were no bills made or represented for debates by the law makers and there is no hope that laws will change significantly until the next elections.

Rep. Bill Herbkersman (Republican) from Bluffton made proposal that he is going to make home based poker and other social card games legal. Immediately, many conservative members of the Senate have opposed this statement as they are strictly against the online poker. Many newspapers also published many articles that suggest that this step will lead the state for legalizing gambling.

The Cherokee are making too many efforts to get approvals of state authorities for opening a casino. But Gov. Nikki Haley has promised to reject the proposal without seeing the benefits that state can enjoy such as great revenue.

There are several cases where police of South Carolina has made raids for stopping people from playing online poker. In many cases police has used SWAT teams to raid in the houses of normal people that were sitting with their friends. In 2006, SWAT team arrested more than 20 people with the charges of playing poker. In that raid, 72 year old man was killed by the several fires from policemen.

The police teams also raided some conservative people who were suspected for corruption charges. The state Alcohol Law Enforcement said that there was illegal poker game that was taking place during the raid. It stunned the people of South Carolina because that was not expected from the conservatives. Many online poker lovers hinted that conservatives were demanding huge bribes for supporting the online poker legalization.

It is very clear that many officials play poker and other gambling games on occasions and that has lead to the situation where police officials are not sure what they should do.

SWAT team for stopping poker tournament and huge raids in normal people house! Really there are lot many things that online poker industry have to do if they are seeking for making online poker legalized by the state. Government is strictly against the online poker and only if all the casinos of USA and people of the state works together then only there is hope that one day online poker will be legalized by the state.

South Carolina is a state where you can be arrested for keeping pack of the cards and face serious legal trials. The gambling laws were proposed to change but senate of South Carolina refused to vote in the favor of changing any laws.