Published Monday, April 11, 2011 | 10:50 a.m.
Updated Monday, April 11, 2011 | 11:41 a.m.
CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval said today he is in favor of Congress approving online poker legislation rather than the state going forward alone.
Appearing for an interview on "Nevada Newsmakers," the governor said he supported a bill in Congress to open the door to Internet poker, adding that Nevada should be the first state to take advantage if the federal law passes.
There is no federal law banning Internet poker but there is a legal opinion from the Justice Department that declares interstate online gambling is illegal. The governor said he is sending a letter to the Legislature outlining his position that Nevada should not be in conflict with federal law or the legal letter of the Justice Department.
“I don’t want the state to be in contravention of the federal law,” he said.
The governor said he believes the future of the casino industry is in Internet gambling.
A bill in the Legislature would permit online poker within Nevada and in foreign countries where it isn't banned. Assembly Bill 258 has been sitting in the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which has held one hearing but hasn't taken a vote.
Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, the chairman of the committee, said there might be amendments to the bill. Horne said he intends to move the bill out of committee, despite the stance of the governor favoring federal legislation.
The governor hasn’t seen the amendments, Horne said, adding that he might find them to be acceptable.
He said he was “confident” he had the votes in committee to approve the measure. He said he has not had a chance to read the governor's letter.
Sandoval said Nevada has always been the leader in the nation and the world in the gambling business.
“If, indeed, the federal government legalizes online poker, the state of Nevada should be the one that sets up regulatory structure and the investigatory structure for those who seek licensing in that area," he said.
The governor said the state Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission are confident they can put together a regulatory structure that is consistent with any federal regulation.
An effort by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass an online poker bill at the last session of Congress failed. Major resort companies in Las Vegas such as Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International favor a federal law rather than a state bill.
But PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site, is pushing the bill in the Legislature.
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