Online Gambling Becomes Legalized in United States Thanks to

Washington, D.C., with its under 1 million population, has become the first jurisdiction in the United States to legalize online gambling.

The District of Columbia is looking to raise millions of dollars from a multi-billion dollar industry that, until now, has operated exclusively offshore from the United States. That apparently is about to change.

The Associated Press reported late Tuesday that permitting online gambling was part of a 2011 budget and a 30-day period for Congress to object expired last week, said D.C. Council, member Michael A. Brown, who authored the provision.

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"There was really no clear law that said we could not do this," Brown said last week.

The Web gambling business would be operated by Intralot, a Greece-based company. Bets would have to be placed within the District of Columbia. Unlike previous state measures such as those recommended in New Jersey, which failed to pass legislation last month, those betting from Washington, DC would not be required to actually live there. This essentially means that tourists and those who work in DC can likely play poker online. It is generally believed that the population of Washington, DC doubles during the work week to include approximately 1 million people.

The software would not be up and running until it could be shown that those living outside of the District were unable to gain access.

Officials estimate between $13 million to $14 million to come into the District through fiscal year 2014 as a result of the new industry.

"Anytime you're cutting budgets and you want to save some programs, you're looking for different pieces from different pots and you hope that you get to the number that restores those budget shortfalls and that's what we're trying to do with this," Brown said.

Jeff Ifrah, a lawyer who represents online poker firms Full Tilt and PokerStars, told the Associated Press he was dubious about any revenue estimates since he is doubtful current online poker players will be so quick to migrate from sites like those he represents.

"Players are really loyal in this industry," Ifrah said. "You really have to ask yourself what is the incentive a player is going to have to leave a trusted site with global competition to play in a site that's untested and kind of unknown and doesn't offer you the same level of play."

Both Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars have announced alliances with Las Vegas casino properties in recent weeks. PokerStars is backing a measure to legalize online poker in the state of Nevada.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Justice Department would not comment on the Washington DC measure when pressed by the Associated Press Tuesday evening.

Mayor Vincent Gray noted that he was not certain when the website would be operational.

"Assuming it's implemented it would become a part of our lottery program and could generate additional resources for the District of Columbia as we continue to support ourselves,” he told the AP.

In addition to online poker, Washington, DC could also offer other forms of Web gambling including casino games and sports betting.

- Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher

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CoraBets,

CoraBets:
Washington, D.C., with its under 1 million population, has become the first jurisdiction in the United States to legalize online gambling.


-http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/online-gambling-becomes-legalized-united-states-thanks-washington-dc-041211.html

I live in the US and just started playing like a couple of weeks ago. Is this legal everywhere in the States? B/c I didn't see in legal disclaimer when I signed up for this casino...I live in Il.

No, just DC I think.

Oh well good on Washington i guess

wow havent heard of this before, thanks OP

I think it will be legalize but there's a certain place only.. Goodluck!

Really ? wow that is cool. More gamblers online, Lol

Over the last fifteen years, the gambling industry's image has
gone from sleazy to slick. Once a pastime that had us conjuring up visions of cigar-toting, gold-chain - wearing, pot-bellied
mobsters, gambling is now something we can associate with trim,
tanned, Wall Street family men. Even GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole seems convinced that today's legal gamblingoperations are squeaky clean - so much so, in fact, that, according to the Wall Street Journal, he accepted $477,450 in campaign contributions from gambling interests in Las Vegas last summer.

US is prohibited from online betting/casino right? Maybe the reason is that they have "Las Vegas" wherein superb casinos are located.

I wish i can go to Vegas and gamble there too! lolz

Me, too and get married there as well, lol! I wanna see the casinos there and play big time like what celebrities do!

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121.127.8.50

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It's like gambling somehow. You go out for a night of drinking and you don't know where your going to end up the next day. It could work out good or it could be disastrous. It's like the throw of the dice.


-Jim Morrison-

Online Casino or Games in USA is prohibited because of their legislation thing.. But I think as long as it long as no one knows about it its legal!!!
hahaha LOL

Gambling houses are temples where the most sordid and turbulent passions contend; there no spectator can be indifferent. A card or a small square of ivory interests more than the loss of an empire, or the ruin of an unoffending group of infants, and their nearest relatives.

-- Johann Georg von Zimmermann --