Following a dramatic day in Carson City on Thursday, February 21, Nevada state governor Brian Sandoval signed legislation which legalises online gambling in the state.
With New Jersey almost certain to sign its amended online gambling bill into law on Tuesday, February 26, the Nevada bill, which passed through the state assembly and senate as an emergency measure, steals a march on the Silver State’s east coast rivals and makes Nevada the first state in the union to sanction interstate online gambling.
Sandoval and Nevada legislative leaders said it was important for the state to remain at the forefront of gambling regulation. Sandoval said: "This is an historic day for the great state of Nevada. Today I sign into law the framework that will usher in the next frontier of gaming in Nevada."
“This bill is critical to our state's economy and ensures that we will continue to be the gold standard for gaming regulation." AG Burnett, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, said the state already has around 20 applications from various operators, equipment and software vendors to be licensed for online gambling.
Assembly bill AB114 enables Nevada to enter into compacts with other states to offer internet poker. The move follows the stalling of federal legislation, the much-discussed Reid-Kyl bill, and signals a significant step forward for the US’s fledgling legal online gaming market.
But any compacts with other states, which would enable players in other parts of the US to access online poker services licenced and housed in Nevada, are still likely to require approval from Congress as set out by Article 1, Section 10 of the US Constitution.
