In a move that is being seen as billionaire land casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson’s bid to hedge his bets, Nevada politicians have pushed through a bill restricting to online poker only any Nevada player-sharing deals with other states.
Last Friday AB 414 was passed by the state Assembly on a 23 to 17 vote with two abstentions, and is now at committee stage in the state Senate, facing a May 15 deadline for passage.
Our readers will recall that several years ago the Nevada state legislature gave the governor authority to negotiate player-sharing compacts with other states that have embraced legalised online gambling, although in Nevada only poker has been approved for licensing and regulation.
Thus far Nevada has partnered only with Delaware, and solely for online poker.
Adelson spokesmen continue to stress that the aging billionaire remains committed to the federal Restoration of America’s Wire Act bill, which seeks bans on internet gambling across the United States.