North Dakota Stepping Up?

[Vatrlrman]

A Bill currently under discussion in North Dakota could lead to the US state becoming an online poker jurisdiction.
The proposal, contained in House Bill 1509, aims to see poker played over the internet to be defined in the state Constitution as a game of skill rather than gambling.

And the proponents of the Bill want to use the law change to encourage poker operators to set up in the state.

Jim Kasper, a member of North Dakota’s House of Representatives, said North Dakota would be prepared to fight the US government if it sought to block the state law.

He said the Bill could bring up to US$500m of new revenue to the state.

Under his plan, Kasper would use 60% of the poker revenue for property tax relief, 20% for public education and 20% for the state's general fund.

The Bill would need to negotiate several hurdles to become law, not least of which is a public vote in 2006 to change the definition of gambling.

But politicians in the state said they were not afraid to take a risk and confront the US government head on.

"I believe that for the people of North Dakota and for the state, we need to be strong and take on this challenge and not be afraid to step out of the box," Mark Dosch, a North Dakota Representative, said.


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[Talking Poker]

This is good stuff. A step in the right direction for online poker, for sure.

[omahilo]

that sounds awesome... you got a link for this article? I want to send it to a friend.

The states would be smart to do this, be able to generate tons of tax money for the state, etc.

[Vatrlrman]

Afraid that is the whole article.

Got it at

[BlibbityBlabbity]

This sounds like a good thing for online poker AND North Dakota. Look at what the credit card industry did for Delaware.

[PShabi]

Yeah, I always wondered why every credit card company is out of Delaware. Why is that?