Poker Legalization Bill for Michigan

Yermek

Yermek

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I am happy for the players from Michigan :)
 
MoeJurphy

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This is good news for online poker!
 
BluDogg

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There is more info! Basically Amaya has been pushing this bill along with some of the other interested gaming regulatory parties and they met up a few days ago. An interesting detail to note is that the only people who showed up were those pushing for legalization. The beurocrats who were against ot, and also worked for the illegalization were not present which leads me to believe they aren't all that interested in this fight.

Hopefully we can see rooms pop up in the next year or two from what I've read.
 
curtinsea

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An interesting detail to note is that the only people who showed up were those pushing for legalization. The beurocrats who were against ot, and also worked for the illegalization were not present which leads me to believe they aren't all that interested in this fight.

That's not a safe conclusion to reach. The 'pro' side has to be vocal, has to press these hearings. Those opposed, especially the Tribes, will do so quietly. Like good poker players, they won't expose their hands until the showdown.

There is language in this bill that requires the state's Tribes to cede sovereignty, albeit limited to this area but, something Tribes typically will not do. It sets a bad precedent and they fought too hard for their rights to start ceding them over a little at a time.

Online poker itself isn't worth that much, casino games would fare better. But the IGRA complicates the issue in Tribal states.

There's reason to be optimistic and at least pleased there is a discussion going on. But online poker in Michigan is not around the next corner.
 
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hoffs

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This is just anywhere else. Online poker is a major threat for casinos and such organizations which rely on people gambling. So by legalizing online poker in the state you effectively reduce the amount of players from casinos which directly affects their profits. So such establishments always lobby politicians to keep online poker in the state it currently is at. So I don't think that something will happen soon. Maybe after a year or so it could be possible. This situation is also very similar to cannabis legalization.
 
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ekgbeat

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This is just anywhere else. Online poker is a major threat for casinos and such organizations which rely on people gambling. So by legalizing online poker in the state you effectively reduce the amount of players from casinos which directly affects their profits. So such establishments always lobby politicians to keep online poker in the state it currently is at. So I don't think that something will happen soon. Maybe after a year or so it could be possible. This situation is also very similar to cannabis legalization.

This is only true if you are talking about states where casinos are a major driver of their economy (Vegas for example). In states like MI, I can see the casinos wanting online poker. Case is Delaware. Point one, casinos hate most table games and they hate poker rooms. Why? They want the floor space for slots. With slots, you don't pay people to operate, you make steady cash flow, and people love to play slots which brings in cash. Point two, in a lot of states, the casinos operate the online rooms / get a cut of the revenues. Virtual rooms are a lot cheaper to operate than brick and mortar. To the casino, they have the same appeal as slots. I have seen it in Vegas, and also at my local casino. They are constantly reducing the size of the poker rooms so that they maximize space, and keep the poker room full with the normal regs and several wanderers.
 
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ekgbeat

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OP, are there any updates on this Bill? Has it passed the Senate? When does it go to the House or vice versa? What it the full process for a Bill to be passed in MI?
 
BluDogg

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Was planning on updating this with another article today anyway before ekgbeat posted. Good timing!

http://www.onlinepokerreport.com/20798/time-biggest-foe-michigan-online-gambling-legislation/

This isn't a big piece but it does give some material of interest. Kowall, the lead on this bill states that there is little opposition from any of the casinos, and the main detractors are typical anti gambling folks in general who would fight anything. He also points out that with the flint crisis and many schools facing economic issues that a new source of revenue needs to be found without raising taxes. There isn't much time between now and the end of June, which is when Michigan's congress is in session, for this bill to be acted on, which is what Kowall views as the most threatening enemy to his bill.

Hope that answers your questions ekg.
 
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ekgbeat

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Great article on the timeline, and thanks for keeping this up to date.
 
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Shiroslullaby

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I really hope this passes. Watch for the Illitch family or some of the other casino owners to pull some dirty tricks, though.
One of the reasons horse racing died out in Michigan was due to pressure from the casinos. They actually did some real scumbag stuff like secretly funding groups to oppose the tracks getting slot machines.
Hopefully they don't do the same type of thing with Poker.
 
BluDogg

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http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/icymi...ine-poker-chris-moorman-joins-888poker-28542/

So I missed this sort of big event but don't get excited yet. The Senate passed the bill but it doesn't count for much. The house also has to pass some sort of legislation which they haven't even proposed, and our governor might be able to stop this from passing. Unfortunately it looks like this had fizzled out as of now, but potential momentum might help this bill move forward.
 
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