Reid: No deal on Internet poker

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid put a sudden end to speculation and the hopes of card sharks when he declared that major payroll tax legislation unveiled Thursday did not contain legalization for Internet poker.

As details of the tax cut bill were being unfurled, Reid, the Senate majority leader from Nevada, said online poker was not in it. He did not elaborate on a quick comment made to a reporter as he entered a Senate elevator.

Poker players had invested in some hope the payroll tax bill could be the setting to legalize poker-playing on the Internet and establish sets of rules for games to be licensed and overseen by a federal agency and the states.

They plan to continue their vigil.

"While we were hopeful the payroll tax bill would include a bill to license and regulate online poker in the U.S., the Poker Players Alliance supports any other vehicle in which this can happen this year and believe this is a decision best left to the lawmakers," said Rich Muny, vice president of player relations for the organization.

As Nevada gaming companies seek to tap a new and lucrative source of revenue online, Reid has been engaged in negotiations with Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., on the topic.

The talks have been taking place under a veil of public silence, which served to stoke rumors and speculation about their progress.

It also prompted push back lobbying by Indian tribes worried about being left out of any deal, and also lottery interests that prefer online poker be made legal through state action and not by the federal government.

Proponents of legalization had estimated that a federal bill could yield about $30 billion in revenue through license fees and taxes, but few details emerged as to whether poker even was on the table during negotiations on the payroll tax measure.

The payroll tax bill was expected to be one of the few major bills able to pass Congress before the November elections. Lawmakers are expected to return to work following Election Day.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.

Trending topics:

• Internet poker
• payroll tax bill
• U.S. Sen. Harry Reid
• Washington

Comments

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1. Seven.Burke Feb. 18, 2012 | 4:56 p.m. Report Abuse

   who's kidding who? Harry Reid has NO pull. If he did, iPoker would have been a done deal. Already.

2. fast eddie Feb. 18, 2012 | 8:33 a.m. Report Abuse

   I have to ask this? If you were elected President after George Bush what would you have done with four wars and the economy headed south at a record pace we had never seen this before since the great depression. The Banks were failing and the Automobile Industry had stoped. Food Stamps and Poverty were at an all time High. Then you get to be President after the GOP. I ask what would you have done? Banks , Wall Street, Morgage Companies and Credit Card Companies including Online Poker were robbing every one Blind. Health Care was robbing every one. I ask what would you have done. Five Thousand lives had been lost in Wars. So far The President has covicted around 300 people and more coming. I ask what would you would have done after the GOP? The GOP are still in Charge and they are calling all the shots we need a real Change.

3. beentheredonethat Feb. 17, 2012 | 7:17 p.m. Report Abuse

   And more far, far, far, far right wing sputtering from Dave and the ever reliable Gary D.
   
   Its clear neither of you have any knowledge of the subject, but consistently with your peculiar philosophy, you are unafraid to demonstrate that fact before the entire community.
   
   "Fat, drunk, and stupid, is no way to go through life son(s)"

4. American values Feb. 17, 2012 | 3:03 p.m. Report Abuse

   - Reid's dirty politics... REID THIS
   
   http://www.theblaze.com/stories/david-barton/

5. GARY D Feb. 17, 2012 | 1:56 p.m. Report Abuse

   @beentheredonethat ----- FACT: you gotta' stop drinking all that Liberal Socialist tainted kool-aid, it's hurting you horribly. Do you read your posts before hitting the enter button ????? The next thing you will tell us, is - you think Obama is doing a good job, and that he doesn't lie !!!!!

6. Dave Feb. 17, 2012 | 1:53 p.m. Report Abuse

   beentheredonethat - sorry you continue to post nonsense, If Dems are so concerned about letting Americans have online gaming why didn't / Haven't they passed legislation? Especially during the first 2 years of the Obama administration? There are both Repubs and Dems in favor of online gaming and against it (Sen. Reid a DEMOCRAT has changed his position as well, he used to be against online gaming!). I know you are a partisan hack and everything that's bad is because of Republicans in your unoriginal thoughtless mind, but who knows maybe one day...

7. American values Feb. 17, 2012 | 1:17 p.m. Report Abuse

   FACT - the Liberals have been getting their way and WE, and the country have been suffering ever since. The STIM-U-LESS has done NOTHING - no bridges being built, no roads, no schools, no JOBS. It happens everytime the liberal marxist dems get their way, ram their policies thru - they TAX & SPEND and the country is worse off. They get their way and pass their ideologically driven agenda and policies and we lose jobs, lose respect around the world, security, privacy and the spiral continues and is faster under this regime than under ANY other. WE have seen this time & time again when the leftwing radicals get control.
   
   No More - Vote them ALL out - in BOTH Parties - and Vote FOR those that have American Values Principles & traditions. the type that made US the strongest, bravest, most prosperous nation on Earth.

8. Nachodaddy Feb. 17, 2012 | 12:29 p.m. Report Abuse

   Reid "The Poster Child For Term Limits"

9. Nachodaddy Feb. 17, 2012 | 12:28 p.m. Report Abuse

   Reid wants internet gaming to accept our new form of currency Obama dollars or some people still call them food stamps. The liberals warped care from the womb to the tomb coverage. The best way to buy voters.

10. beentheredonethat Feb. 17, 2012 | 9:56 a.m. Report Abuse

    Al Knowing:
    
    "Just the facts man, just the facts."
    
    I didn't say anything that wasn't true, and most of what I said is just the fact; the republicans included a ban on internet gaming within the "Safe Ports Bill" passed on the LAST day of the legislative session back in 2006. The provisions relating to internet gaming were slipped into this bill at the very last moment before ANY legislator had an opportunity to read it by Iowa Republican Leach. Other republican sponsors, identified as the "four horsemen of the on-line gaming apocolypse" were Sen. Frist, Sen. Kyle, and Cong. Goodlatte.
    
    Sen. Kyle, of Ariz. was a long-time opponent of on-line gaming, and along with Leach formed the vanguard of the anti-on line gaming movement. These are the "conservative" representatives most directly responsible for preventing ordinary Americans from exercising their freedoms to play poker, and other games, on line.
    
    If you don't know it, then either learn about it, or don't, and continue to spout nonsensical stuff as you did below.
    
    That goes for you too Dave.

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