The issue of legalizing poker online in the US has always been something the public discussed, but it rarely caught the attention of major public figures.
Normally, when a politician runs for presidency, he has a plethora of matters to address, from national security to the country’s economy, and there’s no wonder online gambling is not something that is being thought of by many.
However, some people do pay attention even to a seemingly insignificant subject like playing online poker, and presidential candidate Andrew Yang is one of them.
On October 26th, Yang tweeted the following:
Online poker is legal in 4 states. The state-by-state rules are variable and push many players to offshore sites. We should clarify the rules and make it legal in all 50 states. US players and companies would benefit and new tax revenues could be used to mitigate addiction.
The fact that Yang took the time to express his opinions about the legality of online casinos was a welcome surprise to many members of the poker community.
It means that the issue might be discussed in the higher levels of the government, possibly promoting legalizing online poker all across the US.
Top Reasons for Legalizing Online Poker in the US
In his tweet, Yang mentioned a few important factors that support the legalization of online gambling. So why should online poker be legal all around the US?
When people turn to offshore casino websites, two things happen: first of all, every dollar players spend on casino games is money that leaves the country. If there are more American online casinos, people will probably invest that money back into the system, supporting the local economy. Also, the expansion of the US gambling market will create more job opportunities available to everyone.
Apart from that, local supervision will eliminate a certain element of risk that accompanies gambling in foreign casinos. When a player's mind is set on playing poker, but he can't find a local venue that provides these services, he might turn to shady casinos.
Apart from that, local supervision will eliminate a certain element of risk that accompanies gambling in foreign casinos. When a player's mind is set on playing poker, but he can't find a local venue that provides these services, he might turn to shady casinos.
There are plenty of gambling venues that aren’t being regulated, which means there is no way to ensure fair play or responsible gambling. As a result, players can develop an addiction to gambling and remain undetected, which can end badly.
In Conclusion
Although there is no guarantee that Andrew Yang will win the election or bring the subject up again, his tweet managed to generate some attention, which is a good sign for the poker industry.