Florida Joins Ranks of States Considering Intrastate Gambling

Florida’s state legislature is considering a bill to legalize intrastate online gambling and regulate it through the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering. State Representative Joseph Abruzzo authored the Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010.

The bill seeks to create an Internet hub operator to administer online poker rooms that link up Florida players who would register accounts at affiliated card rooms. Those card rooms would be provide patrons to the Internet gaming operator.

The online gambling operator would be charged a $500,000 licensing fee and each participating card room would pay a $1000 license fee. Twenty percent of the rake would go to the state before the remainder is divided between the operator and affiliates.

Licensing requirements would be established to ensure that applicants are incorporated Florida, would require age checking at the time an account is funded, as well as measures designed to affirm identity, guard against money-laundering, and allow for self-exclusion and other problem gambling safeguards.Abruzzo claims his bill would generate over $200 million for the state in the first year of operation.