Florida Bill Calling for Study of Internet Poker Dies

5 May 2009

By Caroline M. Gallay

Florida Senate Bill 682, which had excited some industry insiders with an amendment that called for a study of Internet poker, died the final day of session this year.

The original bill was unrelated to I-gaming issues, but a committee amendment called for a study of Internet poker by Florida’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, along with recommendations for legislation to protect Floridians currently engaging in unregulated online poker.

The bill passed the Senate with the study language still intact, but was given a strike-everything amendment in the House. The Senate refused to pick the bill up again, and it died on Friday.

Greg Giordano, legislative assistant to Senator Mike Fasano, who sponsored the bill, told IGamingNews Monday that the Internet poker study was not one of Mr. Fasano’s priorities.

Mr. Giordano doesn’t know whether the issue will be brought up again next year.

Florida Bill Calling for Study of Internet Poker Dies is republished from iGamingNews.com.