For the third year running an online poker legalisation bill has passed the first hurdle – the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, which advanced the measure to the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday on a 10 vs. 1 vote.
In previous years, and particularly last year, similar legislation made it all the way through the Senate system and was approved, only to run out of steam in the House of Assembly (see previous reports), requiring that it start from square one again in the Senate this year.
Observers are hopeful that the bill will again achieve a clear run through the Senate, but point out that the uncertain support of Rep. Gary Pretlow, the chairman of the Assembly Gaming Committee will be an important factor governing progress through that body.
Rep. Pretlow has undertaken to address the bill early in the legislative season.