The Washington-based American Gaming Association, which in recent years has shifted from being neutral toward online poker to an advocate for legislation approving it, has created a video comparing Internet poker today to the environment of the historic American Wild West.
The video accompanies the organization’s proposed online poker “Code of Conduct” listing six principles companies should adopt to become licensed.
“The AGA thinks online poker operators must adhere to the same stringent regulations that have proven effective in governing brick-and-mortar casinos,” said AGA president and CEO Frank Fahrenkopf. “If online poker is legalized in the U.S., implementation of the principles of the Code of Conduct will ensure that American consumers are playing online poker in a fair and secure environment provided by a responsible operator.”
Industry activists say momentum is growing for federal lawmakers to start a new effort to legalize online poker. Past efforts have failed due to lack of support. Current policy is dictated by the U.S. Justice Department’s interpretation of enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.
The Justice Department’s stance has prevented states like Nevada from adopting some form of Internet gaming. State gaming regulators, however, will begin efforts to draft so-called iGaming rules with hearings next week.
The AGA video portrays today’s online poker environment as a dangerous, lawless place similar to the wild west. Images of poker players at computer screens are mixed with pictures of scoundrels in saloons.
The underlying message is that if Congress approves online poker it can properly regulate play and protect American players from losing money to foreign operators that aren’t under government purview.
In a release issued this morning, Fahrenkopf explained the AGA’s shift in philosophy.
“Only a few years ago, the technology and operating processes did not exist to implement and enforce the principles of the code,” Fahrenkopf said. “But online gambling is legal in some 85 jurisdictions today and the technology that eliminates the risks that once concerned the AGA and others has now been proven through actual use.”
The AGA’s six principles for companies seeking licensing:
• Conduct extensive background checks that will keep criminals out of the business.
• Install proper identification of every U.S. online poker player to assist law enforcement and keep minors and consumers from unlawful jurisdictions and cheaters from playing.
• Undergo regular testing and auditing of online poker software to ensure that games are fair and honest.
• Implement rigorous player exclusion processes to prevent minors, players from illegal U.S. jurisdictions and cheaters from accessing online poker sites.
• Institute effective responsible gaming protections on operator sites to educate patrons and provide problem gamblers easy access to tools to help control their behavior.
• Maintain stringent antimoney-laundering procedures that will assist the government in its law enforcement efforts.