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 The Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee killed a bill that would have regulated online poker in Florida on Tuesday with a tied vote of 2-2. The bill which was introduced by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla would have brought in an estimated $10.5 million a year in tax revenue and kept players from resorting to playing at overseas sites that currently operate under a grey area in federal law
"What we're trying to do here is create Florida intrastate poker network and do it with Florida companies with regulations here -- protecting from identify theft and protecting the consumer -- and having revenue go to the state," Diaz de la Portilla told the committee.
The measure was opposed by the Florida's Sheriff's Association who referred to online poker as "internet crack." Frank Messersmith, lobbyist for the Florida Sheriff's Association said internet poker is "a form of digital escape to the anti-social people and it just opens all types of doors that we think is too opportune for people to be caught up in gambling."
The PPA also opposed the measure. Gus Corbella, a lobbyist for the online gambling industry told reporters that with the help of the PPA more than 80,000 Floridians contacted lawmakers saying that the bill was "monopolistic and unfair" and is "severely limiting the access that Florida players currently have."
For the moment it seems that Florida lawmakers have no further plans to pursue legalized online gambling.
As always, stay tuned to Casinofan for more news and updates.
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