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Washington D.C. has been given the green light to offer internet gambling to their residents. Congress had 30-days to object to the to the bill but they were too busy with other matters and it has now gone into effect making the capital the first place in the nation to offer legalized online gambling. Officials are still unsure of when the games will go live but they will be operated by Intralot, a Greece-based company, and will be available only to gamblers making bets within the borders of the district.
Mayor Vincent Gray said on Wednesday that he didn't know how far along the process was but added, "Assuming it's implemented it would become a part of our lottery program and could generate additional resources for the District of Columbia as we continue to support ourselves."
D.C. hopes to use tax revenue from internet gambling to offset budget cuts and help social services programs in the area. It is conservatively estimated that online gambling will bring in $13-14 million annually for the nation's capital but industry experts warn that online poker players may not be quick to give up their favorite sites in favor of one endorsed by their area.
Jeff Ifrah, a lawyer who represents online poker companies, told USAToday, "Players are really loyal in this industry...You really have to ask yourself what is the incentive a player is going to have to leave a trusted site with global competition to play in a site that's untested and kind of unknown and doesn't offer you the same level of play."
As always, stay tuned to Casinofan for more news and updates.
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