Nevada Gaming Control Board holds internet poker talks

online pokerThe Nevada Gaming Control Board spent less than two hours taking public input into the proposed regulations, which cover all matters of regulatory oversight for a company looking to set up an Internet poker business in Nevada.

During the session, a handful of comments were offered during from the gaming interests represented including: Nevada slot machine makers, casino operators and gaming equipment manufacturers such as: International Game Technology, Bally Technologies and Cantor Gaming, and by casino operators, including Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Boyd Gaming Corp.

Control board Chairman Mark Lipparelli felt there was a solid foundation for regulations and said there were plans in place for additional public hearings at the Nevada Gaming Commission’s November meetings, followed by adoption votes in December.
Leaving open the possibility that Congress could be taking up legislation covering Internet poker, Lipparelli said, “This timetable gives us some flexibility if something changes before January.”

The Internet gaming regulation proposals include rules for the finding of entity suitability, technology approvals, audit and record keeping, and customer enrolment. The proposals laid out regulatory oversight of internal controls by the online gaming companies and established a disciplinary process for regulatory violations.

Lipparelli is expected to have a new draft of the regulations available within two weeks.