States bristle at Sen Reid’s push to legalize online poker in lame-duck session

A push by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to legalize online poker in Congress’s lame-duck session could run into a buzz-saw of opposition from state legislatures and governors.

State officials are bristling at the possibility of being preempted by the federal government in their own efforts to legalize some forms of online gaming, and are particularly concerned about how Reid’s bill could affect their lotteries. James Ward, a committee director at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), said his members were frustrated by Reid’s proposal. “It’s frustrating because they are overseeing a successful stewardship of the gaming industry,” said Ward. “It’s not clear why any federal intervention is necessary. ... It’s a sensitive topic for the states any time you talk about preemption.”