LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The commercial casino industry is pushing federal legislators for new laws to regulate the estimated $6 billion online poker industry.
Rather than supporting proposals already on the table, the casino industry wants states to be able decide whether to allow online poker. The industry also wants online casino companies to be licensed the way land-based gambling companies are in Nevada, New Jersey and elsewhere.
Chief Executive Frank Fahrenkopf of the American Gaming Association said Tuesday at the start of an industry conference in Las Vegas that he's optimistic a new bill will be introduced this year.
Fahrenkopf says proposals already in the works for regulating online gambling don't have the elements to garner support from commercial casinos.
