Gaming officials release proposals to regulate Web poker

State gaming authorities have released proposed regulations for Internet poker to be implemented if the federal government legalizes the activity.

The proposals, posted to the Gaming Control Board's website Wednesday, include rules for the finding of entity suitability, technology approvals, audit and record-keeping, and customer enrollment.

The proposals also spell out regulatory oversight of internal controls by the online gaming companies and establishes a disciplinary process for regulatory violations.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Mark Lipparelli said the proposals were offered after the Nevada Legislature and Gov. Brian Sandoval approved Assembly Bill 258, which called for the agency to establish Internet poker regulations.

"Internet poker has become a multibillion-dollar business around the world," Lipparelli said in a statement.

"The technology supporting it, while not perfect, has improved dramatically since its introduction. Similar to our land-based requirements, Nevada will establish high standards giving players as much confidence as possible in the entities and technologies that might eventually gain approval," the statement also read.

These proposed regulations will be the subject of a public regulatory workshop process in which amendments and revisions may be offered. The first workshop is set for Sept. 26.

The control board and the Nevada Gaming Commission ultimately must approve the regulations in public hearings.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., tried to push through a bill to legalize Internet poker during Congress' lame duck session in December. Reid recently said he believes Internet poker legislation could be approved by Congress, although he wouldn't say whether it could happen this year or before the 2012 elections.

Lipparelli said state gaming authorities want to have Internet poker rules in place so Nevada is ready to begin licensing entities for intrastate gaming.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.