Lawmakers of the US State of Colorado reportedly drafted legislation for the authorisation of online poker late last session and although the initiative stalled, the industry and the Colorado Gaming Association is still committed to further exploring the issue going into 2014.
“We had talked very late in last year’s session with some legislators who were interested in pursuing it,” said Lois Rice, executive director of the Colorado Gaming Association. “We’re still exploring it.”
The initiative was apparently led by a group of bipartisan lawmakers which included Representative Kevin Priola, R-Adams County. “My thought and some others’ thoughts were, let’s have Colorado as close to the
starting line as we can possibly be because as soon as the gates open, I think there are only going to be a few states that are going to have enough scale to make it work,” he said.
The Denver Post reports that stats on the MGM Resorts mobile app MyVegas are reported to have found that of the millions of downloads, many hail from the State of Colorado. And Eilers Research managing director of digital and interactive gaming estimates that online poker alone could generate $30.4 million to $37.8 million in annual revenue after three to five years in a legalised market, while online casino revenue covering poker, slots, blackjack and other games could generate up to $112.5 million yearly.
But a statewide poll commissioned recently by Black Hawk casino apparently showed a lack of interest in internet gambling. “Our survey showed that the voters of the state did not have much appetite for online gambling,” confirmed Black Hawk city manager Jack Lewis.