North Carolina- It took us a while, but we finally got the Lottery, soley based upon its ability to fund Education. With Education still in freeze (my wife hasn't recieved state raise in 2 years now) and other state funds in need of revenue I think they will opt in along the same reasoning as adding the Lottery. Not really sure how Bev Perdue could say no to funding of that nature right now. This might be wishful thinking though.

On a side note however, a friend of mine owns about 40 "Sweepstakes" gambling centers here in NC. They are basically online rooms for people to come gamble online. Well there is a big too do in the state about it right now for apparent reasons. He went to the House of Rep. hearing on it a month ago or so in Raleigh. When he came back he told me that it went well he thought and that in his opinion the state was so strapped that they were singing a different tune than last year when his business first went under scrutiny. So maybe its not to much of wishful thinking to have NC as an opt in state.

Prediction: North Carolina Opts In

This is an excellent thread. The discussion about CA shows the importance of the opt out procedure. Requiring a state legislature vote seems to mean that CA neglects to opt out. OTOH, requiring just a letter from the governor seems to mean that CA would opt out.

Missouri is interesting. We have lots of B&M casinos, but not are Indian. They are all operated by companies like Harrah's and Ameristar. Also, Missouri case law have ruled poker is a game of skill. OTOH, the governor, Jay Nixon, has opposed online gambling when he was the Attorney General. So, if state legislature vote is required, then Missouri does not opt out. OTOH, it might if Jay Nixon can decide.

I anxiously await the final marked up bill and fear it will be too much like the present one.

Utah will be out for sure imo. I think we'll opt in here (colorado)

I think Iowa has a good chance - we have multiple casinos, race tracks, and we are gonna see an old governer (Terry Branstad) return to office who helped gambling take off in iowa.

In California, we have to get the tribes to believe that they can get a piece of the pie or they'll sink us. They hold way too much sway over the dems.

Virginia: Opts Out under two of three scenarios

My post from a different thread:

Caveat: I just saw in this thread that someone predicted North Carolina will opt in. This would present an interesting problem for Virginia. North Carolina has a long and glorious history (dating back to the 1980s) of kicking Virginia's ass with respect to out competing us in developing new business opportunities. Just as a for instance, most of the banks that are now headquartered in Charlotte, NC are the result of bank relocations and mergers that happened at the expense of Virginia.

If North Carolina opts in before Virginia opts out, Virginia might seriously consider opting in to avoid the appearance that it is still North Carolina's backward northern neighbor. The extent to which NC has owned Virginia's soul in innovating revenue sources is a real sticking point in Richmond.

also would love to hear any other iowans opinions

Another prediction (unless someone with better information comes along).

Minnesota opts in

Mordan;

What games do these rooms offer? (And, they haven't been shut down?!?!?!???)

Oklahoma - uncertain - leaning towards Opts Out

At this particular point in time, I'd have to agree with this.

Not having done much research into the subject at this time, I'd guess it will most likely end up being dependent on the stance that the various tribes end up taking.

As mentioned there are several very nice b&m casinos present, and all are doing quite well (picking up customers from surrounding states) and Riverwind Casino has a very "Las Vegas" feel to it and the Downstream Casino Resort (Quapaw) participates in hosting Heartland Poker Tour events.

One point in our (potential internet poker players from Oklahoma) favor, is that last year the Chickasaw Nation purchased Remington Park (local horse racing track - Oklahoma City) and has turned it into a "Racino". I bring this particular purchase up because it's not on tribal land, and therefore is subject to state and local laws, taxes, etc. (versus tribal). At least this presents hope the tribes are willing to "think outside the box".

I think Florida opts in.

I don't give a damn if they don't though. Just get some halfway decent legislation passed and I'm ready to move to another state.

I feel a little better about MO now that a PPA official said this.

My biggest concerns would be some goofy MO laws. I played in a bar league for a while and my understanding was that the law said you could have prizes but no fees, or fees but no prizes. Missourians are blocked from SpadeClub due to sweepstakes laws (I think?). Lots of conservative Christians in southern Missouri, where I live. There has been a recent push to stop the spread of casinos. Governer Nixon approved of the UIGEA when he was Attorney General.

Since St. Louis and Kansas City rule the state, I would say that if the legislature decides we have a good chance of opting in. If Governer Nixon decides, then we're doomed.

I'm not a PPA official; just a premium member. I don't know why SpadeClub would block MO residents. The MO Supreme Court has ruled that poker is not a lottery, so the sweepstakes laws do not apply to it. I think that your last paragraph is accurate and likely the case for many states.

The PPA must obtain a tougher state opt out procedure or kill this bill!

Minnesota opts in, For sure Id say because we are very pro poker here and not stupid when realizing it can raise so much from taxes.

Oklahoma is a pretty poker-friendly state with a large tribal gaming presence that would love to get in on the action so I wouldn't say it's as cut and dry and some make it out to be. I'd be a lot more comfortable with it if our current governor was going to be in office a few more years but we're most likely looking at a lot of R's coming into our state government in the next year.

Either way though it's a lot easier to move to another state than it is another country so I'll worry about that when I need to.

My logic (which I didn't explain) was:

Existing casinos, lottery, tracks and card rooms (gambling okay although some of the indian casinos might feel threatened I don't think they have the power like the California tribes).

No religous zealot issue. Vast majority are Catholic (bingo anyone) or Lutheran (who seem to be low key, live and let live types).

Probably not looking to tangle with poker players again and current elected officials are at least marginally more educated on the issue from the last fiasco.

I fear Illinois is stupid enough to opt out despite its mounting financial woes.

Current predictions:

Predicted Good Guys (9)

Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Iowa
Minnesota
Montana
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Wyoming

Predicted Bad Guys (3)

Oklahoma
Utah
Washington (I added this myself since they've already banned online poker)

Some Debate (4)

California
Idaho
Missouri
Virginia

Not Yet Discussed (34)

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Could you clarify this post please? I reread this post a few times and I still don't get what you're saying about these states.

Simply because SC runs under the sweepstakes chance not "skill games" exemption under the FTC sweepstakes.

SC is, like others, afraid to challenge the actual skill classification of poker.

See World Winner list Mo. is not blocked by them.

Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Vermont. Additionally, the Site (a) DOES NOT offer card game Cash Competitions if you reside in, or access the Site from, Indiana or Maine, and (b) only offers limited types of tournaments to users accessing the Site from Arizona and Florida.

obg

World Winner, directly and via affiliates offers games of skill in the U S based in Mass.; card, board, puzzle and others under an FTC rule that exempts skill games from sweepstakes laws and allows entry fees to play and no free entry requirement.

They do not offer the games in the listed states since those states either have a law against wagering not owned by the state or no skill test or both.

obg

I live in South Carolina. Seriously, do I even need to say it

Louisiana? were poor as hell we just made severe cuts to many state run colleges the new tax could create revenue

Louisiana? were poor as hell we just made severe cuts to many state run colleges the new tax could create revenue. We have recently been getting hammered by oil killing most of our seafood. 1/3 of all seafood in the U.S. comes from Louisiana. Our economy is based heavily on seafood and tourism. There hasnt been much positives for our economy in the post-katrina years. This bill could help us create some extra money and revenue much needed for the state. Your opinions on Louisiana?

Nice Cliff's Noah, but I laughed at Virginia being listed as "some debate," when I'm the only one that talked about it. I laughed mostly at your pretty accurate characterization that I am debating with myself on it.

Virginia might belong in the predicted to be out column, simply because the scenario I mentioned most likely to have us opt in requires a major modification to the existing opt-out provision from the Governor makes the call to the legislature doing it.