Online Poker Bill Will Not Be Attached to Payroll Tax Bill

According to an article released earlier today by Publicgaming.com, it appears that an online gambling amendment will not be added to the payroll tax bill. It was rumored at the end of last week that an agreement had been struck to add the bill, but lawmakers have went silent since that point.

The amendment seemed a longshot to begin with as the payroll tax bill has been a hotly debated one since it was originally introduced and many felt that added gambling to it would hurt the bill’s passage. In addition, there have been additional concerns raised by Indian tribes in recent days that may have caused a snag in getting an amendment worked out. State lotteries are also opposed to federal online legislation.

American Gambling Association President and CEO Frank Fahrenkopf is still hopeful that some type of legislation will be presented this session that will help to ease tensions from states and tribes. He stated, “We’re going to do everything we can and hope some legislation that meets that criteria is introduced before this session adjourns.”

Now it appears that lobbyists and supporters of online poker legislation are turning their sights onto President Obama’s jobs bill later in the year. If something is not proposed, then the only potential out for legislation would be in the lame duck session. Should President Obama fail to win reelection, online poker would face a stiffer challenge seeing that neither of the frontrunners for the Republican nomination support online gambling.