Q&A: Bringing online poker to Florida
Founder of the iPokerFlorida coalition Martin Shapiro talks to eGR North America about the challenges associated with legalizing online poker in the Sunshine State
eGR North America (eGR NA): What are the main arguments for passing online poker legislation in Florida?
Martin Shapiro (MS): Currently, the gambling industry in Florida is dominated by the Seminole tribal casinos. Under the exclusivity provisions of the state-tribal compact with the Seminoles, the state-licensed pari-mutuel racing facilities are only allowed wagering on racing and live poker, except at the locations in two South Florida counties. The latest generation of gamblers show little interest in racing, leaving the pari-mutuels outside of South Florida struggling to make ends meet. The obvious solution is to let the pari-mutuels expand their poker offerings to the internet, which would not expand the games available in the state nor violate the terms of the Seminole compact. [private]
 eGR NA: Are there any online poker bills being drafted or circulated in Florida at the moment?
MS: Our draft bill for internet poker is currently the only one in the bullpen. We are currently working to form a coalition with the pari-mutuel cardrooms and poker site providers, along with Florida lawmakers, to bring the bill before the state legislature in the next session coming up in January. Our efforts are currently completely grassroots.
I wrote the draft bill without any backing or any vested interest other than as an avid poker player. All the work that is being done to form the coalition and move the bill is volunteer work by poker players. The idea is that when the legislature is of a mind to pass online poker â which it will do sooner or later â the bill they reach for is our iPokerFlorida bill, with the full protections and provisions that provide the best possible playing experience for poker players.
eGR NA: What are the main challenges to be overcome in getting a bill across the line?
MS: Every issue in regards to gambling is contentious in Florida. It is a challenge just to get something introduced or taken up in Committee, let alone across the line. Itâs not like Nevada or New Jersey, where internet poker is seen as a boon to the state by both the stakeholders and the majority of legislators. But if the Florida pari-mutuels and the poker site providers can be brought together in a united coalition, our bill can be brought across the finish line in a short amount time.
eGR NA: Should legislation be poker-only, or allow online casino and slots games too?
MS: Currently, casino and slot games are exclusive to the Indian casinos per the state-tribal compact, except for the pari-mutuels in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in South Florida. An expansion of these games to the internet would void the compact terms, allowing the Seminole tribe to run all the games in their casinos without revenue-sharing with the state. This would be a years-long political battle with small chance of success. On the other hand, internet poker can be done as a way to level the playing field and save the pari-mutuel industry without expanding the games they run â only adding the internet as a venue in which they offer poker.
While we donât have a position for or against online slots and casino games, itâs a different political battle. It is not included as part of our draft bill.
eGR NA: Will Florida make progress with internet poker legislation this year?
MS: Our plan is to have our bill introduced in the 2016 regular session of the Florida legislature in January. There is a chance that the state will call a special legislative session later this year to address certain urgent gambling issues which they put off in the regular session, which ended in May. If this happens, we will look for an opportunity to include our bill with the issues under consideration.
eGR NA: What do you make of attempts to ârestoreâ the Wire Act and ban most forms of internet gambling?
MS: The Restoration of Americaâs Wire Act bill is a ludicrous attempt by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson to stifle his competition. Unfortunately, Adelson has the funds and thereby the political clout to make this legislation a serious threat despite its violation of the rights of the states to determine public gambling policy for themselves, as guaranteed under the Tenth Amendment of our Constitution. It is an obvious exercise of cronyism in the Republican Party, and should be publicly censured by any politician with a sense of integrity.