Thread: Washington, D.C. to offer online poker

Here's the list of remaining hearings in DC. I just heard they had done some already and I will try to get to one of them.

November 1: Ward 1, Marie Reed Learning Center, 2200 Champlain Street NW, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

November 10: Ward 3, Palisades Library, 4901 V Street NW, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

November 15: Ward 2, MLK Library, 901 G Street NW, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

November 17: Ward 8, Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Road SE, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

November 21: Ward 6, Eastern Market, North Hall, 225 7th Street SE 6:30 p.m. -8:30 p.m.

Unfortunately due to work issues I wasn't able to attend any of the community hearings. I've been looking online for them but can't seem to find any sort of synopsis regarding issues discussed and what the city and poker company had to say.

Found a few bits of information that may be note ...

From DCist, a local DC based website
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D.C. Lottery officials do not plan to change the essential components of their controversial online gambling plan after holding nine community meetings to hear concerns and dispel myths about the program.

The lottery is using an audio recording of the meetings to form a summary for council member Jack Evans, Ward 2 Democrat, who is expected to schedule a hearing on the program — known as iGaming — alongside a bill to repeal the program altogether.

“I think the substantial majority of people who attended and spoke were supportive,” lottery Director Buddy Roogow said, acknowledging there was dissension about how revenue from iGaming should be used and some outright opposition to online gambling.
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Excerpt from the DC Citizens for Online Poker blog
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In what was the most well attended meeting yet, the room was overwhelmed with support for the iGaming program. I estimate there were ~80 people in the room. Of the ~40 people who gave oral comments, ~35 of them voiced their support for online gaming. The few who gave relevant articulate comments against iGaming seemed to feel disappointed or unhappy that they were not consulted as a part of last year's iGaming legislative track.
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Excerpt from Mike DeBonis of the Washington Post
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What was unusual was the timing of the meetings. They were hearings ex post facto, held to gather input on a proposal that is not a proposal at all, but rather the law of the District of Columbia. Few meeting attendees seemed to recognize that, for instance, their insistence that any revenue be dedicated to education or programs for the poor was almost altogether moot.
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Every article I read quoted a 9-13 million dollar windfall for DC. I'm not sure where the hell they're getting that number. With a cap of $250 deposited per week and a DC population of under 600,000 people, there's just no way that's going to happen unless they rake the hell out of the games.

Since you'll have to physically be in the District to play, I'd love to see the business justification. As a state backed poker game we as citizens should have the right to audit these numbers. It will be regulated through the DC Lottery as I understand it.

If you haven't yet seen it, here's the official law, courtesy of the DC Lottery website.
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The Lottery Modernization Amendment Act of 2010, which was a part of the “Fiscal Year 2011 Supplemental Budget Support Act of 2010” (codified at D.C. Code § 3-1313), authorizes the D.C. Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board to offer both games of skill and games of chance via the internet. Specifically, §3-1313 reads as follows;
Title 3. District of Columbia Boards and Commissions.
Subtitle I. General.
Chapter 13. Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board.
§ 3-1313. Operation of lottery.

(a) A lottery or lottery game means both games of skill and games of chance that are operated by and for the benefit of the District of Columbia by the Board; provided, that:
(1) If the games of skill and games of chance are offered via the Internet, any technology employed for the play shall confirm the play to be at all times within the District; provided further, that the restriction shall not apply to the conduct of fantasy sports and sweepstakes-style games if such games are lawful; and

(2) No method, media, or device for play of the games of skill and games of chance shall violate An Act To prohibit transportation of gambling devices in interstate and foreign commerce, approved January 2, 1951 (15 U.S. C. § 1171 et seq.), or any other federal law.

(b) The Board shall operate and conduct a lottery and shall determine the number of times a lottery shall be held each year, the form and price of tickets therefor, the number and value of prizes to winning participants, determined in a manner and on a basis designated by the Board. The proceeds of the sale of tickets shall be deposited in the Fund from which prizes shall be paid according to regulations established by the Board under § 3-1312. The Board may provide by regulation for the payment of prizes to winners directly by licensed agents.

(c) The Board, through the Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, may issue rules to implement the provisions of this section, and may establish which games may be offered and additional terms and conditions for the conduct of the games not inconsistent with subsection (a) of this section, including the percentage of wagered amounts to be retained by the Board, minimum and maximum wagers, and time limitations for the games.