The group behind Everest Poker has come out in support of a bill which would legalize online poker in the state of Massachusetts. Known as Everest Gaming Limited, the Gibraltar-based company went so far as to contact the legislature during the drafting of the proposed law.
“The bill presents Massachusetts with a great opportunity to be a pioneer in legalizing Internet poker in the United States,” read a company statement, “and there’s no question that EverestPoker.com is better positioned than any other operator to take advantage of that opportunity.”
The brainchild of Republican Daniel Winslow (a minority member of the state’s House of Representatives), the bill was introduced to state lawmakers last week. As currently drafted, the proposal would require licensed poker operators to pay a fee of $10 million, as well as pay a 25% tax on their gross revenue. Everest is said to have provided input on the initial draft.
The state legislature, says iGaming Business, would hand out a trio of online poker licenses. Gaming companies across the globe would then compete for the chance to enter a regulated American market. By coming out in support of the bill, Everest is perhaps hoping to jump out to an early lead.
“If the amendment passes,” the statement continues, “Everest Poker is confident that it would avoid the types of business-stifling policies currently seen in some regulated European markets.”
Should this bill be signed into law, companies who have honored American law in the past will likely have the upper hand during the licensing competition. This fact was recently pointed out by Everest Gaming CEO Tim Dent:
“Representative Daniel Winslow’s recent Internet poker amendment to the Massachusetts casino law,” he said, “is a very positive step forward for online operators like EverestPoker.com, which have scrupulously respected United States law.”