( Las Vegas , Nev. ) – Card Player magazine, the Poker Authority, has the ear of the North Dakota State Legislature, which is moving forward with a bill to license and regulate online poker sites, now a $2 billion industry.
North Dakota House Bill 1509, the "Internet Poker Bill ," passed the State's House of Representatives February 16, 2005. The bill, now scheduled for State Senate vote on March 15th, 2005, would create an online poker jurisdiction in the State. North Dakota would collect taxes and fees by licensing and regulating online poker sites. This would significantly increase State revenue and regulate a growing, popular industry.
"I am deeply grateful to Barry Shulman, editor of Card Player magazine, and Allyn Jaffrey Shulman, attorney with expertise in online poker, who have been instrumental in assisting the North Dakota legislature," says Rep. Jim Kasper, North Dakota House of Representatives. "This bill could potentially match the whole revenue stream that the state has now."
In assisting with HB 1509, the Shulman's provided necessary legal analysis, industry statistics and, on March 15th, 2005 will testify in the North Dakota State Senate. "Online poker is now a $2 billion business and, just last year, online poker play increased approximately 600%," says Card Player magazine Publisher Barry Shulman. "Now over 100,000 people are playing poker on-line at any given time on over 400 different poker sites."
Kasper estimates the HB 1509 could bring up to $500 million of new revenue to the state. Under his plan, Kasper would use 60% of the poker revenue for property tax relief, 20% for public education and 20% for the state's general fund. Kasper says North Dakota will fight the federal government in court if the federal officials block state law.
About Card Player magazine and Shulman Media, LLC.
With over 18 years of service to the gaming industry, Card Player magazine is the authoritative voice within the poker industry. Published bi-weekly, the 140-page magazine has a circulation of over 100,000. Other media holdings include Card Player Europe, a new monthly magazine, CardPlayer.com, the world's leading poker portal with over 30,000 daily visitors and an opt-in poker newsletter with over 130,000 subscribers.
Barry Shulman is the poker industry advisor to the World Poker Tour, Professional Poker Tour, and Edge TV. Shulman has won nine major poker tournaments since 2000 including the coveted World Series of Poker bracelet. Recently he authored his first book, 52 Tips for Limit Hold'em, published by CardPlayer Press.
Allyn Jaffrey Shulman is one of the world's leading experts on online gambling law. Having been a courtroom attorney, practicing criminal defense for over 20 years, her expertise lies in the area of complex legal analysis, issues of constitutional magnitude, police and judicial misconduct and contempt of court. She is widely published and has lectured all over California teaching other attorneys the fine points of complex litigation. Shulman is the lawyer's lawyer.
