It’s been a coarse year for online poker admirers in the US with both PokerStars and Full Tilt detained as options due to a restriction by the US government, but there may be a twinkle of hope with the presentation of a new poker bill last Friday by Rep. Joe Barton.

Barton’s bill is alike to previous efforts to legalize, control, and tax online poker in the US but one key change is that he has the sustenance of both Democratic and Republican politicians, which makes passing the bill into law much easier than earlier bills that were only supported by Democrats.

Some chief brick-and-mortar US casinos have also expressed support for the bill, which has been another faltering block in the past. With Full Tilt and PokerStars removed from the marketplace, large casinos in the US such as Wynn, MGM, and Caesars may feel the time is finally ripe to upkeep an online poker bill and open their own online poker rooms as well.

Barton’s bill, technically named HR2366 but is being referred to as the Online Poker Act of 2011, concerns just poker and doesn’t address online casinos or sportsbetting, or any other electronic gambling activities.

It would create a federal agency in the US to administer online poker and for the first couple of years would only allow web sites to be functioned by established gambling companies already in operation in the US such as casinos and horse tracks.

All US states would be encompassed initially in the bill but would have the option to opt-out if they decided they didn’t want to permit residents of their state to play online poker. The minimum age would be set at 21 years and credit cards would not be allowed for obvious reasons.

Barton’s bill must still be argued and marked up afore it even comes to a vote (with many bills dying at this stage and never making it to a vote) but he’s voiced enthusiasm for its predictions, and hopes that it can be put to a vote as soon as the summer of 2011.

via CasinoGuideZone[*]