Any licenses issued would permit operators to only offer internet games to residents of Nevada. Because the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) is still in place, interstate online poker is not allowed. Intrastate online poker, or online poker within state borders, is explicitly permitted. Of course, proponents of legalization and regulation on the federal level argue that the intrastate game would not be able to achieve the critical mass needed to make it viable in most states, but that is besides the point.
For operators who are already licensed for brick and mortar gambling in Nevada, the process should go fairly quickly, according to Lipparelli. It won’t be as simple as stamping “APPROVED” on an application – operators will still have to show that they have the technology to keep underage players and those from outside Nevada off their site – but it should be relatively smooth. New operators, however, will be subjected to extensive licensing investigations, which could take several months.
“We’ve taken our brick-and-mortar operational standards to a new level,” Lipparelli said. “We’re going to continue to be flexible, but we think we’ve set the bar high for licensing and suitability.”