Independent poker room Everest Poker has been working with a key lawmaker in Massachusetts in a bid to pass pro-online poker legislation in the state.
According to a press release sent to pokerfuse, Everest Poker was in communication with State Representative Dan Winslow—author of legislation that would explicitly legalize online poker in the state of Massachusetts—“during the drafting process.” Amendment #827 has been pending in the House since yesterday and has yet to be adopted or rejected.
Everest has an office in Massachusetts and believes that will give them an edge in obtaining a license should the pending legislation be passed into law. Winslow’s proposal would prevent a license from being issued to any applicant that has ties to any person or entity that “has accepted a wager related to any form of internet gambling from a person in the United States after October 13, 2006.”
“The proposed bill rewards responsible European online poker operators and encourages local technology companies … Everest Poker is exactly both of those things,” said Tim Dent, CEO of Everest Gaming.
Winslow tried to attach language legalizing online poker to gaming legislation that was passed last year. Though the online poker portion passed the House, it did not pass the Senate.
“Massachusetts already has decided to legalize gaming, so we should consider all options to maximize revenue and create new jobs,” Winslow said. “State regulation of Internet poker also will create significant consumer protections that do not currently exist.
Everest Poker is a small independent poker site that operates an international poker room based in Malta and an ARJEL-licensed poker room in France. According to data from PokerScout, an independant tracker of online poker traffic, EverestPoker.com is ranked 10th among international sites, below other independents like Bodog, PartyPoker and of course PokerStars.
However French site EverestPoker.fr boasts more players than its international counterpart, ahead of the likes of PartyPoker.fr, Ongame.fr and iPoker.fr. It takes third place not far behind behind PokerStars.fr and top dog Winamax.
