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Your Vote for President Will Not Impact Online Poker Legality

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With the US presidential election just a week away, you may already have read articles touting whether President Trump or former VP Joe Biden will be more favorable to online gambling. While there are some people genuinely concerned over whether the next President of the United States will support online poker, it is somewhat of a flawed argument.

Let’s take a look today at why your choice of President is likely to have no impact on the future of online gambling.

The President is the Last Link in the Legal Picture

For those that have hopes of nationwide online gambling regulation or the return to pre-Black Friday online poker, your hopes should not ride on the President. Keep in mind that the President is the final link in a legislative chain.

Any bill that would change the status of online gambling in the United States will have to go through both the US House of Representatives and then the US Senate before it reaches the desk of the President. Only then will his stance on gambling have the necessary impact.

For those that claim he could sign an Executive Order regarding gambling, these are used sparingly by most Presidents. Donald Trump likes to use them, but gambling does not appear to be an issue he is worried about.

Congress Should Be Your Focus

If you’re looking to the future of online gambling in the United States, you need to look at the party in control of Congress. The Democratic Party has historically supported gambling, and this includes online casino games and online poker sites. Yes, we do remember that Black Friday happened during the Obama Administration.

The Republican Party is the more conservative party and the party that supported the UIGEA and subsequent attacks against online gambling. Republicans support the Wire Act and the Wire Act appeal.

For a bill pertaining to online poker or online gambling to pass, it will likely require that Democrats control Congress and likely the White House as well. The exception would be if gambling was part of another bill, such as a funding bill, similar to how the UIGEA was initially passed.

Gambling Not Political Enough to Be a Presidential Concern

Every four years, the online poker world starts buzzing over the latest presidential candidate that supports online poker. Often, these candidates have zero shot and often don’t even make it through the first couple of primaries.

Legitimate candidates for the presidency seldom mention gambling unless they are asked about the topic. Looking at the myriad of issues facing the American public, gambling is small potatoes. While it is a big deal to many of us, it pales in comparison to jobs, national security, and finding an end to the current global pandemic.

Unless something forces gambling to become a political issue, you will not hear it mentioned by a top presidential candidate. Many don’t view the topic as wholesome and it is one that could lose a candidate more votes than they could gain in the pro-gambling community. Yes, that’s a harsh truth, but one that needs stating.

Vote on Other Issues Other Than Poker

If you’re someone that is voting on the next President based on their stance on online gambling, you’re being short-sighted. Online poker and gambling are minor topics in the grand scheme of things and there are more important issues at play.

Look at a candidate based on matters that pertain to the nation as a whole rather than a topic that applies to a small segment of the population. It doesn’t matter if online gambling is legal if a President doesn’t have a strategy for health care, jobs, or social justice matters.

When a poker player starts playing Texas Hold’em, they often think too narrowly. With experience, they see the bigger picture and their results improve. Take the same approach when voting for the next President. Look at the big picture and vote for the candidate that’s best for the country, not just for your poker bankroll.

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