Yet another legislative proposal in the US Congress to benefit online poker; this time by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who stepped up earlier this week with a restructured version of his bill from last year, this time titled the Internet Poker and Games of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009, or S.8309.

Menendez has restructured his bill to compliment the earlier bills put forth by Barney Frank, focusing on customer protection and specifying online poker in the same category with other skill games such as chess, bridge, mah-jong, and backgammon.

Menendez proposes a licensed and regulated framework for online poker to ensure fair play for customers and to implement a technology for preventing underage gambling and identifying potential problem gamblers. Menendez also suggests funding for treatment programs for problem gamblers.

Most significantly for online poker, the bill will clarify the 1961 Wire Act to distinguish poker from other gambling activities that can be prosecuted under the current legislation.

The billions of dollars in tax revenue collected from the industry under Menendez's bill will be distributed evenly between federal and state governments. Menendez proposes a 10 percent tax on all deposits made by players.

Poker Players Alliance chairman Alfonse D'Amato praises the bill, stating, "The tides are turning and support for licensing and regulating Internet poker versus infringing on Internet freedom is growing. The PPA is pleased that Senator Menendez chose to introduce his bill to license and regulate Internet poker and include additional consumer protections."

Source: Bluff.