While the US federal government has yet to legalize and regulate online poker, players can take solace in the fact that Nevada got the ball rolling with state poker operations. Both visitors and residents of Nevada can now play internet poker through state-licensed sites, which is a huge step in the right direction.
But we could see even more betting developments on the Nevada front since video game-maker 3G Studios is working towards real money video game betting. The developers of “Rock Band” are hoping to add this and other titles such as “Call of Duty” to the list of video games that can be gambled on.
The bridge connecting web gambling and video games is poker since 3G has teamed up with Eldorado Resorts to try for a poker license. If accepted, 3G will hope to attract the casual player who grinds online for short periods of time. 3G Studios is also planning on boosting visual presentations such as adding a shootout between avatars if they split a pot.
The company’s CEO and founder, James Kosta, discussed 3G’s poker aspirations by saying, “We are starting to bring traditional video game elements into something as tried and true as poker mechanics.” From here, Kosta hopes to lobby Nevada lawmakers into allowing video game betting, and he doesn’t really even plan to make profits through poker.
The ultimate payoff would be if Nevada okays video game web-gambling, and then signs a multi-state pact with other potential poker-friendly states. Of course, before we see widespread gambling on video games, there’s a long ways to go because Nevada is the only US state with an online poker operation. In other words, it could be years before 3G’s dream becomes a reality.