Wynn Resorts and PokerStarshave partnered to introduce an online poker site in the U.S. market when and if the industry becomes explicitly legalized and regulated. A press release sent out by Wynn officials on Friday explained, “Upon passage of this legislation and acquisition of the appropriate license, the parties will jointly operate a regulated U.S. online poker site under PokerStarsWynn.com.” The companies will also lobby for Federal legislation.

Wynn Resorts Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn commented in the same press release, “After much study, we are convinced that the lack of regulation of internet gaming within the U.S. must change. We must recognize that this activity is occurring and that law enforcement does not have the tools to stop it. As a company that has safely conducted gaming in the U.S. for more than 40 years, we believe that the same can be done for poker on the internet.”

In April 2009, Wynn told the New York Times that his company was “strongly opposed” to the expansion of internet gambling in the United States.

On PocketFives.com, news of the joint venture between Wynn Resorts and PokerStars spread like wildfire. PocketFives Traininginstructor Mike Gags30Gagliano (pictured) posted in a thread in Poker Community, “Wow, this is really big news and I’d venture to say a really good step for online poker.”

Others questioned whether PokerStarsWynn.com would solely service the U.S. market to the neglect of players in other parts of the world. To that end, one member of the PocketFives.com community typed, “Segregating the U.S. from the rest of the world would probably be the worst thing that could happen for poker in general, for the rest of the world anyway.”

What the landscape of an online poker marketplace in the United States would be remains to be seen. One player forecasted in Poker Community what would happen if the game were fully above board: “We would have a national poker boom again. All the peeps that dried up because it’s too hard to fund would come back. There would be aggressive ads on TV and contests to let the get-rich folks back in the game.”

We’re still a ways away from seeing legalized internet gambling and online poker in the United States. On March 17th, Congressmen John Campbell (R-CA) and Barney Frank(D-MA, pictured) introduced HR 1174, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. The measure closely resembles HR 2267, which was passed by the House Financial Services Committee during the last Congress by a 2:1 margin. HR 1174 creates a nationwide regulatory structure for internet gambling.

In the House Financial Services Committee, which could see discussion of the bill, Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) serves as Chairman. Bachus has been one of the most outspoken critics of any pro-internet gambling legislation.

On pushing a bill through a Bachus-led committee, Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas (pictured) told PocketFives.com, “A hearing is one thing. Having a bill voted on is another. We remain cautious and, at the same time, are certainly very grateful for Campbell for taking the lead on this. However, the bill and this committee might not be ideal.”

According to the Wynn press release, PokerStars has over 40 million members worldwide and logged over 300 million tournaments. It’s on the verge of dealing its 60 billionth hand and happily takes players from the United States.

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