Legalization of online poker in the United states is projected to bring billions in taxable revenue to the country. Online poker should be legalized in the United States. The government should recognize the level of skill involved in the sport, and that while luck does play a role, overtime, luck does not thwart skill in this game. Moreover, the recent pandemic of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) calls to bring this issue back into the spotlight. Many casinos are being forced, or proactively choosing to shut down their business. Live poker tables are a breeding ground for bacteria and in order to contain the virus many more will continue to shut down eliminating income for hundreds of thousand of people. Additionally, this new revenue stream will help combat the continuing economic problem we are facing.

According to the WPT: With more than 60 million poker players in the United States, poker is a way of income - a real job to support families. As many markets are being irreparably hurt by this virus, the poker market does not need to unnecessarily suffer, nor do the players who need the game in order to pay their bills. Poker is unique in the sense that the market as a whole can not only continue by moving online - but flourish. There has never been a time more pressing to reconsider this issue and open the doors to legal online poker. This is not only reduces lost wages and lost income streams but creates new taxable economic growth. It is time government officials take this seriously and listen to their people.