2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang Supports Nationwide Online Poker

Posted on: October 28, 2019, 11:27h. 

Last updated on: October 28, 2019, 11:48h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Andrew Yang, a 2020 Democratic hopeful, is coming out in support of legalizing online poker in all 50 states.

Andrew Yang online poker 2020 odds
Andrew Yang thinks it’s time to bring offshore online poker sites into a legal, regulated market. (Image: Drew Angerer/Getty)

The 44-year-old attorney, businessman, and philanthropist believes the ban on internet poker in all but four states is only allowing illegal offshore sites to thrive. Yang says regulation over prohibition is in the country’s best interest.

“Online poker is legal in four states. The state-by-state rules are variable and push many players to offshore sites,” Yang tweeted over the weekend.

We should clarify the rules and make it legal in all 50 states. US players and companies would benefit and new tax revenues could be used to mitigate addiction,” he concluded.

The opinion naturally generated a welcomed response from professional poker players. Daniel Negreanu commented, “That’s just one small issue on a list of many that I like what Yang has to say on.”

Phil Galfond added, “Yes! & what most outside of poker don’t realize is that MANY sites still operate in the US, but because it’s outlawed, the ones remaining are those who ignore all regulations, including responsible gaming, security, anti-money-laundering, etc. Legal poker makes Americans safer!”

Online poker isn’t exactly a key issue for the vast majority of voters. It’s a position that presumably won’t have any considerable impact on his 2020 chances.

Liv Boeree concluded, “Ok, now I really want you to win the nomination.” The odds aren’t in his favor.

Yang Needs to Burn Bernie

Yang is seen as a threat to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic nomination race. They are both running on anti-establishment platforms, trying to appeal to the considerable segment of the party frustrated with the status quo.

But Yang’s shares on the political betting exchange PredictIt haven’t been able to gain momentum. His shares of securing the party’s ticket to face incumbent President Donald Trump have remained flat over the last three months – currently trading at nine cents.

However, with Sanders’s recent health scare, and what Politico writes this week, “The Unexpected Threat Emerging Against Bernie: Andrew Yang,” not all hope is lost for the New Yorker.

“There is an intensity among the supporters of Andrew Yang that is very reminiscent of the Bernie supporters of 2016,” said Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. “They’re very passionate about their candidate, and they are very active online, both on Twitter and Facebook, in expressing their strong support.”

2020 Democratic Odds

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren remains the clear frontrunner on PredictIt at 37 cents. Former VP Joe Biden is a distant second at 23 cents, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg third at 16 cents, Sanders fourth at 12 cents, and former First Lady Hillary Clinton fifth at 10 cents despite not even being in the race.

In the 2020 general election, Trump naturally has the best PredictIt odds at 42 cents. Warren is at 23 cents and Biden at 12 cents. The Democratic nominee will, of course, see their share price rise once securing the nomination.

The polls show each of the top Democratic frontrunners would win in a one-on-one against Trump.