US intrastate pioneer dies
Jim Tabilio, political strategist behind the US state-by-state regulation drive, has unexpectedly died.
Jim Tabilio, the political strategist behind the Poker Voters of America (PVA) lobby group which has shaped the state-by-state regulation drive in the US, has died.
Tabilio suffered a heart attack on Wednesday afternoon after leaving a California Senate Governmental Organization Committee hearing for Senator Rod Wright’s SB 45 bill. He was on his way to a dinner with tribal leaders to further discuss the issues around legalised internet poker in California. He was 59.
PVA president Melanie Brenner, who succeeded Tabilio in the role, said: “Jim Tabilio’s work to legalise and regulate intrastate online poker changed the debate and his efforts will ultimately lead to an opening of the US market for internet gambling.
“I’m sorry I won’t be drinking champagne with him in celebration but am forever grateful for the opportunities he created for so many of us.”
Tabilio spent 25 years as an independent political consultant before joining San Francisco-based political messaging and direct mail firm Winning Directions on a full-time basis in late 2005. While working as a joke writer for Tonight Show host Jay Leno in the early 1990s, he also sold and optioned several TV and film scripts, including produced feature Sweet Justice.
He also worked with California Congressman Lloyd Levine on drafting the first intrastate poker bills based on the framework provided by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006. This explicitly declares that online intrastate wagers do not constitute “unlawful internet gambling” if expressly permitted by the laws of a state.
The lobby group helped draft the SB 45 bill being currently considered by the California legislature, as well as the bill due to be considered by the Florida legislature in April. Following California’s lead, New Jersey now stands on the brink of becoming the first US state to license and regulate egaming, with Governor Chris Christie due to make a decision by 24 February on a law to allow Atlantic City’s casinos to offer online versions of their games.
Poker Voters executive director Patrick Dorinson described Tabilio as a “tough, veteran political operative” who “created the vision of how we are trying to get internet poker legalised in the United States”.
“A fitting memorial to Jim Tabilio would be for California, his home state, to pass this law, and get this done. That to me is the most fitting memorial to someone like Jim. He put his heart into this, literally. I would encourage all participants in light of this tragic event to redouble their efforts.
“At the time of his passing, he was doing exactly what he wanted to do. The finish line is in sight, and we are going to make sure this comes across the finish line to honour Jim,” he added.
Tabilio continued to be a regular contributor to eGaming Review after he stepped aside from PVA in July 2009 to work as a private sector lobbyist, advising gaming industry clients, governments and regulatory agencies on public policy gaming solutions, effectively acting as a bridge between these entities and European egaming companies.
Alongside PKR and SportingBet, Tabilio’s Secured American Games company was one of the three founding members of the recently launched US Online Gaming Association, headed by Brenner.
Tabilio first laid out his argument for approaching the regulation of poker on a state-by-state basis for eGaming Review in a column written for the July 2009 print edition. The column can be viewed here. He provided an update on the progress of the US intrastate push in eGR’s US edition last year.
eGaming Review would like to say what an honour and privilege it was knowing and working with Jim over the past few years. He will be sorely missed.