We must be getting closer to online poker and even online casinos here in the USA.

Several states now have set up procedures to establish intra state online poker -- which is legal under existing federal laws. Other states including California have pending legislation to set up online poker sites within the states and several dozen brick and mortar casinos and poker casinos in California not only are backing the legislation but they have set up an online "not for money" casino for "fun play" to get ready for it.

In Nevada, Ballys and IGT have been approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission to set up online poker systems.

And now there are reports that Nevada might approve the first intrastate online poker site within 90 days.

Today, I read of another news report about a new push for nationwide online casinos to help states and the federal government raise revenue and stop the outflow of dollars to foreign-operated online casinos.

One more element: in the past two weeks, several foreign-operated online casinos have contact me about advertising their online casinos here.

Cards are in the air, so to speak.