UTAH BAN ON INTERNET GAMBLING A NON-STARTER (Update)
10 February 2012
Sandstrom banning measure HB108 shelved…for
now
An intrastate attempt by Utah politician
Stephen Sandstrom to introduce state legislation banning
any legalisation of internet gambling (see previous
InfoPowa reports) has failed at the start gate.
Introduced earlier this week, the bill has been shelved
by the state House Law Enforcement Committee to allow
for its fiscal impact to be determined and to get a full
understanding of how such a prohibitionary bill might
impact the state Internet service provider industry.
Sandstrom fought hard for the bill, which included
provisions requiring Internet service providers in Utah
to block online gambling websites, arguing that the
benefits of a ban outweighed any costs it may impose.
"There is a lot more at risk to the state than the
potential cost," Sandstrom told the committee. "To me I
think it really, quite frankly, doesn't matter, 'cause
it will cost the state tens of millions of dollars if
they do not go with this."
Whilst several members
of the committee were sympathetic to the motivation for
the bill, there were concerns that a full study of all
its implications is necessary before the measure can
progress any further.
Sandstrom's main fear
appears to be of a federal legalisation of online
gambling, which he worries may trigger the appearance of
Indian casinos in Utah, despite the assurance of
pro-online gambling politicians that any federal
legalisation would include an opt-out facility for
individual states.
Undeterred, Sandstrom
indicated that he would try to resubmit the measure as
soon as possible.
Online Casino News Courtesy of
Infopowa
More news here.
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