NEVADA POLITICIANS PREPARING NEW ATTEMPT AT ONLINE GAMBLING STUDY

23 March 2007

Possible alliance with Barney Frank initiative mooted

The logical idea of carrying out a thorough investigation to determine whether online gambling can be effectively regulated in the United States has again achieved prominence in American media, with two respected Nevada politicians leading the charge.

Previous attempts have been made to get such an enquiry, which would have the support of the American Gaming Association, off the ground and could provide ammunition for efforts to seek the repeal of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

The two Nevada lawmakers, Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Jon Porter, R-Nev., will co-sponsor the legislation, which is expected to be unveiled within weeks. Work has already started on legislation that would require the National Academy of Sciences to conduct an 18-month study of online wagering.

The Nevadans also hope to gain a powerful ally in Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass, reports the Las Vegas Gaming Wire. Frank, chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee and a longtime critic of gambling restrictions, has called last year's ban on Internet gambling financial transactions "preposterous" and one of the "stupidest" bills ever passed.

Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., attached the ban to an unrelated port security bill that passed in the waning hours of last year's congressional session. Frank has said he is considering proposing a repeal of the ban, and will be clarifying his plans within the next few weeks.

Representative Berkley said she talked to Frank earlier this week on the House floor about Internet gambling and they plan to meet again "in the very near future."

"The purpose of our bill is to provide a comprehensive study with detailed information on the expanded growth of Internet gambling," Berkley said.

To avoid the political bickering that plagued a federal commission that completed a two-year study of legalised gambling in June 1999, Berkley and Porter would assign the Internet gambling study to the National Research Council, which is an agency of the National Academy of Sciences.

"This actually is a very independent institution which has the resources to get the facts to Congress," Porter said.

Porter introduced a similar bill last year, which Berkley co-sponsored.

Even though Congress chose instead to approve a ban on Internet gambling financial transfers, Porter said he thinks lawmakers would consider a repeal.

A date has not been set, but Porter said he still plans to visit the Isle of Man, Britain, and Madrid, Spain, to observe Internet gambling regulatory operations firsthand.

Berkley's position on Internet gambling has changed since July 2000, when she voted for an online betting ban proposed by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.

"I would say technology has improved over the last few years, and I have greater faith in the ability to regulate Internet gambling so that it does not pose a threat to minors," Berkley said.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa

More news here.

Top of page | Home | News | Forum | Webcast | Vortran | Accredited Casinos | Evil Ones | Pitch a Bitch | Online Gambling Resources | Poker