The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) opened last week with a series of conference sessions on internet gambling. And with only offline gaming executives in attendance, the topic of discussion was when Congress would pass legislation to authorize and regulate online gambling. “If nothing happens over the next 14 days, nothing is going to happen over the next two years,” said Lloyd Levin, chairman of Filament Strategy.
“You’re going to have a better chance on the slot machine than the new Congress,” said Levin, who attempted to pass legislation regulating online poker in 2008 when he was a California lawmaker. The consensus created by online gambling experts was that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would only be able to pass an unrelated required passage bill to regulate online gambling, such as the 2006 Illegal Internet Gambling Enforcement Act attached to the Port Security Bill. 메이저 토토사이트
“It’s up to Reid now,” said Jerome Encinas, head of government affairs at the California Nationals Indian Game Association. “But his camp is very tight-lipped right now.” John Papas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, agreed that Reid was the key. “I think Harry Reid is very important,” Pappas added. “He’s holding a card, and unfortunately, he’s holding it close to his vest right now… He’s the central figure in all of this.” “The PPA has always believed that there will be a chance to complete legislation in 2010,” Pappas said. “We believe that the reelection of people like Senator Harry Reid has been a positive development. And we hope that they will see some progress in the weeks that they stop around the Christmas period.”
“It’s very unlikely that anything will happen between now and Thanksgiving,” Pappas added. “But it will come back after Thanksgiving. And there are some major tax bills that Congress should consider. And the revenue forecasts generated by regulated internet games could be an attractive ‘quid pro quo’ for the bills.” “All stars have to see eye to eye,” Pappas said when asked how he could get the bill through Congress. “Senator Reed, the stakeholders in the Nevada game and all the other stakeholders have to see eye to eye on what legislation everyone can support. And then I think we need the means to attach the bill. It’s very unlikely that this bill will go solo.”
If federal law is not passed, it will likely be the first state in the U.S. to regulate online gambling, which could be problematic for operators. “The complexity (of regulation) increases exponentially on a state-by-state basis,” said Jan Jones, senior vice president at Harra. But state-by-state regulations are likely to be home to the online gambling industry in the U.S. The New Jersey Senate on Monday passed a 29-5 bill that would allow Atlantic City casinos to offer internet gambling to New Jersey residents and people outside the U.S. The bill still needs approval from state legislatures and governors.
