Lawmakers Keep Open Minds

This month, members of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) will be gathering to discuss a wide range of the current year's online gambling issues. Possibly the most interesting topic to be debated will be the study of the impact of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) 2006, passed in October last year by President Bush's administration. It is very likely that the regulators may eventually change the harsh position of American state legislators.

The implications of the UIGEA on individual states has somewhat diminished the authority held by state level counterparts. As a result, many believe that simply discussing its impact is 'too little too late'. However, anti online gambling politicians were quick to affirm that state legislative independence will not be harmed.

According to a report this week, the NCLGS has changed its originally conservative and traditional opposition to gaming. Now, it is claiming to "not promote or oppose gaming but is primarily concerned with the proper regulation of the industry." So it says on their website. According to NCLGS President and Florida Senator, Steven Gellar, "We have agreed to reevaluate our position because that position was adopted by the organization four or five years ago and obviously there have been huge technological changes." This could have a great influence over the jurisdiction of the UIGEA on state legislative independence, as it is a regularly convened platform for US state-lawmakers to relate and discuss online gambling issues.

Representatives from across the US will be attending, and will expectantly raise their concerns regarding the impact of the UIGEA on their ability to regulate gambling within their own borders. Additionally, they are expected to discuss the topic in relation to the recent efforts being made to modify it by means of licensing and regulation. The meeting will take place on June 9th via panel discussion, which will be titled "Internet Gaming Ban & Safe Harbors: Who wins? Who loses?" The panelists will include: David Robertson (former chair of National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling), Dan Walsh (leading lobbyist of the interactive gaming council), William Ford (corporate secretary of the Senior Council of Magna Entertainment Corp), and Michael Bolcerek (President of the strong lobbying group Poker Player's Alliance).

Gellar recently stated that "states need to be able to determine what kind of gambling is legal in their states, and Internet gambling basically takes away that ability". Hence the purpose of the panel discussion will be to allow state legislators and regulators to discuss "whether they want it in their state or not." Furthermore, it will be an opportunity for NCLGS members to get updated on pertinent legislative actions from the UIGEA. An example of such an action is the attempt to interrupt financial transactions made via sites and companies, and the proposition of various politicians to introduce updated blocking technologies in accordance with a detailed study of Internet gambling in the US.

Other topics that will be discussed include Rep. Barney Frank's bill to introduce a regulation and licensing regime, which Geller openly claims he is quite unfamiliar with. Geller has also clarified that the NCLGS is not authorized to take state policy positions, but rather, provide and update information regarding gambling. The issue at hand, however, is a tricky case, with some states having not even made it officially legal to play at the sites from their territories in the first place. Keeping all options open, Geller explained that "depending on what we hear, we may reevaluate our position".

If the NCLGS does take on a new stance, its direct connections with US state lawmakers could eventually lead to official modification of the UIGEA in certain states or even for all of the US. Online gamblers are advised to follow this up, as it could mean good news for Internet gambling in the US and worldwide.