Chief Online Gambling Opponent Resigns

Alberto Gonzales, who has entered office as the United States Attorney General in February 2005, announced his resignation from office on August 27, 2007, effective September 17, 2007. Though the AG himself did not offer any explanations, and his boss, President George W. Bush accused Congress for unfair treatment of his loyal friend, the reasons behind the resignation are quite obvious.

On the margins of the story is the online gambling industry. The AG is the US enforcement arm's top official. As such, he was in key position, leading the anti-online gambling policy of the past year. It is said that Gonzales, from his powerful position, has once promised Arizona Senator Jon Kyl that he would do everything in his power to ensure the demise of online gambling.

Indeed, he has done a lot to hurt the thriving international business, at least with all that regards the US market, once the epitome of the gaming world. He has been not only vocal, but also a leading force in his agencies' efforts to squash the industry, once worth a billion dollars and more.

Under Gonzales' direction, the US has arrested online gambling executives who have passed through American airports, has rolled the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), in general, wreaking havoc in the business. He is one of the defendants named in the recent IMEGA complaint filed to the courts against the Act.

Naturally, the online gambling has reasons to rejoice in the face of the news; even rejoice. Though the opponent is gone, it is yet unknown who will be appointed in his stead, keeping the online gambling lobby on its toes, short of declaring victory.

Some Truly Rejoice as AG Resigns

Some may be doing so, however. Gonzales' resignation was in the coming for long months, particularly ever since the April 2007 farce testimony appearance in front of Congress, over the firing of US attorneys who did not abide by GOP policy.

Some have even wagered on when Gonzales will resign. Some betting sites offered odds over whether he will stay in office past July 2007, while one site asked its gambling members whether Gonzales would last longer than the infamous American Idol finalist Sanjaya Malakar.