A record breaking degree of irrelevancy was broken at the 109th Congress regarding online casinos, as the advocates of the legislation suffered yet another setback this week after intense negotiations.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, tried unsuccessfully to attach an online casino ban to none other than a defense bill but the request was refused on grounds of irrelevancy by Sen. John Warner, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and his Democrat colleague Sen. Carl Levin.
With his colleagues in the Senate showing little appetite for conventionally bringing the measure to the floor this year, Frist attempted to get his proposal through the back door by attaching it to a totally unrelated military authorization bill. It seems that the sites are feeling the heat every single week.
Despite the setback, advocates said GOP leaders will keep trying to add a wagering prohibition to must-pass legislation until Congress adjourns this year. This specific course of action began when on September 5th, the day Congress returned from its August recess. Frist made a speech on the Senate floor and listed the ban as one of his priorities as Congress rushes toward adjournment. He is following up on the will of many, including the Department of Justice, who believe internet gambling is illegal. Despite ongoing efforts, the $12 billion industry continues to grow, with more than 2,300 Web sites.
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