The American Gaming Association’s board of directors will meet next month to
consider whether to lobby the next [Democrat-controlled] US Congress to
establish an independent research study of Internet gambling policy. “The
board will consider whether or not to support legislation in the new
Congress calling for an independent study of Internet gambling to see if it
can be properly regulated, controlled, taxed and licensed here in the United
States,” said AGA President Frank Fahrenkopf. “My guess is that they (the
board) are going to say let’s go ahead and do it.” Representing the U.S.
commercial casino industry, the AGA strongly opposed Internet gambling
throughout the late 90’s, but its position grew unclear after the turn of
the century. “Our policy changed back in April when we took a position that
we thought the best way to go was to have an independent commission look at
it,” said Fahrenkopf.AGA board members who will meet in Las Vegas on
December 6 to discuss the matter include MGM Mirage CEO Terri Lanni, Boyd
Gaming CEO William Boyd, Harrah’s Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman and Wynn
Resorts CEO Stephen Wynn, among others. In May of 2006, Nevada
Representatives Jon Porter and Shelly Berkley introduced a bill calling for
the creation of a Congressional Internet Gaming Study Commission as an
alternative to legislation aimed at prohibiting online gambling in the U.S.,
but the bill made little headway. Both Porter and Berkley won re-election
last week.
Fahrenkopf said the last time the AGA revisited the issue it preferred to
have the study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences rather than by
a Congressional Commission so that the researchers are devoid of lobbying
influence.
“If it came back saying that it can be regulated and controlled then we
would then take the next step I assume, and see if we couldn’t get some
support for legalization by states” he added.
“But that’s a long way down the road.”
Legislation aimed at prohibiting Internet gambling financial transactions in
the U.S. was signed into law last month amid heavy criticism.
