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BERKELY MAKES HER MOVE
Nevada proposal to study online gambling goes for markup this weekNevada Representative Shelley Berkley’s proposal to launch an independent study of the pros and cons of legalising Internet gambling in the United States, H.R. 2140, the “Internet Gambling Study Act,” goes before the House Judiciary Committee this week for markup.
The bill, which has the support of the American Gaming Association and 73 political co-sponsors, was introduced in May 2007 and proposes a one-year study on Internet gambling conducted by the National Academy of Sciences.
Opposition from pressure groups like Focus on the Family Action is already evident, with spokesman Chad Hills claiming that HR2140 is nothing more than the promotion of online gambling disguised as research.
His view is not shared by other industry observers, who contend that a in-depth, professional and independent study would confirm or dispel diverse perceptions by providing facts on Internet gambling, the technologies available to obviate criminal, problem or underage usage and the taxation implications of a regulated and legalised online gambling industry.
Back when this bill (HR 2140) was being written, Michael Bolcerek, president of the Poker Players Alliance, had this to say about it:
“Creating a federally commissioned study is a logical step in examining the true impact of online gambling. … Opponents of online gambling fail to realize that sweeping it under the rug will only serve to exacerbate any issues with problem gambling. Turning the wildly popular Internet poker from a common pastime to an illegal activity, banned by Congress, will ultimately ensure that problem gamblers do not confront their issues with gambling and drive them further underground. Regulation and taxation, however, would provide billions in revenue for federal and state governments. These funds could be used to treat problem gamblers and to educate adults and youths alike on the dangers of gambling addictions.”
You can check the progress of the bill at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2140.
