Even when the Democrats — typically more open to the idea of regulated online gambling — controlled the U.S. House of Representatives, there was no progress in updating the nation’s anti-online gambling laws.
Now that the Republicans control the House, it seems even less likely that new online gambling laws will be approved in 2011 … or 2012, for that matter.
“Reid says he’s ready to try again this year but his efforts may be thwarted by Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., named chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and other GOP lawmakers who indicated they want to keep online betting illegal in the United States,” reports UPI.com.
Bachus’ anti-online gambling stance is a “huge priority” for the lawmaker, the article adds.
Even worse, if the Republican leadership addresses online gambling laws this year, “such action would focus on examining the effectiveness of existing laws and making them tougher,” the Washington Times reports.