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Online Poker Politics Spawn Study Proposal

Recently, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (Richmond, Va.) has sponsored the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which aims to make online gambling and Internet poker illegal. The United States House of Representatives is set to vote on this bill within the next few weeks. Goodlatte's bill intends to update current laws to remove all doubt concerning the illegality of online poker.

In Washington State, a law was recently passed that makes it a Class C felony to play poker online, putting online poker players in the same category as child molesters and identitiy thieves.

In the middle of what online poker enthusiasts perceived as a threat is a glimmer of hope. At the end of May, Congressman Jon Porter of Nevada introduced the Internet Gambling Study Commission Act, which aims to establish a commission that will examine the impact of online gambling. The bill has 42 co-sponsors in the House.

Porter had this to say during the introduction at the bipartisan legislation: "With technology constantly evolving, we need a much better understanding of online gambling before Congress makes any rash decisions about its future. By establishing a bipartisan, independent Study Commission, we'll make sure we have all of the facts laid out on the table before considering any possible next steps."

Similarly Rep. Jim Gibbons, also from Nevada and one of the co-sponsors of the bill, released the following statement: "The fact remains that, despite already being illegal, millions of Americans currently gamble online. Therefore, restricting the online gaming industry without fully reviewing the potential negative impacts would be a knee-jerk reaction. I commend Congressman Porter for his leadership on this issue and am confident that this legislation will provide a thorough evaluation of Internet gaming."

Michael Bolcerek, president of the Poker Players Alliance or PPA, is encouraged about by this study proposal. He calls it a good public policy, citing that the United States would do good to follow the example of countries like the United Kingdom, which treats Internet gambling and online poker much the way that they would treat their land-based counterparts: by regulating and taxing them.

"We think the best approach to public policy is to put money toward treatment and education," Bolcerek said.

In May, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has already released a report encouraging the government to create a commission to study the impacts of Internet gambling and online poker. It called for the commission to take "into account a broad range of policy issues, including how best to protect children and problem gamblers and whether Internet gambling can be effectively legalized and regulated in the United States."

 

August 31, 2006
Pauline Davis

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