May Attach Gambling Ban To Other Legislation

Published: Thursday, March 09, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

WILEY KYL MAY ATTACH HIS ONLINE GAMBLING BANNING BILL TO OTHER LEGISLATION

Online gambling's would-be nemesis about to make his first move for 2006

U.S. media were watching Sen. Jon Kyl and his first move for 2006 in yet another attempt to ban online gambling this week.

Speculation was rife that the wily senator who has repeatedly tried to kill this form of entertainment may try to add his latest banning proposal to lobbying reform legislation on the Senate floor.

The Senator has used the recent Abramoff lobbying scandal as leverage for his banning quest over the past few months.

Kyl confirmed that he may offer an online wagering ban amendment this week. When asked if the industry may have become too large and powerful to be banned, he is quoted as saying: "That is a concern."

Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas has joined Kyl in pushing for an online gambling ban. "Basically, the way the Internet has functioned is that it's really opened a lot of communities -- a lot of people to gambling that otherwise they couldn't do," Pryor said.

One of the reasons Kyl and other lawmakers are renewing efforts to ban Internet gambling is the fall of Jack Abramoff, a once-powerful lobbyist who pleaded guilty in January to three felonies in a fraud and bribery case. Abramoff, who is cooperating in a federal investigation of corruption in Congress, has been accused of killing a House bill in 2000 by Rep. Bob Goodlatte that would have banned online wagering.

Abramoff collaborated with an aide to then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay to defeat the proposed ban because it would have put one of his clients out of business, according to the Washington Post. Ironically, DeLay is one of 118 co-sponsors of Goodlatte's bill this year - a 180 degree turnaround.

Goodlatte has re-introduced his anti-online gambling Bill this year, saying Abramoff had been responsible for "widespread disinformation" about the 2000 measure.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has said he will not decide how he will vote on the Kyl-Pryor amendment until he has had a chance to review it.

"In the past, Senator Reid has opposed Internet gambling because he has not been convinced it can be regulated by the same strict standards as casinos in Nevada," a spokesman for the Senator said.