Porter Visit To Isle Of Man Confirmed

Published: Saturday, August 05, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

PORTER VISIT TO I.O.M. CONFIRMED

Congressman wants to study regulation of online gambling sites


Reports last month (see Online-Casinos.com and InfoPowa bulletins) that Representative Jon Porter of Nevada intends to visit the Isle of Man soon were confirmed by the politician this week, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The two-term congressman said he intends to visit the Isle of Man to learn more about how the self-governing kingdom regulates Internet gambling, but will wait until the Senate decides whether to act on an Internet gambling ban approved by the House last month.

"Even with the position the House has taken, Internet gambling is not going away," Porter said. "This is a $12 billion business and the bulk of the revenues it generates is coming from the States. ... I think it should and needs to be regulated."

As an alternative to the ban that passed the House, Porter introduced a bill in May calling for an 18-month study of Internet gambling by a bi-partisan federal commission. The bill has 49 co-sponsors.

"We introduced it very late in the process," Porter said. "I like to believe there are a lot of reasonable folks who still want to get all the facts about Internet gaming."

Porter said he got the idea for a trip after a July 19 meeting in his Washington, D.C., office with three Isle of Man officials.

He hopes to take a taxpayer-funded trip to the Isle of Man that would include other members of Congress. The purpose of the trip may be broadened to examine other aspects of the Internet such as its impact on children, Porter said.

"I think the (Nevada casino) industry is very split on Internet gambling," Porter said. "Many of our resorts have met with the Isle of Man people, and they are looking at options and alternatives."