Online Gambling Debate Heats Up in the USA

Published: Monday, April 27, 2009 Online-Casinos.com

Spokeswoman for the Christian Coalition, Michele Combs, has been quoted as saying, that the Coalition was gearing up for a "massive campaign" of letter writing and lobbying to try to prevent any loosening of the UIGEA. "We're not saying people shouldn't go to Las Vegas," she said. "But when it's in your home, it's too easy. It breaks up families."
The sides for and against the possible changes in the US rules are starting to become more vocal as the debate heats up.
Chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts, Steve Wynn when asked about his company and where they stand on the online gambling issue he responded that online gambling in the US would be "impossible to regulate." adding, "Even though it would be a benefit to our company, we are strongly opposed,"

Nick Batram, a spokesperson for KBC Peel Hunt, a brokerage firm in London UK, said "There's a better chance now for some sort of gaming legislation to be approved," adding, "But it took longer than expected to put anti-gaming legislation in place, and it will probably will take longer than expected to remove it."

H2 Gambling Capital a leading supplier of data and consultancy in the UK regarding the gambling industry has recently reported that online gambling generated revenue of $6 billion last year in North America, more than a quarter the global total of $22.6 billion, up from $17.6 billion in 2006. Simon Holliday, director of H2 Gambling Capital, said that liberating the gambling sector would encourage economic development while boosting tax revenues.

"Analysts say one possibility for European companies like PartyGaming, should the ban be lifted, would be to form partnerships with American casino operators. That would allow the European companies to share their online expertise. Operating alone, they might struggle to obtain licenses, given their history of run ins with U.S. law enforcement." Eric Pfanner of the New York Times wrote recently.

Clive Hawswood, from the UK's trade organisation the Remote Gaming Association,was quoted as saying, "I'd be amazed if it the legalisation of US Internet gambling didn't happen over the next two or three years. It's just a question of what exactly the regulations will say."