Close to the worst thing that could have happened to the internet gambling community occurred with the deceitful passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The bill was signed into law by President Bush on October 13 and several big name UK companies instantly lost the majority of their income.

The democratic take over of the House and Senate may be the best thing that could have happened to the internet gambling community since the UIGEA passed. Especially considering the particular Democrats who took seats from Republicans.

Sen. Harry Reid, a moderate Nevada Democrat and former casino regulator, was elected by colleagues on Tuesday as U.S. Senate majority leader for the 110th Congress that will convene in January. "He probably knows our industry better than anyone," said Frank Fahrenkopf, CEO of the American Gambling Association pushing for an extensive study for the push to legalize online gambling.

The new Republican leader in the Senate is expected to be Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, a state that homes land based casinos.

Sen. Trent Lott, a Republican from Mississippi, is angling for the job of assistant minority leader in the Senate. Mississippi is another state that houses land based casinos.

In the House there will also be major changes which may benefit the internet gambling community.

Rep. Jon Conyers is expected to head the Judiciary Committee, he is from Detroit and Fahrenkopf says Conyers has seen the benefit of casinos on the economy first hand.

Fahrenkopf also notes that Bennie Thompson, expected to chair Homeland Security, is from Tunica, Mississippi.

And, according to Fahrenkopf, Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, who is expected to chair the Financial Services Committee, has a libertarian approach to gambling and does not believe that the U.S. should be telling people how to spend their money.

"We think it might be time to see if there is a way to regulate and control online gaming," Fahrenkopf said. The American Gambling Association is expected to decide in December on whether to pursue legislation calling for an independent study of online gambling.

November 15, 2006
Posted By Susan Torres
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com