Nevada Gaming Board Considers Regulating Online Casinos
The head of the Nevada Gaming Control Board asserted that only clarification of what is illegal online gambling is needed to start regulation of online casinos. Dennis Neilander told the state Judiciary Committee that bills pending before the US Congress may free up the state to start collecting revenue on Internet gambling.
The Internet casino industry is conservatively estimated to bring revenues of over $16 billion worldwide. Studies suggest that, despite the UIGEA ban, US patrons make up at least half that market. If laws change to make play easier for US customers, online casinos are expected to boom.
Neilander told the committee that the future of online gambling is "very much up in the air." He pointed out that the finalized regulations of the UIGEA do not go into effect until December 1st, more than enough time for bills by Barney Frank and others to supersede the payment transaction ban.
Neilander indicated that, should clarification of federal law be made, Nevada could begin regulating all legal online gambling games, as it does land casino play in the state.
Shelley Berkley, a US Congresswoman from Nevada, has proposed Congress make a study of the possible advantages and disadvantages of online gambling. Neilander remarked on Berkley's criticism of the midnight rules applied to the UIGEA, saying the Bush administration had conducted a "prohibitionist crusade against Internet gaming."
