Posted Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:10 am GMT by Dave B
North Dakota Senate votes against legalising online poker under pressure from
the United States Department of Justice
The senate of North Dakota has voted against a bill that would have allowed
online poker operators to be located and licensed in the state. Nevertheless,
the bill received enough support to worry the Department of Justice into sending
a letter to North Dakota's attorney-general warning that the proposed
legislation might violate federal law. It is widely accepted that this
intervention by the Department of Justice influenced the result of the vote to a
significant degree. The episode echoes previous instances when moves towards the
legalisation of online gambling in both Nevada and the US Virgin Islands have
been nipped in the bud at an early stage in similar fashion by the Department of
Justice.
The Department of Justice's case rests on the provisions of the 1961 Wire Act,
which was originally aimed at prohibiting betting over phone lines. Supporters
of the legalisation of gambling argue that this law applies to sports betting
but not gaming and point to the fact that there is no federal court ruling
backing-up the Department of Justice's position. As yet, however, the power of
the Department of Justice and the political climate have been such that no state
has truly put this to the test by passing legislation legalising online gaming.
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Posted Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:48 am GMT by wEbMaStEr
Fairly typical, let's not upset the status quo, change is a bad thing kind of mentality.
Is there an actual move afoot to get the federal government to legalise online poker?
Posted Wed Aug 24, 2005 11:37 am GMT by Dave B
There is zero chance under the Bush administration. So, no, no attempts to legalize online gambling.
There is a growing "climate" of gambling. Remember, in the USA, the Feds have their laws and the states each have their own.
Here in MN, a law was just passed allowing poker in local bars (with a ton of restrictions-no entry fee, small prize maximums, no rake). There is even circuts where you get points and prizes for each strong finish.
Polititians have discovered that casinos and lotteries are a great way to tax the poor. So to feed their crack habit of spending, they are willing to accept more gambling.
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