New online gambling bill aims to help states

Representative Jim McDermott from Washington State introduced some revisions on the much-debated Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act on Monday. Many states are expected to benefit from the changes made.

In the new version of the proposal, states and tribal groups will have the right to claim up to six percent of the generated revenue from their own online gambling citizens. McDermott may win the vote of fellow congressmen who are still opposed to online gambling.

Long-time gambling proponent Barney Frank has signed as a co-sponsor for McDermott’s bill, although Frank has a proposal of his own. Both lawmakers have been trying to get support from other legislators to help overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

The UIGEA was imposed in 2006, but the rules will strictly be implemented in June 2010. Frank, with the support of other lawmakers, has successfully delayed the implementation of the legislation last year.

Other co-sponsors of McDermott’s bill include the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Rep. John B. Larson of Conn., and Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon. The new bill will be presented alongside Frank’s Internet Gambling, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, which was drafted last year.

Several gaming groups such as Beneficial Holdings have expressed support for these pro-online gambling bills. The company plans to open an online casino site on April, but due to the ban on online gambling, it will not accept US customers as of yet.