Casino News Article of the Month: Looking Forward to a Propitious 2007

The online gambling industry is trying its best to stay positive going into the new year, 2007. Having good reason to do so, things look more promising for the U.S. facing sector more so than they did immediately following the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The most obvious reason why things are looking up are because of the Democratic majority making its way into Congress. The passing of the anti-online casino gambling legislation in October of 2006, is largely being viewed as a pandering to the religious right by the Republican Party. With carve-outs for online sports fantasy betting and horseracing, the bill most certainly does appear to be of a partial nature. The hope now is that a more open-minded Congress will take the time to research the online gambling industry, beginning with a legislation study exploring the current U.S. sector and that of the U.K., whose regulation laws of online casinos go into effect this year. Currently, the American Gaming Association has given the green light to a bill that would put such a study into effect, and only needs the approving nod of Congress to begin its course. With some backing from influential land-based casino operators (who obviously have their own interests at stake when it comes to legalizing online gambling in the U.S.), the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act may not be enforced as planned come July, 2007. The majority sentiment of the industry is that Britain will have successfully displayed sound online gambling regulation by that time, consequently serving as proof that the greatest good comes from regulation and not prohibition.