AGA Funds Up

12/20/2008		AGA Funds Up
Home History Games News Dictionary		The New Year may see some action come from all the talk about internet gambling and casinos being legalized in the US, especially when you take into consideration the amounts of money that the American Gaming Association is committed to lobbying for measures including regulation. The third quarter reports submitted to the White House and Dept of Treasury in regards to the lobbying funds received by politicians and for what causes showed that the American Gaming Association had invested a solid $400,000 in Congressional lobbying for the third quarter, months July through September. The AGA is made up primarily of owners of land-based casinos, who coincidentally may or may not have interests in the internet casino sector as well. The report, which was filed with the House’s Office of the Clerk on October 16th, show that the lobbying funds were intended to support such measures as legislation regarding Hurricane Katrina’s tax bills, and a bill to create a non-profit organization that would promote travel to the United States (which would boost income in vacation cities as Atlantic City and Las Vegas.) Also included in the beneficiaries was the suggestion of Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkely, who has urged a comprehensive research project to analyze the success rate of possible regulation for the online casino industry, as well as develop solutions for issues that could arise. Berkely has suggested the issue be looked at completely before decisive action, such as 2006’s UIGEA, be taken and possibly regretted. The AGA has made clear their support of Berkely’s view, as found in their annual report: “The AGA board strongly supports H.R. 2140, the Internet Gambling Study Act, which authorizes a federally funded study to evaluate the impacts of online gambling. The AGA board thinks a comprehensive study should take into account policy issues ranging from how best to protect children and problem gamblers to whether Internet gambling can be effectively legalized and regulated in the United States. The study also should include consideration of recent WTO rulings indicating the United States’ position on Internet gaming may be in violation of international trade obligations."

12/20/2008

AGA Funds Up

The New Year may see some action come from all the talk about internet gambling and casinos being legalized in the US, especially when you take into consideration the amounts of money that the American Gaming Association is committed to lobbying for measures including regulation.
The third quarter reports submitted to the White House and Dept of Treasury in regards to the lobbying funds received by politicians and for what causes showed that the American Gaming Association had invested a solid $400,000 in Congressional lobbying for the third quarter, months July through September. The AGA is made up primarily of owners of land-based casinos, who coincidentally may or may not have interests in the internet casino sector as well. The report, which was filed with the House’s Office of the Clerk on October 16th, show that the lobbying funds were intended to support such measures as legislation regarding Hurricane Katrina’s tax bills, and a bill to create a non-profit organization that would promote travel to the United States (which would boost income in vacation cities as Atlantic City and Las Vegas.)

Also included in the beneficiaries was the suggestion of Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkely, who has urged a comprehensive research project to analyze the success rate of possible regulation for the online casino industry, as well as develop solutions for issues that could arise. Berkely has suggested the issue be looked at completely before decisive action, such as 2006’s UIGEA, be taken and possibly regretted. The AGA has made clear their support of Berkely’s view, as found in their annual report:

“The AGA board strongly supports H.R. 2140, the Internet Gambling Study Act, which authorizes a federally funded study to evaluate the impacts of online gambling. The AGA board thinks a comprehensive study should take into account policy issues ranging from how best to protect children and problem gamblers to whether Internet gambling can be effectively legalized and regulated in the United States. The study also should include consideration of recent WTO rulings indicating the United States’ position on Internet gaming may be in violation of international trade obligations."