The Obama Administration has not taken a position yet

US: Lawmakers consider Internet gambling bills

2010-05-21
Reading time 1:01 min

The House is considering two Internet gambling bills. One would legalize it. The other would require people to declare winnings from online gambling to U.S. tax authorities and set a 0.25 % tax on wagers of all federally licensed bets.

While the multibillion-dollar Internet gambling industry is not illegal per se, it soon will be illegal for financial institutions to knowingly accept payment in online gaming transactions, under a law that is set to take effect in June. That law makes an exception for fantasy football and horse racing.

If all states took part, taxing online gambling could raise about us$ 42 billion over a decade, according to the joint congressional tax committee. Frank first introduced his proposal several years ago, but it could gain momentum this time as lawmakers hunt for money to balance the us$ 1.4 trillion budget deficit.

Washington Democrat Jim McDermott sponsors the tax bill, but not all Democrats back it. Some Republicans favor it, but others cited moral concerns. "People sometimes resort to drastic things when they are strapped for cash," Representative Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican, said. Still, he said states should be able to make the decision on their own.

States can opt out of the law if it passes. Utah and Hawaii ban gambling. Privately held Harrah's Entertainment, the biggest casino company, backs legalizing online gambling, but not the House bill on taxation. Rival MGM Mirage said it has no position on the tax bill, but supports legalization and taxation in some form. The Obama Administration has not taken a position.

Leave your comment
Subscribe to our newsletter
Enter your email to receive the latest news
By entering your email address, you agree to Yogonet's Condiciones de uso and Privacy Policies. You understand Yogonet may use your address to send updates and marketing emails. Use the Unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
Unsubscribe
EVENTS CALENDAR