District of Columbia Can't Decide On How To Introduce Online Gambling
The District of Columbia Council is having difficulty coming to an agreement on how, or if, the nation’s capital should run the first online, government-run gambling venture in the country.
Online gambling is currently legal in the district, but only because a member of the council inserted language that would allow online poker, online blackjack and other games to a budget bill that became law last spring.
Some members of the council were unhappy with this process and want to stop online gambling before it starts.
in late January, D.C. Lottery officials said that with the council’s permission, they could have the website to offer the online games up and running in the next 30 days.
While online gambling is banned in the United States, the Justice Department clarified last month that states can allow it to occur within their own borders. While many states are interested in having online gambling, only Nevada and the D.C. have approved laws or regulations allowing online gambling.
According to officials in Nevada, they hope to begin offering online poker by the end of 2012.