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Casinos Hopeful Democrats Can Overturn Internet Gambling Ban

A number of Las Vegas casino executives are optimistic that a change in power from the Republicans to the Democrats brought by the midterm elections would overturn an Internet gambling ban rushed through the congress before the elections.

Terry Lanni, chief executive for MGM Mirage Inc. tagged the new law "ridiculous", because it was introduced as part of an unrelated ports security bill, and it exempted horse races and lotteries, and allowed online wagers made on American-Indian land.

"It makes no sense whatsoever," Lanni told gambling industry officials present at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. "Prohibition didn't work, this isn't going to work."

Lanni proposed the Congress commission do a study on the effects of online gambling.

"We're looking even in the lame-duck session to reintroduce this bill with some of our compatriots in the House and Senate to study (Internet) gaming," said Lanni.

"We think it can be taxed, we think it can be regulated, we think it can be licensed," he added. "With the new leadership, with the Democrats winning the House and the Senate, we think we're going to have a much better opportunity to do that."

It was hinted that Sen Harry Reid might be of help to the industry's cause but Reid said that he opposed Internet gambling.

"I have said on many occasions that I don't believe in Internet gambling," Reid said in a meeting with reporters, adding he'd be open to looking at the results of a study on it.

"I know that people say it can be controlled, I just have extreme doubts that it can be. But I'll be happy to look at the study. I'm not going to turn my head and say never, never."