When the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) met last Friday in Boston for their annual meeting, nobody knew exactly what the primary focus of the meeting would end up being.  As it turned out, it was the controversial issue of online gambling regulation that drew the most examination and testimony.  With several representatives from both the land-based and online gambling industries speaking their ideas and concerns, the meeting proved to communicate an overall openness to the possibility of regulating internet betting.

It has been the position of the NCLGS to support states' rights in regards to gambling regulation, and that online gambling opposes and interferes with the states' ability to regulate.  However, NCLGS President, Senator Steven Gellar, D-FL, said at the meeting that technological innovations and other developments as exemplified by the United Kingdom's recent move to regulate the industry, have prompted the NCLGS to remain open to the possibility of regulating online casino gambling.  Over the course of the meeting, four panels covering internet betting legislation in Washington, legal perspectives, and testimonies in support of and against regulating the industry.

Senior Vice President of the American Gaming Association (AGA), Judy Patterson, spoke about legal perspectives, also alluding to the groups openness to the online betting industry by referring to the recent study the AGA conducted, which showed that 4% of Americans have gambled online, as well as the AGA's recommendation to Congress to conduct a nationwide study on internet betting.  Opposition, however, sprang up in the testimony of Amy Blume Hunter, who is a legislative liaison for the legal division of the Washington State Gaming Commission.  According to Hunter, Washington is organizing a task force that would create three federal agencies responsible for enforcing and investigating legal violations of the recent law passed by Washington State that makes online gambling illegal, and imposes punishments of $10,000 fines and/or up to five years prison sentence.

Despite these roadblocks to legislation, there was a great deal of support for internet betting, with some exciting testimony that gave strong arguments on not only why regulation and legalization should occur, but more importantly, how it can be done in a responsible and successful manner.  Much of this testimony was eloquently expressed by Bill White, who is the CEO of Global Cyber LLC.  According to White, Global Cyber has invented a patented system to regulate online gambling, which would provide 100% transparency for regulators.  The system would enable regulators to employ geo-locators that would track gamblers and keep those who have been denied access (problem and underage gamblers) from logging into any online casino or betting site.  White's words were met with much enthusiasm, which past Chair of the Interactive Gaming Council, Sue Schneider, further backed by referring to the interest of the NCLGS to examine possibilities on how age verification and geo-location protocols could be as efficient as possible, mostly in regard to online lotteries, racing, and to a certain extent - online casino gambling.