With the United States Congress getting a major Democratic shift in power recently, analysts say the future of U.S. facing online casino gambling operations is not looking as bleak as it has been in recent times due to the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. With a Republican majority out of both the House and Senate, and consequently, a weakening of conservative groups and the religious right, the recently passed anti-internet betting bill that has already spurred several online casinos to leave the market, could be getting a closer look at its agenda.

With subpoena power in the hands of the Democrats, U.S. citizens can rest assured that many of the unchecked actions of the current Bush administration will be getting "checked" under a much closer eye. Of course, one of the top priorities will be to assess the current situation in Iraq and the U.S. stance on their "War on Terrorism". However, other issues, which have been characterized as being part of a Republican agenda, will very likely be given renewed consideration in the future.

One such issue that is certainly going to be considered more is online gambling regulation, which will be brought up by the Internet Gaming Study Commission Act (HR 5474). Since its introduction to the House on May 24 of this year by Nevada Representative's Jon Porter (who happens to be Republican), HR 5474 has been patiently awaiting a verdict by House Judiciary Committee Chairman, F. James Senenbrenner on whether the bill will receive a hearing or a mark-up.

The study aims to evaluate all of the impacts (socially, legally and economically) that online casinos and internet gambling has had in the U.S. With support from the American Gaming Association to create a Congressional commission in doing so, the bill has been drawn up in such a way that would create a bipartisan panel of nine evaluators to implement a comprehensive study and evaluation of online gambling over an eighteen month time span and to report recommendations based on the study to Nevada Democrat Representative, Shelley Berkley. With 43 co-sponsors already - of which, 41 are Democrats - the bill is sure to garner even more co-sponsors and move on for further consideration, although this will likely not take place until the next Congressional session.