Senator Harry Reid had an enormous political battle on his hands in the state of Nevada during the mid-term elections. In
The answer to that question may have come out relatively short after the election was complete. When Senator Reid dropped the bombshell this past weekend that he was supporting a bill that would regulate Internet gambling on a federal level, but with a heavy advantage to Las Vegas casinos, the skeptics had found their ammunition.
"Over the past several years, Senator Reid had grown out of favor of many of the most powerful people in the gaming industry," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "Usually when that happens, there has to be something substantial that must be offered for the trust to re-emerge. In this case, that something may have been online gambling."
The fact that Reid made his support known during the lame-duck session has some wondering if he must get the regulations passed in the next month to keep his supporters happy. Once the Republicans take control of the House in January, it will be almost impossible to get the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 overturned.
Knowing that he must work quickly, Reid has offered what looks to be a comprehensive piece of legislation that is specific on how to regulate Internet gambling. All states would be allowed to operate online gaming sites, but casinos must be in existence for at least five years to gain a license.
That last stipulation shows that the bill is geared towards ensuring that Nevada casinos get the first crack at the online gaming industry. With well-established casinos, Sin City casino operators could corner the market before other states are able to get their operations up and running.
The plan all along for Reid may have been to keep the Internet gambling card in his pocket and pull it out at precisely the right time. For years, Reid has opposed any Internet gaming regulations on a federal level, and now it has become clear why. The senator won his re-election, and now must pay back his most loyal supporters, leading to the perfect time to pull the ace of spades from his bag of tricks.
The question is, does Reid have enough magic in the hat to make the other cards needed for a royal flush appear before the end of the year, and, if not, what will be his political consequences?
December 6, 2010
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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