Berkley Believes Harry Reid May Support Online Gambling

One of the major steps in passing new online gambling legislation in the US will ride on the ability to convince Nevada Congressman and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that it would be beneficial to Nevada. Reid has opposed online gambling in the past, but some believe that he could be open to changing his stance.

Senator Reid has opposed Internet gambling in the past because he represents the state of Nevada. Las Vegas is the largest and most lucrative land-based casino area in the US, and for a long time Las Vegas casinos wanted nothing to do with online gambling regulations.

Now, however, the casino owners have softened their stance on the issue. The economic recession has affected land-based casinos immensely, and company's such as Harrah's Entertainment have taken to the Internet to help increase revenue.

Harrah's has launched online casinos with the Caesar's brand name in European country's where Internet gambling is regulated. Harrah's does not allow US online gamblers to place wagers on their site. Harrah's has started to increase awareness of their online gambling operation in the US by running ads in the USA Today and on ESPN promoting their free World Series of Poker online poker site.

Through all of the battling that has taken place in recent year's regarding Internet gambling, Reid has been opposed to any regulations. His fear has always been that online casinos would eliminate the need for gamblers to travel to Nevada to satisfy their betting fix. Representative Shelley Berkley, one of three representatives from Nevada that supports Rep. Frank's new online gambling legislation, believes Reid, too, may be swayed.

"I think his position has softened dramatically, but he's going to need to be convinced," said Berkley, as reported by the Reno Gazette-Journal. "I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I know he's been moving to a positive position."

It is common for legislators from the same state to discuss issues, so Berkley may have some inside knowledge of where Reid currently stands on the issue. That stance may not be known to the public until after the mid-term elections.

With elections looming in November, lawmakers have been shy in taking a hard-lined stance on controversial issues. Even after Rep. Frank's bill passed the House Financial Services Committee a couple of weeks ago, it is likely the issue will not be brought up again until 2011.

By then, many new lawmakers will be making the decision on the future of Internet gambling in the US. No matter who is in office after the new year, Frank has made it clear with recent comments that the only way the laws will be changed is for pro-Internet gambling Americans to have their opinions heard.

Frank alluded to the idea that anti-gambling forces will be out in strong numbers and will be contacting their hometown legislators. Frank urges any individuals looking to protect their right to have the freedom to gamble online to contact their legislators through e-mail, phone, and any other reasonable means necessary to have their voice heard.

Those in Nevada can contact Senator Reid's office and urge the senator to support Rep. Frank's bill.

August 8, 2010
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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