Carte Goodwin Gives Lawmakers More Online Gambling Ammunition

The online gambling issue is about to take center stage in Washington and Democratic leaders looking for Internet gambling regulations may have picked up support on Friday. Carte Goodwin has been tapped to occupy Robert Byrd's Senate seat from West Virginia.

The online gambling debate will begin in the House Finance Committee that Rep. Frank chairs. Once Frank's legislation to overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and set up a framework for Internet gambling regulations makes it out of committee, the full House will debate the issue.

If the House passes legislation, the issue would then shift to the Senate, and that is where Goodwin could play a role in the future of online gambling in the US. The Senate is controlled by Democrats, but they need almost all of their party to vote for proposed legislation in order to avoid the bills being stalled. With Goodwin filling Senator Byrd's seat, it gives another party vote to Senate leaders.

"If Frank can get his legislation to a vote before the November elections, there is a stronger chance it will be approved," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "Having another Democrat on board can only be a good thing for Frank and other Internet gambling regulation supporters."

Rep. Frank has started to receive non-partisan support. Several Republican lawmakers have signed on as co-sponsors to Frank's H.R. 2267 Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. Reports indicate that the markup stage of the process could come as early as next week.

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin is calling for a November vote to permanently fill Senator Byrd's seat. There are still two years left on the term, and Goodwin will now be the early favorite to win that election after he was appointed to the seat on Thursday.

July 16, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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