Delaware Senate To Vote On Internet Gambling Bill
The online gambling craze has already caught on for millions of Americans, and now the craze is causing lawmakers all across the US to reexamine their stance on Internet gambling.
Delaware has become the latest state to make a strong push towards regulated online gambling. Last week, the House approved a bill that would allow Delaware residents to wager online on games such as slots, blackjack, craps, and other table games. The bill passed by a large margin in the House, and now a companion bill is making its way through the Senate.
This week, a Senate committee approved the bill, despite strong opposition from traditional lobbying power groups. Religious groups have come out strong against the online gambling, claiming that it is morally irresponsible to pass the law. Lawmakers do not agree, as the bill passed the committee and is now headed to a full Senate vote.
If the Senate passes the legislation, Delaware would become the second state in the US to pass such laws. Nevada, the gaming capital of the US, passed an online gambling bill late last year. Nevada legislators have been working towards licensing gaming companies to offer the Internet casinos by the end of the year.
"The online gambling community is not going away, it's only getting larger," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "States are starting to see the amounts of revenue that could be generated by online gambling, and that type of money is something the states cannot pass up in this economic environment."
Delaware is one of the few states that opted out of a 1992 law prohibiting sports betting, and the state has taken advantage of that opt-out in recent years. Delaware became the second state in the country to authorize sports books a couple of years ago, and lawmakers are working on a bill that would expand the number of sports books in the state in the coming years.