Canada Provinces Beating US States To Online Gambling Regulations

Lawmakers around the US are considering varying proposals on how to regulate online gambling in their states. The states in the US, however, are being beaten to the punch from their neighbors to the North.

Loto-Quebec and B.C. Lotteries have both been approved for online gambling offerings, and now the Manitoba government is considering regulating Internet gambling. This week, the government admitted to exploring the online gambling option.

"We're looking at it, but no decision has been made. There will probably be a decision sometime this year," said Manitoba Lotteries Minister Steve Ashton. "Clearly this is on the agenda. We're going to look at it from all angles."

In Canada, even some of the gambling addiction groups are undecided on the Internet gambling issue. These groups understand that online gambling already exists, and the provinces are not reaping the benefits, but are torn between the social ills that could come from the expanded gambling. Others believe they can do more good if the government ran the Internet gambling site.

"Let's not put our heads in the sand. It is out there," said John Brody, CEO of the addictions Foundation of Manitoba, as reported by the QMI agency. "There's an opportunity to intervene and that can only be done through a government site."

Meanwhile, in the US, efforts to regulate online gambling have thus far stalled. On a national level, Representative Barney Frank has proposed legislation that would overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which places the burden on financial institutions to stop transactions to and from Internet betting sites.

Rep. Frank has also proposed a separate piece of legislation that would set the wheels in motion for a regulated online gambling industry in the country. The House Financial Services Committee was set to take up the legislation last week, but it was delayed until a later date.

April 22, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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