Utah and Connecticut Look to Fold on Internet Gambling

While many states are lining up to investigate the potential of online gaming, two are looking to go the opposite direction.  Utah has officially introduced a measure that would outlaw online gaming.  Also, if Connecticut’s Senate Minority Leader is correct, don’t expect online gambling there anytime soon either.

Utah Introduces Anti-Online Gambling Measure

Last month, we reported that Utah state representative Stephen Sandstrom intended to introduce a bill into the Utah legislature that would block internet gaming in the state.  The bill known as H.B. 108 is a direct response to H.R. 1174 that is being reviewed by the U.S. congress.  H.R. 1174 would legalize online gaming in states unless they opt out of the bill.  That bill was introduced into the Utah legislature officially on Tuesday.

Sandstrom stated, “We want to keep Utah free from the negative impacts of legalized gambling.  Without courageous leadership to block Internet gaming, Utah could see Indian casinos popping up statewide in just a few years.” At present, only Utah and Hawaii prohibit all forms of gambling within the state.  Hawaii has been touted as revisiting online gaming, and if they approve it, Utah would become the last state left in the U.S. to block gambling.

Online Gambling Not Coming to CT According to Senate Minority Leader

According to Connecticut Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, there is no chance of online gaming coming to the state because he believes that the governor’s understanding of the Department of Justice’s recent opinion of the Wire Act as “fundamentally flawed and just wrong.”

Senator McKinney points out that online gaming is still currently illegal under CT laws and that governor Malloy’s interpretation of the memo from the DOJ does not change that.  Malloy has been on record as stating that online gaming would be coming to the state irrespective of what the state legislature does.

McKinney believes that instead of legalizing online gaming, stronger enforcement of laws currently on the books in CT is needed.  Currently, it is a Class A misdemeanor for a business to transfer gambling information and a Class B misdemeanor for an individual to gamble online.

Several issues could present themselves in CT in regards to online gaming.  First and foremost, the state would have to make a new compact with the Mohegans and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes who run the state’s casinos.  Also, McKinney states that the state already spends $1.9 Million a year on problem gamblers, and expects that number to go up with online gaming.

McKinney believes that the issue will not come before the state legislature during the current session.  Gov. Malloy seems to be the main person debating the merits of the issue at present, so CT may be a ways off before making any substantial progress in this area.