AGA supporting legalization of online gambling
The American Gaming Association – (AGA) group is thinking about supporting the legalization of online poker and Internet gambling in the USA, given a more friendly political environment, and the bottom line boost that legalization would bring them in these tough economic times. According to an article this week by the Las Vegas Sun, to reach consensus across AGA members, in order to be an effective lobbyist for the legalization of online gaming, at least three major perspectives on the issue will need to be considered: 1. Some major casino companies support federal regulation of Internet gambling. Several of the largest AGA members, notably MGM Mirage, Harrah’s Entertainment and International Game Technology, have been or are involved in Internet gambling ventures in countries where it’s legal and support legalization. 2. Other members prefer that individual states retain authority, similar to the way non-tribal casinos are being regulated. 3. While another sector fears competition from land-based casinos who have online outlets, so they oppose any regulation that would create new competition and further erode their tenuous positions. 
As before, AGA says they support a bill to study the implications of regulated US Internet gambling. AGA has formed a work group to study bills relevant to regulation that have been introduced this year, such as bills sponsored by Congressman Barney Frank, and Assemblyman Lloyd Levine who introduced a bill to legalise Internet poker in California. A PricewaterhouseCoopers study conducted this year in support of federal regulation estimated that online gambling could generate at least $9 billion in fees and taxes for the federal government over the next decade. That amount of revenue might encourage the new US administration to regulate rather than strangle such a potentially lucrative industry.