"Mark Shurtleff thinks the US government ban against online casinos has failed, and should be replaced by a regulatory system that protects US residents while generating revenue. That opinion is shared by millions in the US, but none of the others who think that way are the Attorney General for Utah, the most hostile state of all toward gambling and casinos.

What makes Shurtleff unusual among politicians is the ability to drop ideology and examine things in a practical light, making decisions under the circumstances that exist and not those one wished for. "Even though we outlawed it (online gambling) for two years now, it is still going on and it is highly unregulated, so you've got unscrupulous people rigging the system. People are getting ripped off," the Utah AG told the Salt Lake Tribune.

Shurtleff has thrown his state's support behind Barney Frank's efforts to craft a law removing the UIGEA. What he wants is to make sure the federal proposal doesn't inadvertently open a loophole allowing tribal casinos in Utah.

The Indian Gaming Regulations Act gives tribes the right to host any form of gambling legal anywhere in the state in which the tribe is located. Shurtleff hopes to convince Frank and others composing the bill to word it in a way that doesn't break Utah's state rules against gambling."

Get the Story:
Utah AG Has Refreshingly Pratical Take on Online Casinos (Online Casinos 3/5)

More Stories:
Shurtleff on legalized gambling: Deal me in (the Salt Lake Tribune 3/5)
Frank to push to repeal U.S. online gambling ban (Reuters 3/5)
Utah Attorney General backs legalization of online gaming (Gaming Alerts 3/5)
Utah Attorney General Says It Is Time To Legalize Online Gambling (Casino Gambling News 3/5)