• Indian tribes are sovereign governments with a right to operate, regulate, tax, and license Internet gaming, and those rights must not be subordinated to any non-federal authority.Internet wagering is banned by federal law. But in 2006, NIGA advocated for a provision in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act to allow Internet gaming if a tribe and state agree to it under a Class III gaming compact. So far, however, no tribes and states have agreed to Internet gambling. Get the Story:
• Internet gaming authorized by Indian tribes must be available to customers in any locale where Internet gaming is not criminally prohibited.
• Consistent with long-held federal law and policy, tribal Internet gaming revenues must not be subject to tax.
• Existing tribal government rights under Tribal-State Compacts and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act must be respected.
• The legislation must not open up the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act for amendments.
• Federal legalization of Internet gaming must provide positive economic benefits for Indian country.
Tribes worry about bill to put Internet gambling decisions in states’ hands (Cronkite News 10/25)
Panel Reopens Debate on Net Gambling (The National Journal 10/25)
Texas congressman offers bill to legalize poker websites (McClatchy Newspapers 10/25)
Chairwoman says go slow on legalizing Web poker (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 10/25)
Bono Mack’s panel grapples with online gambling (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 10/26)
House eyes online gaming (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 10/26)
House panel urged to respect tribal rights in Internet gambling legislation (The Tulsa World 10/26) Committee Notice:
Internet Gaming: Is There a Safe Bet? (October 25, 2011) Related Stories:
Column: NIGA chairman to testify about Internet gambling (10/25)