Nation’s Capital Could Have Online Gambling

Washington, D.C. is the hub of government, as we know. But it might also soon become a hub of gambling – online gambling, that is.

The District of Columbia will get in on the gambling pie, and it could happen as early as the end of the year. Of course, there is an irony about this, as some of the district’s most “distinguished” residents are dedicated to squashing the freedom of Americans to play the games they wish and do it online.

But hey, the city fathers need the money.

This is a new stage in the marriage between municipalities and the gambling world; a new frontier, if you will. Politicians see this as something where there is activity, and can be taxed. And so inevitably, it will be. Many areas have gone with land-based casinos, but there is also a lot of money in web-based gambling, if an acceptable framework can be set up.

But what is acceptable? That is a big question, considering that federal law is prevalent in D.C., and there are other states, including Iowa and Massachusetts, that are looking very hard at online gambling as a source of revenue. Can they wait long enough for the Justice Department to sweep out as many of the established online gaming brands as they can, so that big campaign contributors (i.e., the land-based casino companies) can swoop in and take over the marketplace?

There’s some editorializing in that question, but a lot of reality as well. Indications are that some states could care less who gets the licenses, as long as they submit to regulation, generate money, and can be taxed. Will they point to the Tenth Amendment in order to facilitate superseding the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act? If activity is kept within the state, can they do whatever they want? Maybe. We’ll see, and no doubt will follow up.