Democratic Party Silent On Online Gaming

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This week it was the Democratic Party’s turn to release its election manifesto. The Republicans had said no to online gambling in their plank. Therefore the industry was waiting to see how the Democrats would address this issue. But, the 70-page document contains no reference to online gambling, let alone legalizing online gambling. Obviously the Democratic Party is trying to have its cake and eat it as well. It does not want to ruffle the conservatives in the electorate and hence has not put up a pro online gambling front. And by not taking an anti stance it has left the online gambling sector with some hope. And perhaps this strategy is working.

John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, said the Democratic platform was at least better because it was not antagonistic to online gambling. He claimed that the Democrats were really not uncommitted on this issue. Pappas added, “Countless Democratic members of Congress have expressed their support of a licensed and regulated online poker market in the U.S. and we are working diligently to advance legislation to make this a reality,"

Many Nevada Democrats support Pappas’ view. They are working with the Republicans in their state in a bipartisan manner to usher in regulated online poker. Representative Shelley Berkley has for long been an advocate of legalized online gambling and she is running for the Senate this year. In fact she calls for a federal solution that would create strong oversights for online gambling instead of having “50 different laws in 50 different states”. Berkley’s campaign spokeswoman said the Berkley would continue to lead efforts toward a solution that would allow legalized federal Internet gambling. The spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who also hails from the Democratic Party, said, “Senator Reid believes legalizing online poker remains important for Nevada and he will continue to work on this issue.”

The Washington D.C. based American Gaming Association (AGA) is also in the forefront of legalizing online gambling. The AGA, however, declined to comment on the Democratic platform. Last week it had refused to react to the Republican manifesto. AGA President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. was chairman of the Republican Party from 1983 to 1989.

It must be added that the Democratic plank, which was accepted by the delegates to the Democratic Convention in Charlotte, had other references to the Internet. It promised that 98% of Americans would have accessibility to wireless Internet. The platform also committed to defend “Internet freedom”. It said that the Democratic Party would develop the Internet as a platform for commerce, debate, learning, and innovation in the 21st century.

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