D.C. hopes online bets will pay bills

Boston.com ^ | April 13, 2011

[La Lydia]

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia is becoming the first US jurisdiction to allow Internet gambling, in a bid to bring in millions of dollars in new revenue. Permitting the online games was part of the 2011 budget, and a 30-day period for Congress to object expired last week, said Councilman Michael A. Brown, who authored the provision. The gambling would be operated by Intralot, a firm based in Greece, and would be available only to those making bets within the borders of the district.

Officials were not sure when the gambling would begin. Though other states have contemplated legalizing online poker, specialists said the district would be the first jurisdiction in the country to do it.

The district moved to legalize such gambling despite a 2006 federal law that effectively banned Internet gambling. That law made it illegal in the state where the transaction takes place by prohibiting banks and credit card companies from making payments to gambling websites. But gambling specialists say the law created gray areas that open the door for expansion.

The district hopes the gambling revenue will help offset budget cuts and fund social services programs, Brown said. Conservative estimates from the district’s chief financial officer indicate that the district could bring in $13 million to $14 million through fiscal 2014, he said....

[La Lydia]

What could possibly go wrong, especially now that a Marion Berry-level corrupt administration is in charge again? Congressional approval for this little morsel was slipped into last weekend's budget agreement. No word on which legislator's handiwork it was.

[Wolfie]

Any degradation of the Nanny State is a good thing.

[hal ogen]

Will all the welfare clowns in WDC be a be to use their welfare credit cards to charge for their gambling using their free taxpayer-provided telephones while the schools feed their keeeds three free meals a day at school?

[Wolfie]

Beats me. But I’d prefer not to legislate for the rest of us based on what the welfare clowns can handle.

[sasquatch]

Hey, the lottery saved CA schools.</s>

[blueunicorn6]

What a great system. The government trades pie-in-the-sky to poor people for their money, then gives it back to them saying, “Aren’t we nice? We’re giving you money. Vote for us.” And the dummies do.