Internet gambling bill goes to Guinn

Tuesday, June 5, 2001 | 10:07 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill that would open the door for Nevada casinos to offer Internet gambling cleared its final hurdle in the Legislature Monday, but it may be years before online betting is available.

The Senate accepted a conference report that permits the Nevada Gaming Commission to develop regulations to permit casinos to accept wagers from an interactive system.

The vote on Assembly Bill 466 was 17-4. It now goes to the governor.

Opponents objected to the handling of the bill. The original measure died in the Senate, but the new Internet gambling plan was resurrected during a Senate-Assembly Conference Committee and was inserted into a gaming work card bill.

Las Vegas Democrats Terry Care, Bob Coffin and Joe Neal objected to this plan. Neal said debate or amendments could not be offered on a conference report through this procedure.

The Senate has to take or reject the full bill, he said. There were complaints the gaming industry "smuggled" the interactive measure into the work card bill, which refers to a strategy by casinos that effectively prevented amendments from being placed on the measure, such as a possible tax increase on the gaming industry, which Neal favored.

Neal said senators were "not allowed to present a different view."

"If gaming says it's all right, it's all right," he said.

Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said the bill was fully debated in his Judiciary Committee. This plan, he said, was a 'well thought out policy," and it benefits those who work in the industry.

He said Nevada has the most sophisticated gaming controls in the county and players may want to take advantage of the Nevada system.

The Nevada Resort Association issued a statement saying it agreed with Gaming Commission Chairman Brian Sandoval, who said regulators would take a "go-slow, cautious approach" to developing new rules.

State regulators has to find ways to stop minors from gambling over the Internet and players from wagering from states where gambling is illegal.

Greg Ferraro, a lobbyist for the resort association, said the go-slow approach is favored so that U.S. lawmakers don't think the casinos are rushing to start online sports betting while a bill is being considered to outlaw collegiate betting.