Internet gambling bill introduced

Erin Neff

Thursday, March 8, 2001 | 11:02 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Saying Nevada should lead the way in the Internet gambling revolution, Assemblywoman Merle Berman introduced a bill Wednesday to allow state gaming regulators to govern interactive gaming.

AB 296 gives the state Gaming Commission the authority to adopt regulations governing the licensing of Internet gaming by resort hotels that hold a nonrestricted license.

"Who better to set up the rules and regulations than the Gaming Commission?" asked Berman, R-Las Vegas.

Since Internet gaming is now forecast to be a $2.47 billion annual venture, Berman said she thinks her measure could help support new jobs and revenue for Nevada.

"It will help our tax revenue in this state immensely," Berman said.

The bill authorizes approval of Internet gaming if systems are "secure and reliable, and provide reasonable assurance that players will be of lawful age and communicating only from jurisdictions where it is lawful to make such communications."

Berman said technological advances she has seen at a conference give her comfort that youngsters and fraudulent users could be barred from the site. Multi-layered sign-in requirements would be just one way to ensure security, she said.

Gross revenue received by a resort hotel from the operation of Internet gaming would be subject to the same state tax as revenue from other games.

"I feel that Nevada, out of every other state, should be the ones to do this," she said.

During the World Gaming Summit 2001 at the Bellagio earlier this year, Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Brian Sandoval said he thought Internet gaming was inevitable in Nevada, and he cautioned it needed to be closely regulated and secured.

A New Jersey lawmaker introduced similar legislation in that state this year.