Nevada Senate Delays Action on Interactive Gambling Bill
by Fred Faust, RGTonline.com
The Nevada state Senate delayed action Saturday on a bill to legalize interactive gambling. On a motion by Mark James, a Las Vegas Republican and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the bill – AB 578 – was moved from the general file to the Chief Clerk’s desk.
James said the delay was needed to deal with questions about an amendment. He didn’t specify which amendment.
Last Monday, May 21, the Judiciary Committee approved the bill, which cleared the state Assembly in late April. The state legislature is required to end its current session by June 4, so the Senate and Assembly are working furiously to complete action on bills that have been approved by one house and the appropriate committee in the other house.
That’s why the Senate held sessions Saturday and today, a legal holiday. Assemblywoman Merle Berman, Republican-Las Vegas, said in an email today that once the amendments are worked out, the bill will be moved from the Chief Clerk’s desk back to the agenda of the full Senate. It’s not known which day that will be.
Berman introduced the original interactive gambling bill. Before it left the Assembly, it was incorporated into AB 578, which began as a housekeeping measure for Nevada’s gaming regulators. In the Senate Judiciary Committee, several amendments were proposed, including some that have nothing to do with interactive gambling.
Other amendments are still possible, Berman said. Any amendments added by the Senate would have to be approved by the Assembly.
If AB 578 passes both houses and is signed by Gov. Kenny Guinn, a Republican who has not announced a position on the bill, Nevada would become the first U.S. state to legalize Internet gambling.
But the bill is only enabling legislation. It gives wide discretion to Nevada’s regulatory bodies to determine whether online gambling can comply with “all applicable laws” and be properly regulated.
Even if regulators decide to proceed, it’s expected to take 18 to 24 months before any licenses are issued for interactive gambling. Only hotel-casinos that are already licensed in Nevada could apply for interactive licenses.
- May 28, 2001 |
