Dave Palermo: Internet poker bill might be good for tribes

Monday, September 17, 2012  

"A summary of Internet poker legislation proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and John Kyl (R-Ariz.) leaked to the press last week lost significance when Reid began bickering with Republic colleagues on the Hill, likely dooming chances for passage of the bill.

With Reid squabbling with Kyl and Sen. Dean Heller, (R-Nev.) and channeling his focus on Rep. Shelley Berkley’s (R-Nev.) senatorial bid, Internet poker may not appear high on the congressional agenda before the November elections or the lame duck session to follow.

The vast majority of American Indian tribes would prefer congressional action on cyberspace gambling vanish from the political radar.

“Most tribes would like to see iGaming go away, at least for a while,” said Ehren Richardson, an online consultant for the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), the tribal casino lobby and trade association.

But while indigenous governments long feared a Reid/Kyle bill would be a disaster for tribal gambling and a potential erosion of Indian self-governance, lobbyists don’t believe legislation outlined in the leaked summary is all that bad.

“Frankly, I think it [Reid/Kyl] is pretty good for tribes,” said a prominent Indian lobbyist who, like others who agreed to discuss the summary, requested anonymity.

“In fact, I think it’s excellent.”"

Get the Story:
Dave Palermo: Reid/Kyl might be ‘pretty good for tribes.’ (Pechanga.net 9/17)