PSGSC Pulls the Prohibitory Cat out of the Bag

The Public Sector Gaming Study Commission, a non-partisan group of U.S. state officials assembled to address issues involving gaming in the U.S., just released a draft version of its final report, which is due to come out in weeks. Members debated whether Internet gambling should be regulated or made illegal. Alas, the Commission found Internet gambling to be illegal and recommended that regulations be written to prevent advertising of online gambling sites via TV, radio and the Internet.

Here's the conclusion to which they came:

The PSGSC believes that Internet gambling is already illegal under federal law, but it recommends that legislation be enacted that makes this clear and that federal authority be exercised with respect to the enforcement of such laws, with the exceptions of telecommunication transmissions from lotteries, parimutuels, and Indian Class II bingo conducted on-line.
The PSGSC also recommends that laws prohibiting the collecting of Internet gambling debts charged to credit card or the wiring of money to credit card or the wiring of money to Internet gambling companies be put in place. Advertising regulations should be expanded to prevent Internet gambling sites to advertise on television or radio or through the Internet.

The Commission discussed Internet gambling on June 18, 1999 when it heard testimony from a number of interested groups. Two state AG offices promoted their findings against online gambling, while the majority of testimony highlighted regulation as the best approach, instead prohibition.

IGN will make excerpts from the draft report as well several of the testimonies available in coming days.