Delaware legalizes online gambling
June 28, 2012
By Hannah Mead
DOVER, Delaware: Delaware has become the first state to legalize online gambling.[1] Hopes of creating jobs and increasing revenues overcame concerns over social consequences.[2]
The Delaware House of Representatives approved the bill in early June,[2] and the Delaware State Senate passed it on June 27,[3] and Governor Jack Markell signed it the next day.[1]
The U.S. Department of Justice clarified last year that a state may legalize online gambling if it is kept within the state borders. The Delaware bill requires geo-location software to limit gambling to people within the state.[1]
Markell said the legalization would create "a couple thousand jobs" and help the state compete with casinos in neighboring states.[1] Senate President Pro-Tem Anthony DeLuca said the bill would "keep Delaware at the forefront of developing new and better gambling options." The bill lowers taxes and fees for casinos,[3] but the added gambling activity online is expected to be a net plus of $7.75 million in tax revenues for the state.[1]
Due to opposition from the Governor, the bill did not include an amendment sought by the horse-racing industry that would have sent more money into race purses.[2] The Markell administration did promise to reconsider the amount allotted for races after online gambling takes off.[3]
The 21-member state Senate voted 14-6 in favor of the bill, with one member abstaining due to conflict of interest.[3] One of the "No" votes came from state Senator Dave Lawson, who said, "We don’t need in-home gambling in this state; we have enough vices out there now."[3]
See also
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- Delaware
- Delaware Governor
- Delaware General Assembly
- Delaware State Senate
- Delaware House of Representatives
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Los Angeles Times, "Delaware is first to OK full-service casino gambling -- online," June 28, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Associated Press, "Delaware lawmakers OK online gambling," June 28, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Wilmington News Journal, "Senate OKs online gaming bill," June 27, 2012
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