Tribal Casino Leaders Like HR 2267 Amendments

Indian gaming and tribal leaders are liking what they are seeing in the progression of the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act.

The new legislation, or HR 2267, is designed to legalize Internet gambling like online poker and some other kinds of betting, not including sports.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, the bill’s founder, has focused primarily on Americans’ right to gambling from the privacy of their own computers; however, he has not forgotten about the protection of tribal sovereignty.

While the legislation was discussed in committee hearings, Mohegan Tribe Chairwoman Lynn Malerba pointed out many upgrades to HR 2267.

Frank did not disappoint Malerba.

Through amendments to the proposed legislation, nearly all of her suggestions have been added to Frank’s bill.

Most importantly, Frank added the provision that tribal leaders were most concerned with.

Now HR 2267 includes language that states any new licensing requests for Indian casinos to include online gaming websites do not effect existing compacts that they have with any particular state.