Industry leaders say online gaming is the future

The uproar caused by recent domain seizures and federal indictments brought on by the events of Black Friday back in April and seem to continue with additional seizures and more indictments unsealed this week, is making industry leaders and legislators take notice and discuss the future of online gaming.

The views and opinions are varied; in some states intrastate online gaming bills are being passed or considered, with Washington D.C. and Nevada leading the charge, while others prefer to wait for amended federal legislation that will regulate online gambling for the entire nation.

In recent months we have witnessed some major land-based US gambling companies seek ties with online operators at the hope of a foreseeable change in legislation that will open the gates for cooperation between existing land-based casino resorts and online operators.

Therefore it is no surprise that people are confused; industry leaders seem confused, private individuals wishing to enjoy online gambling as a harmless pastime activity are confused and no one seems to know what the future will bring.

Now industry leaders who met at the 15th Annual East Coast Gaming Conference, taking place on the 23rd and 24th May, have voiced their support for interstate legislation that will once and for all license and regulate the online gaming market for the security and safety of US players, offering them a trustworthy gaming environment that is concerned with fair-play and is taxable so US monies stay within the US.

Jan Jones, senior VP at Caesars Entertainment stated that "you're not going to stop the internet… you can regulate it, you can put in protections, but it's going to exist."

However some are still supporting local state solutions as Richard Brinson, CEO of U.S. Digital Gaming said "I believe strongly there will not be a national online gambling bill passed in the U.S… I've yet to find one governor, one legislator, one lottery director that tells me otherwise. They want this to be a state issue."

Regardless whether the US will go down the intrastate or interstate legislative solution online gaming is here to stay and as Melanie Brenner, U.S. Online Gaming Association president confirmed that there are over ten million active online poker players in the US and they all long for legislation: "That's what they look forward to… This is the path to growth for (the casino) industry."