Disputes End DC Internet Gambling Program
Last year Washington DC seemed to be on track to be the first jurisdiction in the United States to offer legal internet gambling. Its program, iGaming, would have been the first in the nation and offered Texas hold ’em poker, blackjack and bingo. Last week the DC council reversed course and because of criticism that the action had approved without enough public comment or scrutiny. On February 7th the council ended the city’s entry into the world of internet gambling. The vote was 10 to 2. The repeal has revealed the iGaming’s turbulent creation and collapse. There have been calls for an investigation and some are questioning the conduct of city officials.
For many the episode has revealed political grudges and corrupt pay to play business deals. It has cast a pall over the district’s government which is already the subject of several federal investigations. Last month one investigation led to one council member pleading guilty to the theft of public funds. Ann Loikow, a retired federal attorney and civic activist, told New York Times reporters “If you’ve been around long enough, you look at some things and they just smell. There’s just enough stuff that’s not right, and this is that case — on steroids.” The District of Columbia and six other states have moved to implement internet gambling.
Washington’s iGaming program was adopted in 2010 as an amendment added to a budget bill late at night. Previously the city council had approved a contract to operate the city’s lottery and included a provision allowing other forms of gambling. Months after the measure was approved gambling opponents realized that the gambling provision had been slipped into the budget without discussion. Gambling opponent Marie Drissel, founder of the group Stop D.C. Gaming, said that she was “absolutely stunned, to put it mildly,” that internet gambling would be legal in DC.
After the vote to repeal the gambling measure Michael A. Brown, the Council’s chief iGaming supporter, said that there was “nothing wrong with the process.” Brown said that the measure received a public hearing and also said that the city will lose tens of millions in revenues. Brown told reporters “All the Council rules were followed. “Nothing was done incorrectly or improperly. That’s just an excuse, and that’s just a copout.” The turmoil over the issue continued leading to repeal of the igaming measure. Several council members say that now the city will have to start from scratch to offer legal internet gaming and the future is uncertain.
