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Copyright © 2006 Gambling 911
HEADLINE: Republican Jim Kasper gives up on
licensing online poker
in North Dakota
Body:
Supporters of state licensing of Internet
poker sites should drop the idea, because a new federal antigambling
law will stifle the industry, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem
says.
"It's time to fold 'em," the attorney general said
Wednesday.
Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, promoted a bill and state constitutional
amendment during the 2005 Legislature to allow North Dakota to
license and regulate Internet poker sites. The proposals won approval
in the House, but were overwhelmingly defeated in the North Dakota
Senate.
Congress recently approved legislation, which was part of an
unrelated bill dealing with security measures for the nation's
ports, that says financial institutions may not handle Internet
gambling transactions. President Bush signed the bill last week.
Kasper said he was likely to give up his effort to make North
Dakota a licensing agency for Internet poker sites. He has promoted
the idea as a way for the state treasury to make millions from
licensing fees, and said the state-owned Bank of North Dakota
could profit from handling gambling transactions.
"I was saddened to see what the Republican Congress did,"
Kasper said. "It was a terrible way to make public policy."
Stenehjem was neutral on Kasper's bill during the 2005 Legislature,
but said he would oppose a similar idea in the 2007 session. The
new federal law makes the bill clearly illegal, said Stenehjem,
who is a director of the Bank of North Dakota.
"The federal law prohibits the use of credit cards, which
are issued through banks, and the use of banking institutions
to transfer money to pay off the gambling debt," he said.
"You can't use the Bank of North Dakota for that purpose
under the federal law."
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