Online Gambling Fight Now About When, Who _ Not If

Published January 3, 2012 9:00AM (EST)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The fight to fully legalize online gambling in the U.S. is now less about whether Americans will be able to play and more about who will bring the action to them — and when.

A recent U.S. Justice Department opinion opened the door for cash-strapped states and their lotteries to bring online gambling to their residents, as long as it does not involve sports betting.

The DOJ memo also enflamed a battle within the industry over how to legalize online gambling that once generated an estimated $6 billion yearly just from poker: Should each state have its own system, or should there be a nationwide law?

One lawmaker in New Jersey is already pushing to make online gambling legal, citing the DOJ memo.

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Oskar Garcia can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/oskargarcia.


By Salon Staff

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