Internet gambling is the future of the casino industry, whether it's approved at the federal or state level, a panel of online and brick-and-mortar casino executives said Tuesday.And a New Jersey lawmaker predicted there will be a ballot question next year asking his state's residents whether to amend the state Constitution to allow Internet gambling.Speaking at the East Coast Gaming Congress, executives from two online betting organizations and Caesars Entertainment said the Internet provides the gambling industry its best opportunity for growth. But the prospect of a federal law permitting it appears dim in light of recent federal raids on online gambling sites.
"You're not going to stop the Internet," said Jan Jones, senior vice president of government relations for Caesars Entertainment. "You can regulate it, you can put in protections, but it's going to exist."
Melanie Brenner, president of the U.S. Online Gaming Association, said more than 10 million people currently play online poker.
"That's what they look forward to," she said. "This is the path to growth for (the casino) industry."
Panel members estimated the potential annual revenue from legalized Internet gambling in the U.S. at nearly $80 billioion.Richard Bronson, chairman of U.S. Digital Gaming, predicts individual states will approve online gambling soon. He said the recent raids by federal prosecutors on online poker web sites makes it unlikely the federal government will approve Internet gambling, leaving states an opportunity to do it on a piecemeal basis.
"I believe strongly there will not be a national online gambling bill passed in the U.S.," he said. "I've yet to find one governor, one legislator, one lottery director that tells me otherwise. They want this to be a state issue."
"You're not going to stop the Internet," said Jan Jones, senior vice president of government relations for Caesars Entertainment. "You can regulate it, you can put in protections, but it's going to exist."
Melanie Brenner, president of the U.S. Online Gaming Association, said more than 10 million people currently play online poker.
"That's what they look forward to," she said. "This is the path to growth for (the casino) industry."
Panel members estimated the potential annual revenue from legalized Internet gambling in the U.S. at nearly $80 billioion.Richard Bronson, chairman of U.S. Digital Gaming, predicts individual states will approve online gambling soon. He said the recent raids by federal prosecutors on online poker web sites makes it unlikely the federal government will approve Internet gambling, leaving states an opportunity to do it on a piecemeal basis.
"I believe strongly there will not be a national online gambling bill passed in the U.S.," he said. "I've yet to find one governor, one legislator, one lottery director that tells me otherwise. They want this to be a state issue."
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