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After last years quick passage of legislation that made it more difficult for Americans to gamble online, three bills that have taken aim at the restrictions are finding little support amongst politicians, especially as Congressional and Presidential races loom.

The first and most contentious of the bills authorizes the American Academy of Sciences to study possible regulation of Internet gambling.

The second bill specifically legalizes Internet poker and has drawn the support of the poker Players Alliance, a roughly 600,000 strong organization.

The third bill would repeal last years bill and regulate gaming in all its forms.

The American Gaming Association has not thrown its support behind any of the proposed bills, as it primarily represents land-based casinos who face direct competition from offshore-based casinos the bills target. Before the association would throw its weight behind internet gaming companies only after independent studies showing that businesses can and will protect against underage and gambling addicts. More importantly however, the association remains tentative in its support more so because it would cast federal oversight and regulation onto an industry that has been heretofore governed by the states.  

MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman calls the proposed bills a “step in the right direction” noting that history has never proven prohibition works, so at least now they realize the current legislation is “unrealistic and irresponsible”. He adds that his company is hopeful that regulation could be authorized on a federal level but regulated still by the states.

Industry lobbyist and former New York Senator Alfonse DAmato figures the government meant well in its initial ban, calling it “a well-intentioned effort that wasnt studied like it should have been,” adding “Youre not going to stop the Internet. By legalizing it, you can keep the bad guys out and raise the revenues, by licensing, that are necessary to police it.”

Growing pressure on the U.S. to ease its ban is “huge” according to Jeff Sandman, a Washington attorney representing the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, “Last year there was no real discussion…now theres new interest and a new Congress.” The European Unions recent filing of claims with the World Trade Organization seeking billions in financial compensation against the United States protectionist ban on international gaming companies has been refuted by the U.S. on the grounds that gambling is a unique form of commerce not included in the original agreement.

A larger roadblock for the three proposed bills is the social and moral lobby who oppose the spread of gambling on moral and religious grounds.

Asks the Rev. Tom Grey of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling: “Is the president, in an election year, going to say we want people to be able to gamble in their homes? No.”