Harry Reid Still Working On Internet Gambling Bill After All

Harry Reid has not folded in regard to his attempts at trying to pass a bill that would legalize Internet gambling, specifically Web card rooms, in the United States.

Despite a report by the Las Vegas Sun late Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal came out a few hours later confirming that the Senate Majority Leader was “still working on the Internet gambling bill”.

“It is getting more and more difficult to stay on top of this news, but we’re working with what we have and late Wednesday has been a complete rollercoaster,” noted Payton O’Brien, Senior Editor of the Gambling911.com website.  "It is a mad frenzy for news organizations that cover the sector right now."

The Las Vegas Sun had claimed that Reid said during a press conference he has removed Internet poker from the current agenda.

In many ways, the confusion surrounding this bill reflects the tension involved with the tax extension deal in Washington.  It is that legislation Reid hopes to piggyback in getting his draft bill passed, quite possibly by next week.  

Reid spokesman Tom Brede tells WSJ Washington Wire, Reid is “still working on” passing the online poker bill.

Some in the Republican party have lashed out at Reid for trying to attach what they see as “unrelated” legislation to the tax extension compromise.

Republican Senator Jon Kyl has been among the most outspoken.  He co-authored current online gambling prohibition that was passed as part of an amendment to an unrelated “Port Security” act back in October 2008. 

But there could actually be some rationale for attaching Reid’s bill.

Las Vegas casino analysts and consultants Union Gaming Group said in a report Wednesday that they estimated the online poker market in the U.S. would be around $3 billion in 2012.

This story is extremely fluid.  Watch for regular updates on the Gambling911.com website. 

- Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher