Frank Fahrenkopf, the President and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA), expressed optimism for the future of the online gambling industry this week.  In an interview with the Reuters news agency concerning changes in the political atmosphere since the Democrats won control of Congress, Fahrenkopf was quoted as saying: “We think it might be time to see if there is a way to regulate and control online gaming”.

Fahrenkopf also believes that the newly elected Democratic Congress will place politicians that are more sympathetic to the online gambling industry in key leadership positions, which will prompt the American Gaming Association to push for the legislation of online gambling.

"I think the change on balance is positive," Fahrenkopf, told Reuters.  Fahrenkopf, who is also a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, added that a major challenge plaguing the American Gaming Association has been the need to educate legislators about the online gambling industry, but the "the new leadership is familiar with our industry."  Referring to Senator Harry Reid, the moderate Democrat and former casino regulator that was voted in as U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Fahrenkopf commented: “He probably knows our industry better than anyone”.

In addition to Senator Reid, Fahrenkopf pointed out that the expected new Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, comes from a “gambling state”.  Senator Trent Lott may also be a boon for the industry.  Lott, who hopes to become the assistant minority leader in the Senate, hails from Mississippi – a state dotted with casinos.  Bennie Thompson, who is expected to chair Homeland Security, also comes from Mississippi.

Fahrenkopf further added that he expects “dramatic changes in committee chairmanships” in the House.  If that weren’t enough, according to Fahrenkopf, Rep. Charles Rangel, the New York Democrat expected to chair the Ways and Means Committee, has been to Las Vegas to tour the inner workings of casinos "many, many times".  The AGA President also sees Rep. John Conyers, the expected head of the Judiciary Committee, as a positive development.  Conyers is from Detroit, where he has seen "how casinos can benefit the economy". Moreover, it was Conyers who attempted to interest Congress in a study of online gambling last year.  Finally, the expected new chair of the Financial Services Committee, Democrat Barney Frank of Massachusetts, takes a more libertarian stance on online gambling, believing that the U.S. government has no business telling people what to do with their money.

Posted on: November 24, 2006

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