NCLGS with the online gambling industry

The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) has finally given the online gambling industry the once over. The different alliances and associations that have been popping out from nowhere recently, tried to keep the gambling industry confined to casinos, poker rooms and sports betting shops. However, the online gambling industry is one of the most powerful and profitable on the world and, as Florida's Representative and president of the NCLGS, James Waldman, has stated: "As a group of legislators responsible for sound gaming public policy in our respective states, NCLGS recognizes the threats, as well as the possibilities, involved in new technology and internet gaming. NCLGS wants to ensure that an effective system is in place for those that do allow intrastate internet gaming and that policy standards are in place to promote security and uniformity in states that may wish to form interstate Internet compacts. As a national legislative organization that does not support or oppose internet gaming, NCLGS believes that the framework should serve as a guide for states considering enacting internet gaming legislation and perhaps multi-jurisdictional initiatives – and in order to be of the greatest help to states, it should evolve in response to emerging issues."

The NCLGS has published a draft as a model for the policies that every US state would follow in terms of online gaming regulation. The NCLGS is trying to avoid the ridiculous situation where online gambling can be banned, as the country knows already what a prohibition brings: corruption, money laundering and crime, three of the main ingredients for any Black Market to settle down in a country. These extremist measures, like the 1920's alcohol prohibition, the gay marriage and, now these days, the recreational and medical uses of cannabis, have revealed to both, public and US Federal Government that, the markets must be regulated in order for countries to keep a framework for legislations that can be updated, instead of banning every single civil right.

The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) and the entitled "Policy Framework for the Regulation of Internet Gaming", both, are trying to set up basic standards for this market to fight back the most common threats in any online industry: black markets emergences and land-based companies' monopoly. The Policy Framework for the Regulation of Internet Gaming has been based on other groups' draft from December of 2013. The NCLGS Request for Public Comment was the first step for the online gambling industry to defend itself from the anti online gambling groups and coalitions, such as Sheldon Adelson's. The Policy Framework for the Regulation of Internet Gaming will be discussed until June 6 when the NCLGS will celebrate the Summer Meeting in San Diego, California.