ABC News – Organizations and advocates on all sides of the online gambling debate are cheering a Congressional hearing on the state of online gambling.
The hearing took place Tuesday before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade.
In his testimony, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman praised the hearing as timely. He said the gambling lobby appreciated Congress’ leadership.
The Gaming Association is pushing for a national regulatory structure for online gambling.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling applauded Congress for “taking seriously the threat of Internet gambling”
The coalition said in a statement the hearing provided a chance to explore the dangers associated with online betting.
At least three Congressional bills related to online gambling have been introduced this year.
Two lawmakers introduced bills over the summer that would legalize some form of Internet gambling nationwide. This fall, Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington, introduced a bill that would tax federally sanctioned online wagering.
Republican New York Congressman Peter King introduced a bill in June that would open the door to all forms of casino games.
In July, Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican, introduced a more limited bill that would pave the way for states to legalize online poker without fear of federal intervention. Barton’s legislation would apply only to poker and would allow states to opt out of the federal system.
On Tuesday, Barton suggested his bill might be divinely sanctioned.
“I will say as a practicing Christian that God does give men and women free will, and I think that we ought to have a law that represent free will in this issue,” he said.
