Banning Internet gambling would keep Indian casinos out of Utah, lawmaker says

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 8 2012 11:30 a.m. MST

Tom Smart, Deseret News Archives

Summary

A House committee delayed voting on a bill Tuesday requiring Internet service providers to block online gambling sites while the financial impact is determined.

SALT LAKE CITY — A House committee delayed voting on a bill Tuesday requiring Internet service providers to block online gambling sites while the financial impact is determined.

HB108 would specifically outlaw Internet gaming even though the Utah Constitution already prohibits gambling in any form.

Bill sponsor Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, said the legislation is necessary as a pre-emptive strike against a congressional resolution that would permit online gambling nationwide.

"If we do not do this, we are opening the door for Indian casinos to come into the state," Sandstrom said.

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BYU Track Star

Los Angeles, CA

Indian Reseervations are treated by the Federal Government as SOVEREIGN NATIONS and therefore not subject to State Laws (as far as I know). Gambling in California is Illegal but on the Indian Reservations, think San Diego County and on the way to More..

3:17 p.m. Feb. 9, 2012
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raybies

Layton, UT

I don't follow how one leads to Indian Casinos. I'm all for maintaining Utah's ban on gambling, but I still wonder at the logic deployed by the state Representative.

11:59 a.m. Feb. 8, 2012
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Shawnm750

West Jordan, UT

It's one of those gateway issues. If we allow online gambling, it could be argued that we should allow Indian Reservations to have casinos, as they do in other states like Idaho. It's the same logic that's kept us from having state sponsored More..

1:47 p.m. Feb. 8, 2012
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