'I told you so' says North Dakota lawmaker

North Dakota Representative Jim Kasper had his chance to crow in the state legislature this week as lawmakers discussed online lottery legalisation possibilities in the wake of the Department of Justice policy change on the definition of internet gambling in the Wire Act.

Back in 2005, Kasper’s attempt to introduce an internet gambling bill was rejected by his fellow lawmakers , depriving the state of an opportunity to be among the leaders in US regulation.

Kasper said this week that “vindication comes to mind” regarding his failed attempt to give his state a real early adopter advantage in 2005, a move that could have been highly profitable to the state, reports KXNews.

Kasper told his colleagues that North Dakota may have lost out on millions of dollars by turning down internet poker in the state seven years ago.

“Obviously we can’t go back, but it’s conceivable that all the property tax of the people of North Dakota could have been paid for by the tax on the internet poker companies because they would have come to our state; now that’s hindsight and that didn’t happen.

“The point I make is we still have a great opportunity potentially, in the 2013 session, if the legislature decides to go that route to re-look at the licensing and regulation of internet poker companies.” Kasper said.

However, the state Attorney General, Wayne Stenehjem, urged a more conservative approach, saying that Congress first needs to amend the 1961 Wire Act because it was created before the advent of the internet.

Kasper emphasised that he does not plan to offer new internet poker legislation in 2013 at this time.