Signs that online gambling ban bill is running out of steam

The writing has been on the wall for some time now – despite a couple of dozen political sponsors, there is little appetite in Congress for the Restoration of America’s Wire Act, a Sheldon Adelson-inspired attempt to federally ban most forms of internet gambling.

This week Adelson lieutenant Andy Abboud provided further evidence of the waning popularity of RAWA, suggesting in a Gambling Compliance op-ed that the drive for a federal legislative ban is being superceded with a more palatable demand that the federal government crack down on illegal online gambling operators in the Unites States.

If true, this could encourage more US states to consider the intrastate legalisation of online gambling in one form or another, observers have already noted.

John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance action group, summed up the feelings of many when he tweeted:

“Adelson/Sands rep claims they are “refocusing” away from RAWA to stop illegal offshore iGaming. Clear sign that iGaming ban is unpopular.”