By Seattle Times news services
OLYMPIA — A bill that would let Washington horse-players bet by phone or over the Internet passed the House yesterday.
Senate Bill 6481 is aimed at helping the state's struggling racing industry, essentially by legalizing wagers that are currently being made illegally over the Internet. Neither tracks nor the state make any money from such bets now.
The bill passed 79-17 after supporters argued such wagers can't effectively be stopped, so the state might as well profit from them by letting Emerald Downs get into the electronic betting business itself.
"You can't really stop the Internet," said Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Anacortes. "It doesn't have borders."
The bill would also expand Emerald Downs' authorization to simulcast live horse races from tracks in other states and allow two more off-track betting parlors in King County.
The House made some minor changes to a version the Senate passed last month, including a sunset provision, so the bill must go back to the Senate for another vote.
Antigambling lawmakers argued strongly against the bill, saying it amounts to a massive expansion of legalized betting in Washington that will increase problems associated with gambling addicts.
[This message was edited by Dante on March 04, 2004 at 09:06 AM.]
OLYMPIA — A bill that would let Washington horse-players bet by phone or over the Internet passed the House yesterday.
Senate Bill 6481 is aimed at helping the state's struggling racing industry, essentially by legalizing wagers that are currently being made illegally over the Internet. Neither tracks nor the state make any money from such bets now.
The bill passed 79-17 after supporters argued such wagers can't effectively be stopped, so the state might as well profit from them by letting Emerald Downs get into the electronic betting business itself.
"You can't really stop the Internet," said Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Anacortes. "It doesn't have borders."
The bill would also expand Emerald Downs' authorization to simulcast live horse races from tracks in other states and allow two more off-track betting parlors in King County.
The House made some minor changes to a version the Senate passed last month, including a sunset provision, so the bill must go back to the Senate for another vote.
Antigambling lawmakers argued strongly against the bill, saying it amounts to a massive expansion of legalized betting in Washington that will increase problems associated with gambling addicts.
[This message was edited by Dante on March 04, 2004 at 09:06 AM.]
