Internet Gambling Repealed by D.C. Council

Photo by sissnitz

This afternoon the D.C. Council overwhelmingly voted to repeal the District's first-in-the-nation Internet gambling program. The vote followed a public outcry over how the program came to be and a hearing two weeks ago in which councilmembers sparred with D.C. CFO Natwar Gandhi over whether or not he made substantial changes to the city's lottery contract without informing the council.

Councilmember Michael Brown (I-At Large), the program's main booster, tried to salvage it, but was only joined by Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) in opposition to the repeal. He promised to introduce a stand-alone Internet gambling measure soon.

Under the District's program, residents or visitors physically within city limits would be able to log on and play up to four games, including blackjack and poker. They would be limited to losing $250 a week, or $13,000 a year, and the program was expected to bring in some $13 million over four years.

Some activists complained that the program wasn't subjected to the normal hearings when it was inserted into a supplemental budget bill in late 2010. Despite protestations to the contrary, Brown wasn't able to shake the impression that he tried to sneak Internet gambling into law.