Reports last month that Representative Jon Porter of Nevada intends
to visit the Isle of Man soon were confirmed by the politician this
week, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The two-term congressman said he intends to visit the Isle of Man
to learn more about how the self-governing kingdom regulates Internet
gambling, but will wait until the Senate decides whether to act on
an Internet gambling ban approved by the House last month.
"Even with the position the House has taken, Internet gambling
is not going away," Porter said. "This is a
$12 billion business and the bulk of the revenues it generates is
coming from the States. ... I think it should and needs to be regulated."
As an alternative to the ban that passed the House, Porter introduced
a bill in May calling for an 18-month study of Internet gambling by
a bi-partisan federal commission. The bill has 49 co-sponsors.
"We introduced it very late in the process,"
Porter said. "I like to believe there are a lot of reasonable
folks who still want to get all the facts about Internet gaming."
Porter said he got the idea for a trip after a July 19 meeting in
his Washington, D.C., office with three Isle of Man officials .
He hopes to take a taxpayer-funded trip to the Isle of Man that would
include other members of Congress. The purpose of the trip may be
broadened to examine other aspects of the Internet such as its impact
on children, Porter said.
"I think the (Nevada casino) industry is very split on
Internet gambling," Porter said. "Many of our
resorts have met with the Isle of Man people, and they are looking
at options and alternatives."