Internet Poker Debate Continues

(AP) _ Americans make up the majority of online poker players. And they would prefer to play on an Internet site that's licensed in the United States.

That's according to a publishing executive who follows the industry.

North Dakota's Senate Judiciary Committee is discussing a bill to license Internet poker sites in the state.

Fargo Representative Jim Kasper is sponsoring the bill, and he says the idea will bring economic benefits.

Michael Corfman is president of a company called Casino City Press. He says there are more than 260 Internet poker sites operating -- and the industry is growing rapidly.

Corfman says none of the sites is licensed in the U-S, but more than 60 percent of the players are American. He believes they'll gravitate toward a site that's licensed in the U-S, and go away from those in overseas jurisdictions.

Opponents of the bill say North Dakota will encourage more gambling -- by licensing Internet poker sites. Mike Seminary of Bismarck says there's already a problem, and condoning it will make things worse.

Warren DeKrey of Bismarck is chairman of the North Dakota Council on Gambling Problems. He says gambling teaches that you can make money without working, and DeKrey says that's not a way of thinking that America should export.

The Senate committee is looking at the bill today. A Senate vote will come later.

Nigel Payne is the chief executive officer of a London Internet gambling company called Sportingbet P-L-C. He says if North Dakota licenses Internet gambling, the state will get about 10 million dollars annually in taxes from his company alone.

Payne says the state-owned Bank of North Dakota is another advantage. He says the bank would get processing fees from player transactions.

And he says state ownership of the bank would make it easier to regulate gambling -- and make sure players were all adults, and weren't spending too much.

DeKrey says North Dakotans have pride in the Bank of North Dakota -- and he's not sure that would continue if it starts handling gambling business.

The proposal to license Internet poker sites also requires an amendment to the North Dakota Constitution. The state House approved the amendment Tuesday, and the Senate will consider it later.