Live Webcast

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing on Internet Gaming

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

What's at Stake?

WASHINGTON - The US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is holding an oversight hearing on Thursday, February 9 at 2:15 pm on the US Department of Justice opinion on Internet gaming. The hearing is named: "What's at Stake for Tribes?"

Just before Christmas 2011, the Justice Department released a legal opinion that appears to have reversed its earlier stance opposing online gaming. A Memorandum Opinion, written by Deputy Attorney General Virginia Seitz, was issued in response to inquiries from New York and Illinois as to the sale of lottery tickets via the Internet.

The Memorandum voiced its opinion that intrastate online lotteries under the federal Wire Act. While these transactions must be done within state's borders of online lotteries, it may also open the doors to other forms of intrastate online gaming, including poker.

To view the webcast Live use the new www.indian.senate.gov Link.

Note: To enlarge the video player to full screen look for the Full screen symbol in the lower right hand corner of the video player.

This hearing will hear testimony from various witnesses who will discuss the impact of online gaming for American Indian tribes.

WHEN :    Thursday, February 9

TIME :    2:15 pm est

WHERE :  Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628

Witnesses

The Honorable Robert Odawi Porter
President
Seneca Nation of Indians
Salamanca, New York

Mr. Kevin K. Washburn
Dean, School of Law Administration
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Mr. I. Nelson Rose
Senior Professor
Whittier Law School
Encino, California

Mr. Alex Skibine
Professor
S.J. Quinney College of Law
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

Mr. Patrick Fleming
Litigation Support Director
Poker Players Alliance
Washington DC

Mr. Glenn Feldman
Attorney
Mariscal, Weeks, McIntyre & Friedlander
Phoenix, Arizona

posted February 8, 2012 8:30 am est