Utah Wants to Exercise Their Rights

January 12, 2009

Utah is worried that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act will not be overturned. They are worried because of the impact that they feel it will have on them as a state, not the impact on the country. They want Congress to ensure that states� rights to make their own gambling laws are respected and are trying to get a resolution passed to that effect.

If the United States does not overturn the UIGEA and instead enters into deals with other countries and the World Trade Organization in regards to the UIGEA, the states may not keep their rights in regard to online gambling. They may have to follow a blanket law that will be put across the country allowing online gambling.

This would greatly upset the state for they want to ensure that online gambling remains illegal in their state. They feel that the states will lose their rights if the US makes decisions for them regarding online gambling. They want the states to have some input before any agreements are signed through the WTO � as there will be more than 153 countries signing � taking away the individual�s rights.

Republican Representative Sheryl Allen is trying to pass House Joint Resolution 1 which allows for online gambling rights and privileges to be decided by the states � and thus illegal in the state of Utah. All gambling is barred by the state�s constitution, so if people currently want to gamble they would have to go across the state�s borders to do so.






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