By Dave Thompson
Bismarck, ND – A Fargo lawmaker wants to change state law -- to allow Internet poker sites to set up shop in North Dakota.
Republican Representative Jim Kasper says virtually all of the on-line poker sites are off-shore, in places like Antigua and Costa Rica. He says that's because of a federal law that dates back to 1961 -- to prevent gaming by phone. But Kasper says that was pre-Internet. And he says some of the companies have told him they're looking for a place in the U-S to pass enabling legislation to regulate the games.
"The biggest concern that a person would have playing on-line poker is "is the program fair and honest,'" said Kasper. "The companies want the oversight and regulation, so they can say the game is fair. For the state to do that, they've gotta be here."
Kasper says the companies would be taxed. And he says he would propose that on-line players would pay a licensing fee to the state of North Dakota.
"My bill calls for a $10 licensing fee per person per year. If there are 50-million poker players on line, 50-million times $10 would be $500 million, if the 'field of dreams' occurs."
Kasper says the state's Constitution would have to be changed to allow this type of gaming. And he says with the taxes and fees, it could mean millions of dollars for the state -- and a majority of the money would be used for property tax relief.