The Republican Party has always been against online gambling.

The party platform in both 2000 and in 2004 had an anti online gambling stance. In 2006 the Republican Party promulgated the UIGEA, which has all but sounded the death knell to online gambling in the United States by choking of funding to online casinos.

The party is vigorously defending the UIGEA from opposition in various quarters, whether they are law courts, legislative committees or public forums. So much so that it has disregarded the rulings of the World Trade Organization on complaints brought in by other nations. It has systematically stymied on going talks with Antigua and the European Union on the issue of online gambling in America.

Hence it came as a surprise to many when the anti online gambling stance was removed from the draft platform by deleting the lines that read, “Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families. We support legislation prohibiting gambling over the Internet or in student athletics by student athletes who are participating in competitive sports.” This was cited as the recognition by the Republican Party that the votes of online players count.

The Poker Players’ Alliance (PPA) that had been on the forefront in the battle for online gambling was jubilant. John Pappas the executive director of the PPA said, “This is a small victory in our determined effort to educate both sides of the aisle that there is a true constituency in America that values its Internet freedoms.”

In the last few weeks the PPA had engaged in a unique Internet offensive against the Republican Party. They had exhorted their members and all online gamblers to flood the Republican Party web site with messages against the party’s anti gambling stance. And the online gamblers responded magnificently. Perhaps this was what made the Republican Party change its mind.

However this small victory appears to have been short lived. The online gamblers’ celebrations are being throttled even before they have begun. Casino Gambling Web has reported that, “The Republicans have had a change of heart overnight that puts a dent in the jubilation of the online poker community. After first succumbing to the PPA, and suggesting a shift in stance on online poker, Republicans once again decided to stick to their guns on the issue.” Either the talk of deleting the anti online gambling sentences was a ruse to let voters think that the party is in two minds or simply the conservative faction of the party has taken charge. Whatever the case may be, the offending lines now are very much a part of the Republican Party platform. Their stand is clear. They are against legalization of online gambling in America, whether in regulated or unregulated form. 

Will this flip-flop damage the Republican Party’s chances at the polls? That is a difficult question to answer. The Democrats are silent on the issue as of now and much will depend on whether they take a pro online gambling stance. Meanwhile the PPA is itself sending out mixed signals. Their Chairman, D’Amato, is a former Republican Senator and is supporting John McCain. How much will online poker account for in the total mix of electoral issues is anybody’s guess.

Author:  Renee Kingsley