During its winter meeting earlier this year, the National Conference of Lawmakers from Gaming States (NCLGS) would be doing more as a group to promote the legalization and regulation of online casinos across the country.
The group has already said it is establishing a committee to develop model legislation to present at the group’s summer meeting in Pittsburgh later this year.
NCLGS President and West Virginia Delegate Shawn Fluharty will also be revealing more details about who will be on the committee at a future date.
What the group did announce today though is that the approach to the project will have some international flair. NCLGS will partner with the U.K. Gambling Commission, which will serve as a special advisor to the group developing the iGaming legislation.
“It is an honor to announce the UK Gambling Commission’s involvement in this project,” said Fluharty. “It is also a reflection of the magnitude of this opportunity and the seriousness that comes with it. NCLGS will now have the unique opportunity to leverage the wisdom and expertise of one of the most respected regulatory bodies worldwide in an effort to produce model legislation to strengthen the U.S. market, shrink the black market, and protect consumers.”
While the U.S. online casino market is still very much in its infancy, the U.K. Gambling Commission has years more experience regulating the industry and can bring a new perspective to the process.
“Gambling is an increasingly global industry with many of the same risks, opportunities and challenges seen on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s therefore essential that jurisdictions, that will often be regulating the same companies, work together to share knowledge and best practice to deliver fair, safe and crime-free gambling markets. I am pleased that this important project with NCLGS will allow us to further strengthen our collaborative efforts to deliver on those aims,” said U.K. Gambling Commission Executive Director Tim Miller.
