Online gambling needs a full airing in DC

[Commentary] When the idea of allowing online gambling first came before the DC Council, Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi cautioned that there was no consensus on whether the proposal was permissible under federal law. Peter J. Nickles, then attorney general, followed up with his own concerns about the “very real legal and law-related technological obstacles.” No matter; the council, with no public comment and little scrutiny, blithely approved plans to make the city the first in the nation to legalize and promote online poker and other games. It would be prudent of the District to take another look at this issue to determine if it’s really a gamble worth taking.

Will neighborhoods have a say in the location of planned hot spots? What minimum age will define an adult able to gamble? Does this expansion of gambling have implications for law enforcement? Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), chairman of the finance and revenue committee, acknowledged to us there should have been a fuller airing of the plan, so we are pleased he plans to hold — better late than never — a public roundtable.