Former Tribal Casino Lobbyist Jack Abramoff Doubts Federal Legislation Will Pass (Video)

Infamous and once imprisoned Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff has his doubts as to whether a bill to legalize online poker at the federal level will pass.

If anybody should know a thing or two about casino lobbying, it would be Abramoff.  He was once considered among the most powerful of the Washington lobbyists, assisting the Tribal casinos.

He served more than three years behind bars for mail fraud and conspiracy and even worked briefly at a Washington DC area kosher pizza shop while on parole. 

“Moving legislation through the House and Senate is going to be very difficult,” he said in an interview with Rueters News Agency Thursday. “It’s going to be extremely expensive for [online gaming proponents], and frankly the odds are against them.”

The states are moving forward nonetheless following an opinion by the Department of Justice released last month that stipulates the Wire Act will no longer be applied to poker and casino operations, only sports betting enterprises. 

- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher