Online Gambling Stands Ready as Casinos Close- WSJ

With casinos closed and many Americans confined to home, the online gambling industry is seeking to expand in the U.S.

An industry trade group, iDevelopment & Economic Association, is pushing states to allow online casino games to replace disappearing revenue from temporarily closed casinos, including exploring how governors can use wide emergency powers to quickly allow online casinos to operate, leaders of the group said. Online casino games include virtual slots and roulette, along with poker, played for real money.

“Is it going to be a panacea?” said John Pappas, a lobbyist for the iDEA group. “No. But in the face of closures like this, it underscores the need for the industry to also have an e-commerce platform.”

Mr. Pappas said such an option would represent valuable entertainment for consumers and a lucrative tax-revenue source for state governments.