An Internet gambling prohibition bill has surfaced in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Introduced by House Speaker Roger Hunt, HB 1110 charged out of committee yesterday by a 13-0 vote.
The bill, introduced January 18 and referred to the House State Affairs Committee on the 19th, seeks to "prohibit the use of the internet for certain gambling activities"--those certain activities being the running of an gambling establishment in which a transaction "originates or terminates, or both," in the state of South Dakota. The penalty for a first conviction could be as much as a $2000 fine and two years in the state penitentiary and the penalty for a second conviction could be as much as $5,000 fine and five years in prison.
Interestingly, the bill includes an exemption for the South Dakota Lottery and leaves the door open for the South Dakota Commission on Gaming and its licensees as well. On the flip side, the bill clearly states that there are no exemptions for Indian gaming.
Neither Rep. Hunt nor any of his associates have returned phone calls regarding the bill.
Click here to view HB 1110.