On Friday, The Washington Post reported that no laws were broken in the process of legalizing online gaming in the nation’s capital. Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby – tasked with determining if proper procedures were followed in the awarding of a $120m lottery contract and approving online gambling in the district – found there to be “no evidence” that lawmakers “lobbied or received anything on behalf of any gaming entity or did anything improper which resulted in the council voting for the legislation.”
Controversy surrounded the passage of the legislation that made online gambling legal in Washington DC soon after it was passed last April. Councilmember Michael Brown was accused of acting inappropriately when he included authorization for online gambling in a budget bill and in effect sidestepped public debate on the issue.
As a result, implementation of the law was postponed and additional questions were raised as to payments totaling more than $200k previously made to Brown by a law firm specializing in the gaming industry. However, the Inspector General concluded that Brown’s fiduciary relationship with the firm “in and of itself does not constitute a use of public office for private gain.”
A Public Oversight Hearing is set for January 26, at which time Councilmember Jack Evans is expected to push for the repeal of online gambling in the district.
