上周，印第安人事务委员会在参议院举行会议，讨论联邦政府如何规范网上赌博。该会议将影响美国土著部落的在线赌博行业。上周五美国土著部落针对网上赌博行业指出，某些在线赌博业目前并没有受到监管或按照正常缴纳税收，但有些在线赌博网站希望不受法律监管，因为他们不认为他们能与大型的网上赌场相抗衡。

　　就其本身而言，扑克玩家联盟是最大的赌博游说团体之一，对上周的会议内容表示赞同。在上周的会议中，PPA的董事长Alfonse达马托说，该集团将赞同向美国土著部落本地提供在线扑克。在他的发言中，达马托说，美国土著部落的在线赌博行业是美国在线赌博行业的一个重要组成部分。 “事实上，游戏是从赌桌搬移到电脑屏幕上不应该改变这种状况”他说。 “我们相信，作为联邦政府认可的特许机构，印第安人部落政府应参与监管在线赌博市场。”

　　达马托说：“PPA并不担心在线赌博市场过于拥挤，竞争总是对消费者有利。”

　　美国土著部落的在线赌博行业，肯定不能在线赌博法律起草时被忽略。根据上周的赌博听证会，目前土著部落赌场的收入占美国赌博总收入的40％。由此看出印第安人是在线赌博游戏行业的重大玩家，让印第安人部落政府参与在线赌博法案的起草工作是很重要的。

　　译文

　　PPA Supports Tribal Online Poker

　　Last week, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee met to discuss the possibility of federally regulating online gambling and how that would impact Native American tribes. As reported on Friday, tribes are split on the issue, with some wanting to be a part of the online gambling industry, but without being subject to regulation or taxation, while others want to prevent regulation because they don’t think they can compete with a big-named online casino from Harrah’s.

　　For its part, the Poker Players Alliance, one of the largest gambling lobbying groups, has spoken in favor of tribal gambling. During last week’s hearing, Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the PPA, said that the group supports Native American tribes offering online poker. In his testimony, D’Amato said that the tribes have long been an important part of gambling in America. “The fact that gaming is moving from the casino table to the computer table should not change that,” he said. “We believe Indian Country should be substantial players in a regulated U.S. market with tribal governments as federally-recognized licensing bodies.”

　　D’Amato added that the PPA “would like to see tribal gaming enterprises as licensed operators, as well as affiliates and network partners for other licensed operators.” He said that the PPA isn’t worried about the market being too crowded, saying that “competition is always good for consumers.”

　　Tribal gambling is something that certainly can’t be ignored when drafting online gambling laws. According to testimony given at the hearing, tribal casinos currently account for 40% of the gambling revenue in the United States. Since they’re such a major player, getting them involved in one way or another is important.