Taking Action on Internet Gambling: Federal Policymaking 1995–2011

This book uses the case of the rise and fall of the Internet gambling industry to illustrate a new approach to understanding how public policy is made in the United States. The theory advanced is that different phases of the policy process are governed by three distinct political dynamics: constraint, momentum, and discretion. The book maps this CMD model of the policy process onto the case of Internet gambling, examining the full range of political venues in which issues of public policy are acted upon. It argues that constraint rules the day in the early phases of the policy process, momentum builds in the middle, and discretion comes into play most prominently as the policy cycle concludes. This CMD model both draws attention to previously understudied elements of policymaking, and explores the dynamic and interrelated nature of these three phases of the policy process.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Preface Chapter 1: State and Federal Regulation of Gambling Chapter 2: Constitutional Guidance, Constraint and Interpretation Chapter 3: Media Messages and Back Burner Bias Chapter 4: Public Opinion on Internet Gambling Chapter 5: A Decade of Debate and a Decision in a Day Chapter 6: Interest Group Influence Chapter 7: Laying Down the Law Chapter 8: The Courts Weigh In Chapter 9: The Causes and Consequences of Constraint, Momentum, and Discretion Bibliography

About the Author :
Russell K. Mayer is a professor of political science at Merrimack College.

Review :
Mayer’s work is extremely topical and current, while also accessible to students, academics, and interested readers. By examining the way in which policy evolved around Internet gambling, specifically Internet poker, Mayer presents an encapsulated example of the policy-making process. His case study on Internet gambling offers an opportunity for readers to meet as equals, before delving into the complicated process of policy making and analysis, and to enter the conversation in an area made familiar by popular culture, ready access, and personal experience. Mayer’s organization of the text highlights his desire to foster this kind of interaction and intellectual engagement between 'teachers' and students, laying out the book and engaging with the established scholarship in such a way that makes it both accessible and appropriately rigorous. His writing itself is clear and pleasant to read, another advantage for scholarly literature. I learned a great deal from his presentation of this topic and his step-by-step analysis of all of the political actors, processes, supporting scholarship, and the role of federalism in this policy area.