The United States House of Representatives Committee for Financial Services has approved by a significant majority the inclusion of Rep. Barney Frank’s (D-MA) bill which would provide for the establishment of an official Congressional investigation into the precise definition of “unlawful gambling” as well as the actual costs of implementing a law like the UIGEA designed to curb internet gambling.
H.R. 6870 was first discussed in a Financial Services Committee meeting early in the afternoon on September 16 where an informal vote was conducted. The results of the vote suggested that a clear majority of the 50 voting members favored introducing the bill to the floor of the House of Representatives. An official vote was cast at a reconvention later in the day paving the way for a likely introduction to the House floor during the week of Monday, September 22.
While the bill will not in any way, shape or form provide for the immediate repeal or disempowering of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, it will potentially set in motion the official legislative mechanisms that could effectively repeal or disempower the UIGEA.
Though this comes as the first actionable legislative victory for Rep. Frank in his quest against the UIGEA, because this bill lacks the sort of official teeth which could result in immediate and resounding change, Frank’s comments were abbreviated in their enthusiasm: “At least the banks will know what is and isn’t legal.”
Perhaps another cause of consternation for Frank was the notable exemption of Major US Sports Leagues from the potentially forthcoming investigation amongst the political concessions made by Frank;
We made some changes to it to try to get a majority of the votes as well as a broader agreement. First, it had always been our intention to allow pro sports leagues to opt out. They asked to be opted out of the bill and we’ve done that. The bill will protect sports from being included. It also asks that a list be prepared by the Treasury of what is and isn’t acceptable. You have a right to know what the law is and this would give people the right to know what is and isn’t covered under the UIGEA
Former United States Senator and current Chairman of the Poker Players Alliance, Alfonse D’Amato was more effusive in his praising of the bill: "Even those who oppose internet gambling should applaud the passage of this legislation as it provides the most realistic opportunity to block truly unlawful internet gambling transactions."
With the US Credit Crisis deepening in the form of an $85 billion dollar federal bailout of insurance giant AIG, Jeffrey Sandman of the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative summed up a growing fiscal call to arms against the UIGEA:
We hope this vote indicates a willingness of Congress to develop a more sensible approach towards Internet gambling. Rather than prohibit an activity millions of Americans enjoy in the privacy of their homes, just as they can do in a casino, Congress should create a framework to regulate Internet gambling as a way to protect consumers and collect billions in much-needed federal revenue.
BonusWhores.com is following H.R. 6870 and all other major UIGEA legislation; as soon as anything changes in the official status of H.R. 6870, BonusWhores.com will have the full story.
