In December, a hearing was held in the chambers of the House Financial Services Committee. The topic at hand: discussing the merits of legalizing and regulating the internet gambling industry in the United States. On the docket was Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, HR 2267. The bill establishes a comprehensive framework for licensed online gambling outfits to solicit U.S. customers. Now, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) is looking to extend its momentum with a February markup of the bill.HR 2267 is up to 65 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle, setting up what could be a landslide vote in Committee. In a video posted on the official website of the PPA, the organization’s Executive Director, John Pappas, told viewers, “We really need to work double time to make sure we enact and move forward positive legislation that will help license and regulate internet poker.” Pappas’ message follows a November decision by officials from the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve to delay mandatory industry compliance with the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by six months to June 1st. The regulations originally held a December 1st compliance deadline.
Pappas noted that support for bills like HR 2267 is widespread: “Around the board, people were supportive of the idea of licensing and regulation. We expect that… most likely in the month of February, there will be a Committee vote on this legislation. This is a very critical and important vote for the PPA as well as the poker community. We need everyone to step up to make sure their voices are heard.” Frank (pictured at left) introduced HR 2267 to the world last May and December’s hearing marked the first time in over a year that internet gambling was discussed in the House Financial Services Committee. Prior to that, the Committee had been consumed by the lackluster U.S. economy.Pappas continued, “This will be the first time ever that there will be a vote on the licensing and regulation of internet poker and internet gaming in general. In the past, it’s always been votes to prohibit it and those have passed by overwhelming margins. We need to make sure that the chance we have to license and regulate it also passes by an overwhelming margin.” The PPA was successful in September 2008 in pushing Frank’s HR 6870 through the House Financial Services Committee. The measure, which would have clarified what was permitted under the UIGEA, passed by a 30-19 vote.
Contrastingly, the UIGEA was approved in the House of Representatives in 2006 by a 3:1 margin. In the Senate, the bill was attached to an unrelated port security measure, which was approved by unanimous consent. Pappas explained, “Get ready to advocate for poker.” There are 42 Democratic members of the House Financial Services Committee and 29 Republicans. The latter party is led by Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL, pictured at right), who has emerged as the strongest opponent of legalized internet gambling in the Committee.The PPA offers free memberships in addition to $20 premium memberships. The latter gives players access to the PPA Litigation Network, a PPA card protector and window decal, discounts on PPA Gear, and the ability to donate to PokerPAC, the PPA’s political action committee. Premium members can also receive $300 off the price of a World Series of Poker (WSOP) Academy training package and online shopping discounts. The lobbying group boasts well over one million members and recently brought 2009 WSOP Main Event champion Joe jcada99 Cada to Capitol Hill to rally support for HR 2267.
Visit PPA.org for more information and stay tuned to PocketFives.com for the latest poker legislation news.
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