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Shelley Berkleys H.R. 2140: A Closer Look[ return to main articles page ]

By: Dan
Published on Aug 31st, 2007
It’s always wise to know about something before you dive into it. That’s why you visit PocketFives.com, right? You learn about poker, swap strategies, read about some bad beats, and then hit the tables. Ironically, on the world’s biggest stage, even the best and brightest sometimes play in the dark. I’m talking about the United States Congress passing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act last year. This fall, H.R. 2140, the Internet Gambling Study Bill, could give legislators new light into the industry. Armed with the power of knowledge, our elected officials can make an informed legislative decision. Proposed by Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV), the bill is one of four currently in Congress that deal with online gambling.

The Text

H.R. 2140 calls for a study by the National Academy of Sciences “to identify the proper response of the United States to the growth of Internet gambling.” The text of the bill recognizes that millions of Americans are active in the industry and that “many observers and industry analysts believe that it is impossible to stop the sale of most products or services over the Internet.” H.R. 2140 gives the Federal government the tools it needs to grasp the enormous complexities of the industry. Specific studies include closely examining underage gambling, looking at other countries’ systems to regulate internet gambling, as well as the potential income that could be garnered by taxation. Fraud, money laundering, and the impact of the UIGEA are studied as well.

The rate at which the U.S. online gambling market is growing is rather dramatic. The bill states that “several million” Americans gamble on the Internet, accounting for half of a “multibillion dollar worldwide market.” This incredible growth is what fueled the UIGEA’s passage last year. On an appearance in July on the PocketFives.com Podcast, Berkley sums up her bill: “I’ve introduced legislation to study the issue. We are operating in total darkness and ignorance. We’re passing legislation and banning things that we don’t even know the effects of. What I’d like to do is take a step back, take a deep breath, and study it. Let Congress legislate on the basis of scientific information. It also is not a red flag in the face of opponents of gambling. How can anyone be opposed to a non-partisan study of internet gambling? Let’s get the information before we interfere with the American people’s rights to do what they want to do.”

The Co-Sponsors

H.R. 2140 was introduced on May 3, 2007, and has since garnered 64 Co-Sponsors. They are listed below along with the district they represent and the date they attached their name as a co-sponsor. You’ll notice both Barney Frank (D-MA) and Robert Wexler (D-FL), two sponsors of other internet gambling-related bills, are on the list:

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 5/3/2007
Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 5/3/2007
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 5/3/2007
Rep Boyda, Nancy E. [KS-2] - 6/5/2007
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 5/3/2007
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 5/3/2007
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 5/10/2007
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 5/3/2007
Rep Clyburn, James E. [SC-6] - 5/3/2007
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 5/3/2007
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 5/3/2007
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 5/3/2007
Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 5/3/2007
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 5/3/2007
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 5/3/2007
Rep Faleomavaega, Eni F.H. [AS] - 5/3/2007
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 5/3/2007
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] - 5/3/2007
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 5/3/2007
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 5/3/2007
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 5/3/2007
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 5/3/2007
Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] - 5/3/2007
Rep Hill, Baron P. [IN-9] - 5/3/2007
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 5/3/2007
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 5/3/2007
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 5/3/2007
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 5/3/2007
Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [OH-11] - 5/3/2007
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 5/3/2007
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 5/3/2007
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 5/3/2007
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 5/3/2007
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 5/3/2007
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 5/3/2007
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 5/3/2007
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 5/3/2007
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 5/3/2007
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 5/3/2007
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 5/3/2007
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 5/3/2007
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 5/3/2007
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] - 5/3/2007
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 5/3/2007
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 5/3/2007
Rep Porter, Jon C. [NV-3] - 5/3/2007
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 5/3/2007
Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] - 5/3/2007
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 5/3/2007
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 5/3/2007
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 5/3/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 5/3/2007
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] - 5/10/2007
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 5/3/2007
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 5/15/2007
Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] - 5/3/2007
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 5/3/2007
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 5/3/2007
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 5/3/2007
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 5/3/2007
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 5/3/2007
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 5/3/2007
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 5/3/2007
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 5/3/2007

The Update

Unlike the other bills that have been introduced, H.R. 2140 will have a slightly different effect on online poker players. New Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas explains, “There will be no immediate benefit for poker players if this bill is passed. It will however, over time, give Congress the hard data to dispel some of the myths and mischaracterizations about the Internet gaming industry.”

Berkley’s bill states that we need to learn more in order to legislate effectively, while Wexler’s and Frank’s bills provide immediate relief for the consumer. This bodes the question, “Are all three Congressmen on the same page?” Pappas provides his take: “Representatives Wexler, Frank, and Berkley are on the same page. They want to advance the issue and see a regulated industry. It is important to note that Representative Berkley is [a Co-Sponsor] on both the Frank and Wexler bills.”

What timeline could online poker players expect for a bill like Berkley’s? “A bill like this is less likely to go through normal procedure than the Wexler or Frank bills. Since it is a rather benign bill, it could be attached to other must-pass legislation at the end of this Congressional session.”

Stay tuned to PocketFives.com during what will be a critical legislative session for online poker players everywhere.

News Resources
  • Read the full text of H.R. 2140.
  • Track the bill on the Library of Congress website.
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