Internet Gambling: Barney Frank to Repeal UIGEA with support from the European Union

source: http://www.point-spreads.com/content/view/1622/2/

<SPAN>The Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank of Massachusetts is about to introduce a bill to end the ban on internet gambling imposed by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. Frank has called UIGEA the "stupidest law ever passed" and is looking into introduce the legislation with the help of Southern Nevada Congresswoman, Shelley Berkley and others.

</SPAN><SPAN>"I want to get it undone," Frank told reporters.

A bill to end a ban imposed last year on online gambling in the United States will be presented within two weeks but will likely need time to garner support, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank said on Thursday.

"I think a reconsideration among my colleagues is beginning but it's not far enough along yet," Frank said. "If the storm of public unhappiness is great enough then I will try to substantially revise that ban."

Could the European Union get involved?

In a letter to President George W. Bush, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl bragged about wiping out over $7 billion in market capitalization from AIM listed publicly traded gaming companies. Kyl’s actions and UIGEA bothered the European Union which is home to several internet gambling firms that were forced to withdraw from the United States. After a visit from Frank, the EU internal market chief Charlie McCreevy hinted he may challenge the ban at the World Trade Organization.

</SPAN><SPAN>Antigua & Barbuda has already won a landmark internet gambling case over the United States at the World Trade Organization. The WTO recently released the official 215 page report declaring that the United States failed to change legislation that unfairly targets internet gambling websites. The WTO agreed with Antigua and stated that the United States could only block such websites if its laws were equally applied to domestic firms that offer other forms of internet gambling such as remote betting on horse racing. Internet gambling firms have long contested that the US move is simply protectionism.

"I am not going to draw a distinction between poker and blackjack," Frank said. This is music to the ears of the entire internet gambling industry. Many within the industry thought that online poker could receive an exemption to the existing law, however, Frank’s comments clearly indicate that his legislation will help internt casinos & sports betting websites as well.</SPAN>

I think this is tremendous news...I've been wondering for a long time what the EU was waiting for to get involved with this. U.S. actions have cost the UK billions in market capitalization and thousands of jobs.

I think Frank's last statement, about poker = blackjack, is overreaching. I think it's POSSIBLE that casino games can be lumped in to a repeal. Doubtful, but possible. The one thing that has been the target the whole time has been sports wagering, and I would be truly stunned if that was ever made "legal". The rules regarding gambling going back to the 1961 Wire Act have always been written with sports wagering in mind. So, IMO, Rep. Frank is reserving everything right now, and will concede things back to get a bill passed, starting with sports books.

sports gambling was always illegal. That didn't need to change. He is referring to the "poker is a game of skill" people. He is saying what has been widely thought, this wasn't about casino games.

Great news! Even as a Canadian I love hearing this. ;o)

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/12750

you can donate with debit/credit card. make sure you mention yoour an online poker player.

Frank kicks ass. If he ever reads this post -- he can pass on that Greg Walden (R-Or) will never get my vote and I used to vote for him. Same w/ Senator Smith (R-Or) who will need every vote this next election.

Long live poker, Not a game of luck all skill! LMAO

super I was thinking the same thing. This should be a huge post that gets tacked on the top. Call, write, lets get this thing moving.

I have been wondering; how many members does the PPA have?

(I have also noticed how Bax/Sheets can post about the latest pimple on their ass and get 95 responses!)

Go barneyyyyyyyyyyyyy. What can we do to help?

I don't know if anyone shares my sentiment. I suspect many do. I did write a letter to my congressman during the whole UIGEA fiasco. However, one reason that I think more poker players, myself included, don't do more actively to fight for their rights, is because they don't want to become a very easy target for the government should the government decide to start prosecuting for online poker.

We can all say that the only way to get our voice heard is to express our opinion to our representatives, and that you can't be prosecuted for expressing an opinion, but that is a bunch of crap. It is much easier to voice your opinion on the other side of this topic, because there is no chance that it will come back to bite you. I think using the info gathered from people actively fighting against the ban is a situation similar to racial profiling. Everyone knows it's wrong, but our government justifies it because they think the "end justifies the means." It is the same type of situation here. By expressing your opinion against this bill and against an online gambling bill, you are putting a huge target on yourself should the government start prosecuting people.

Does anyone share my feelings on this? Or am I the only one who is less active than I should be for fear of putting a target on myself?

What can you be prosecuted for? Playing online poker is not illegal.

I do not share your sentiment. UIGEA did not make it illegal to play online poker. This has been discussed here time and time again.....Beanie! Wanna tell him?

I do fear my government, but I am safe under the UIGEA as long as I don't conspire to help people fund online gaming. This bill was meant to pressure US and non-US entities (ie Netteller) to stop the money flow to offshore casinos. Thats it.

Don't let an irrational fear stop you from speaking up for your rights. Fear is exactly the favorite tool of oppresors. Ambrose Redmoon said "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."

.....now departing the soapbox.

I am also concerned that there are currently
no mechanisms in place to prevent children - who make up the
largest percentage of Internet users - from using their parents'
credit card numbers to register and set up accounts for use at
Internet gambling sites.

These comments by our gov't officials piss me off more then anything in the world. What the hell, perhaps its the parents job to prevent their children from using their credit cards. When did our gov't become a parent for children.

This could be great news for all poker players not just Americans. Without you guys playing online, field sizes would be well down in tournaments (may mean less to get through, but smaller prizepools) and the wide variety of SnGs at our disposal would takes ages to fill.

Everybody needs to get behind this however possible, because without the masses of American players, poker would just not be the same.