The Internet Gambling Regulation Act
There is news that Barney Frank’s The Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 (HR 2267) could come up for a vote as early as in February 2010. HR 2267 was introduced in the House of Representatives in May 2009. It seeks to legalize online gambling and provide a regulated the framework so that issues like underage gambling and problem gambling are taken care of under government supervision. This will lead to the repeal of the UIGEA. Thereafter HR 2267 stayed on the back burner for a while because the legislators were busy with the economic crisis. In December 2009 the bill came up for hearing but no vote was taken.
John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, said, “This will be the first time – ever – that there will be a vote on licensing and regulation of Internet poker and Internet gaming in general. We need bi-partisan support, and we need your help in achieving that.” Pappas said that there is an urgent need to ensure that the debate on the HR 2267 and the voting thereafter takes place without partisan politics derailing the bill. This is an opportune time to make a last ditch effort to ensure that the voting is in favor of HR 2267. Pappas added that over the next few weeks the Poker Players Alliance will be instructing its members how to go about contacting their Senators and Representatives and demonstrate to them the widespread support for online gambling.
So far 65 Representatives have endorsed the HR 2267. The last two, who put their signatures in January 2010, were New York Democrat Eliot Engel and Los Angeles Democrat Charlie Melancon.
