Barney Frank fights to overthrow the UIGEA

June 23, 2009

Ever since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed in 2006, the poker community in the USA has really been in limbo. No one seems to know for sure if it is legal to gamble online and whether or not poker is considered gambling according to the state’s law. Some states consider poker illegal in either a live or an online setting due to the belief by many that poker is a game of chance. And even if it is considered illegal, there has not been a state to date that has gone as far as prosecuting anyone. Is there ever going to be legal online gaming for anyone, anywhere?

There may be if Congressman Barney Frank has anything to do about it. Barney Frank is a part of the Democratic Party representing Massachusetts and has been one of the leading figures in the fight to legalize poker.

Shortly after the UIGEA passed, Barney’s first bill in terms of resorting online gambling rights was H.R 2046 which is known as the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. This bill would create guidelines and establish licensing for online gaming sites. It would protect minors from being able to gamble and would help in seeking treatment for those who gamble excessively and need help stopping. In 2008, Frank also introduced H.R 5767, the Payment Systems Protection Act, which was designed to put the UIGEA bill on hold until it can be fully defined what constitutes illegal gambling. Both of these bills have failed to go anywhere.

As of recent, Barney Frank has introduced a new bill, H.R 2266 or the Reasonable Prudence in Regulation Act. This bill is designed to put off the UIGEA bill until 2010 so that more clarity can be brought to the illegal gaming issue. Since the UIGEA does not go into full force until December of 2009, they are trying to do what they can to prevent further complications in terms of legalizing poker. This bill was introduced in May of 2009 and already has 13 sponsors.

Frank has also introduced the bill which is more directed towards his goals of legalizing online poker. On May 6th, 2009, he introduced H.R 2267 known as the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. Similar to his other bills, this will focus on licensing online gaming sites within the US. Unlike his other bills sports betting is not included. Currently, Frank does not have the same support as he has had in the past having only 23 sponsors. This is in comparison to the 43 sponsors that he had on past bills. However, all this may be off set by the fact that Congress is more Democratic controlled so in the grand scheme of things, only time will tell.

Barney Frank is backed by many poker players as well as the group, the Poker Players Alliance, which fights for the rights of poker players everywhere. The shared goal is to shed some positive light on the game of poker. This will be achieved by preventing those who are too young to play from doing so and by providing help to those who are addicted to gambling. Together, they have fought on many players’ behalves that have been charged with the crime of gambling in states that deem poker a game of luck, thus making it illegal in that state. The results of many of these court cases are in favor of the poker player as it is proved without a doubt that poker is a game of skill.

It would only make sense for this trend of determining poker as a game of skill to continue. It would only further the progression to legalize poker which would result in more money for the online poker rooms as well as money generated from the licensing of these rooms. Not to mention that passing one of these bills could bring billions of dollars in tax revenue to a country that is now deprived and in a deep depression.

Written by admin · Filed Under Poker News