Barney Frank's UIGEA Ammendment Delayed Until the Fall

The hearing which was widely hoped in the Poker and online gaming community would pave the way for legalized and regulated Internet gambling in the US, has now been put back until September at the earliest. The PPA, who are working with Frank in paving the way for legalised Poker, had previously announced a rally in Washington for July and to coincide with the hearing of Barney Frank’s legislation.
The hearing on online gambling bills was due to take place before the US House Financial Services Committee, which Frank heads, but now the commitee has had to delay things and turn theit attentions to more pressing concerns over the US and world economy. Frank had anticipated possible delays and reassured the millions of people who support online gambling sites not to be overly concerned about the timing and that he was confident the bills would eventually get passed.
In 2006, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, and H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act were passed in the House of Representatives. Part of these acts include the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (or UIGEA) and ‘prohibits the transfer of funds from a financial institutions to an Internet gambling site’. As a result all London Stock Exchange listed online gambling sites have stopped taking US customers although some non listed stock exchange companies have continued to do so.
Throughout his career Congressman Barney Frank has championed people’s civil rights and liberties and in 2007 introduced a bill to overturn elements of the legislation which he said ” is an inappropriate interference on the personal freedom of Americans”.
Barney Frank’s efforts are seen to be gaining support in Congress with many politicians on both sides of the House coming out in support for his bill. It has also been widely observed how other countries around the world have successfully managed to legalise and regulate online gambling sites and been able to benefit from the millions of tax revenues received. Previous attempts to change the UIGEA were opposed, particularly by old style Republicans but with old stalwarts from that camp now coming out in support of Frank’s bill, notably Young, one of the longest serving Representatives in Washington, the momentum looks to be finally changing.