Online Gambling Bill Gets 2 New Co-Sponsors, Moves Forward
Barney Frank and Ron Paul's bill to place a moratorium on any enforcement or further implementation of the Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 has received two new co-sponsors, bringing the total number of sponsors and co-sponsors to twenty. The bill is almost entering the markup process, an important step in the realization of how the bill will appear in its final form before being presented for vote.
Representative Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii and Representative Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts joined the distinguished list of Congressmen eager to support the proposal of Frank and Paul. House Resolution 5767 seeks to prevent the numerous and wide-ranging deleterious effects of the UIGEA from further affecting the citizenry, the banking industry, and the country and its adherence to trade policies.
Abercrombie is a liberal-leaning Congressman who was one of the opponents of the Iraq War before it began. Lynch is a member of the House Finances Committee, an important distinction as the banking and credit card sector has been up in arms due to the confusion and lack of clarity of the UIGEA, as well as the imposition of enforcement responsibilities upon them.
By entering markup, the resolution is open to amendment and change of language. This process needs to be observed with great care; it was in this stage that a simple port safety bill, concerned with homeland security, had the UIGEA tucked into it, never to be debated or individually put up for vote.
As the bill moves forward, it will face strong opposition from the forces that initially snuck the UIGEA into existence; but, with proper prodding of our elected officials in Washington, the UIGEA may be rendered toothless, opening a path to regulation and taxation of online gambling and online casinos.
