Barney Frank One Step Closer Overturning UIGEA?

September 17, 2008

A new bill that will help clarify the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed Tuesday. The second version of Barney Frank’s Payment System Protection Act - HR 6870 won with a 30-19 vote. Frank spoke before The Committee about the differences between the first version (HR 5767) and this one and for the pertinent need for details to be crystal clear on which activities are considered illegal under the UIGEA. Approval of the bill makes it now eligible for a vote before the House of Representatives on September 26^th .

Barney Frank additionally introduced the Manager’s Amendment which calls for professional sports leagues to have the ability to claim exemption from the bill. He was also under agreement that there should be a list put in development of gambling that would still be considered illegal in the United States. Eliminating the UIGEA in its entirety is of course Frank’s ultimate goal, but until he can change the minds of opposing representatives, he will take this short term win.

Opponents of the UIGEA have the stance that because many Americans utilize offshore gambling websites, online gambling shouldn’t be against the law because of the difficulty of actually enforcing regulation of it.

Barney Frank has remained staunch about his beliefs that Americans have the right to spend their money how they want. The passing of this bill can be taken as positive sign that financial institutions in the United States may soon be alleviated from carrying out bans on Internet gambling. Not to mention the fact it will serve as clarification for American online poker players that online poker is legal; barring any specific state laws.

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