|
Written by Stefan | Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
What do apple pie, baseball, and poker have in common? They are all American. While it’s sometimes difficult to keep up with all the news regarding legilation, regulation, and legalization of online gambling throughout the world, some straightforward affirmation that hope is on the way has been made. Everyday it seems as if another country or state is in the online gambling newslines that is either threatening to ban online gambling, talking about legislation that might get passed, or less frequently, finally deciding to regulate it. But this time, the reports come straight from the good old USA. At last, the United States Congress has firmly suggested that there may just be a light at the end of the tunnel for the online poker saga.
According to Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott of Washington’s chief of staff, Mike DeCesare announced that it could be as little as two to three weeks before legislation supporting the reversal of the UIGEA will be introduced to Congress. McDermott has been an advocate for taxing and regulating online poker before. He proposed a bill last year to use revenue gained from the regulation of Internet gambling to pay for job training and other opportunites for participants in the foster care system.
Also scheduled to introduce legislation in support of online poker is Maryland’s Democratic Congressman Barney Frank, who has also fought strongly for the cause. His proposed Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 also proposed to revoke the UIGEA and regulate the industry, but neither McDermott’s nor Frank’s bills ever made it to the House floor. A spokesperson for Frank said last month of the new proposal: “The bill introduction should happen in the next month. Mr. Frank will bring back legislation to repeal the UIGEA.”
Other fighting forces in the cause for the legalization and regulation of online poker have been working hard, especially lately. The Poker Player’s Alliance (PPA) is constantly gaining ground in the fight. Greg Raymer, World Series of Poker champion and member of the PPA Board of Directors, was in attendance at the Conservative Action Conference last month representing the PPA. He also recently appeared on Fox Business News to speak for the importance of online poker regulation.
There has been no question that the online poker community would ever give up the fight, but it has been unknown as to when we would ever see any real concrete action take place. The spirit of the online poker community has never been broken in the US, though. If nothing else it has grown stronger and more resilient as a result of the attack on the beloved game of poker that is just as innocent and playful as American baseball. The time to celebrate is near.
 More Related Articles
Written by Stefan · Filed Under news · |
