Something wicked this way comes… On December 1^st, the United States must come in full compliance with the regulations set forth in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act or UIGEA for short. Meanwhile, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) is scrambling behind the scenes to slow the coming storm of vague laws aimed at bureaucratizing the illegality of online gambling.

The patron saint of online gambling (or is he?) Barney Frank introduced HR 2266 which would delay the effects of the UIGEA by one year. This would in theory give lawmakers enough time to consider a better way to tax and regulate online gambling. Unfortunately, despite garnering much support from 48 cosponsors to the bill, there are apparently “other issues” going on with the government and the economy that are somehow “more important” than the delay of the UIGEA. So it doesn’t look like help will arrive in time.

John Pappas, executive director of the PPA spoke to Poker News Daily and had this to say, “The reality is that our country is facing a lot of challenges. From a poker player’s perspective, the UIGEA may be the top priority, but it’s not the top priority of Congress. Until Barney Frank can solve the issues facing his Committee, ours is not going to take precedence.”

The PPA is apparently pursuing all avenues in search of a delay to the harmful anti-online gambling legislation. One of the considered weapons in their arsenal is the Administrative Procedure Act “allows for individuals and organizations like the PPA to weigh in with the Department of the Treasury and ask for a delay of a proposed rule.”

Also working in favor of online gambling supporters is the amount of money the government stands to gain by taxing and regulating online gambling. However, this same issue may work against them. The Obama administration and Democratic Congress have so many issues on the table like health care reform and thinking of ways to distract the American people from understanding the financial implications of passing government controlled health care that passage of anything seems like a tall order at this time.

“We are working with Barney Frank and others for a non-legislative solution to clarifying or delaying the UIGEA regulations. Given everything on the Chairman’s plate, one thing off of it is a good thing. We’re hoping to see a delay.”

Tags: Barney Frank, online casino, online casinos, online gambling, online poker, online poker tournament, UIGEA, Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 11:15 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.