Frank to Introduce UIGEA Repeal Bill Today- Online Poker Applauds

U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank's press office confirmed that today at 10am ET, Frank will hold a press conference to discuss legislation he is introducing to repeal the controversial Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which Frank has called "one of the stupidest things I ever saw."

It is a fitting time to introduce the UIGEA repeal bill since it was the exact time of day President Bush signed the UIGEA into law as part of the 'must pass' Safe Port Security Bill.

The UIGEA was attached to the unrelated Port bill without the ability of debate and with only 15 minutes prior to a vote, just hours before Congress adjourned last October (click here to read about Bush signing UIGEA into law).

Frank's opposition to the UIGEA is not new. He vehemently objected when it was attached to the unrelated Safe Port Security Bill and has continued to object to the bill taking away individual freedoms ever since.

"This is about freedom," Frank said yesterday. "I'm not just concerned with poker. What's next? Mahjong?"

Once he introduces the bill, he does not plan to actively sell it on the Hill. Instead, he will rely on outside groups to do that for him.

"I'm going to let the voters do this one," Frank said.

But Frank and his backers face long odds to repeal the UIGEA, as the Politico website reported. Last year, the House of Representatives approved its comprehensive enforcement update by a vote of 317 to 93 after a year-long struggle by a handful of Republicans to see it approved. Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) then inserted similar legislation into the unrelated port security bill as one of his last acts as majority leader.

But Frist is no longer on Capitol Hill, and one of the bill's authors, Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa), was defeated last fall (click here to read about Leach's departure).

Whether the legislation has the votes to pass through Congress and survive a potential Bush veto is another question entirely.

Frank's announcement today will be the first concrete step taken to undo the UIGEA legislation itself.

The act, which prohibits American financial institutions from processing internet gambling transactions from US residents, is due by July 10 to define how financial institutions are supposed to enforce the bill.

If Frank's repeal is successful, then we may never hear how banks were supposed to tow the UIGEA line. Nor will we hear future exchanges like US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Senator Jon Kyl had this past week apparently over the former's resistance to provide the latter with a list of known online gambling firms' bank account details (click here to read about the Kyl- Gonzales exchange).

Opposition to the UIGEA is not new.

The Poker Player's Alliance (PPA) has been pushing Congress to exempt poker from the law, similar to how horse betting, lottery and fantasy games are currently exempted (click here to read about PPA).

Some in Congress believe that online gambling should be legalized based on principles of individual liberty. Others resent how the law was snuck onto an unrelated 'must pass' bill and rushed through after midnight without any debate of its merits.

But with a certain uphill battle, it remains to be seen if there will be enough votes necessary to repeal the UIGEA.

So several sites in the online industry are organizing support drives for the repeal. One particular site has authored a petition to sign to send to Congress to support repeal of the UIGEA. Click here to visit the site.

Whether you sign a petition, joint the PPA, or participate in your favorite online site's support drive, be sure to make your voice heard!

As prominent Las Vegas-based gaming attorney Anthony Cabot stressed last March during PPA's visit to Washington DC:

"Congress will not act to protect your rights unless they think by not doing so it may impact their ability to get reelected."

Read Related Articles: