Will Change in US Congress Help Online Poker?

Democrats gained control of the United States Senate on Thursday, giving them a majority in both houses of Congress for the first time since 1994.

The Democrats picked up the last seat they needed to capture the Senate when the Republican incumbent in Virginia, George Allen, conceded to Jim Webb, his Democratic challenger.

The new Senate will now have 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and two independents, Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernard Sanders of Vermont. Since the 2 independents align themselves with the Democrats, Democrats will have a 51-to-49 advantage in the new Senate.

House of Representative Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, will become the first woman to serve as speaker of the House.

US voters this past week demonstrated their dissatisfaction: with President Bush, handling of the Iraq war, taxes, and many personally-pushed Republican agendas.

The vote signals that a major change on Capitol Hill has occurred.

"The election's over," said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, who will become the new Senate majority leader. "It's time for a change."

Online poker players echo Reid's sentiments how 'It's time for a change' with hopes that the current prohibition-like legislation will be changed to one of regulation of the online poker and the online gambling industry as a whole.

Some look for that change to come from the likes of Rep. John Conyers Jr. of Detroit, who has consistently argued for regulation of the online gambling industry. He is expected to lead the Judiciary Committee.

Another supporter of regulation vs. prohibition is Shelley Berkley, Democrat Congresswoman for the State of Nevada.

"Internet gaming is becoming more popular every day and we need a comprehensive federal study that looks at the question of whether or not it can be effectively regulated and what role technology can play in accomplishing that goal," said Berkley, who co-chairs the Congressional Gaming Caucus.

And most importantly, be sure YOU continue to contact your senator or representative to let them know you support regulation of the online gambling industry, and in particular online poker.

More Current Affairs Articles

Day 1 of WSOP Winter Bayou Poker Challenge Closes
12am Tue Dec 9th, 2008

The Harrah’s New Orleans Winter Bayou Poker Challenge, a WSOP Satellite Event, kicked off Monday at Harrah's Casino in New Orleans.

Bill to Legalize Online Poker & Online Gambling Introduced by Barney Frank
12pm Fri Apr 27th, 2007

Bill Creates Exemption for Properly Licensed Operators to UIGEA's Ban

Frank to Introduce UIGEA Repeal Bill Today- Online Poker Applauds
1am Thu Apr 26th, 2007

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."

UIGEA Repeal Meetings Give Hope to Online Poker Players
12am Sat Apr 21st, 2007

Several meetings were held this past week in Washington DC to strategize how to challenge the U.S. Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which signals hope for online poker players that UIGEA repeal efforts are coming to a climax in the coming months.

USA loses WTO Appeal in Online Poker & Online Gambling Case
12am Mon Apr 2nd, 2007

The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled again March 30 against an appeal by the United States in a long-running David versus Goliath case brought by the tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda against the United States initially in 2003 alleging that the U.S. discriminates against online gambling (including online poker) companies that are not located within the United States.

New Web Gambling Study Could Lead to Legal Online Poker in USA Again
3am Mon Mar 19th, 2007

Two Nevada lawmakers are working on legislation for an 18-month study of online gambling to determine whether online gambling can be effectively regulated in the United States.

Kyl asks Bush to Enforce UIGEA to Counter Frank's Repeal of the Anti-Online Poker Bill
12am Mon Mar 19th, 2007

Arizona Senator Jon Kyl (R) sent President George W. Bush a letter thanking him for his protection of family values and urging him to act immediately in ensuring that the forthcoming regulations for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are as strictly enforced as possible.

EU May Challenge UIGEA Outlawing Online Poker and Online Gambling Payments
9am Wed Jan 31st, 2007

The European Union's (EU) top financial regulator, Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, told the European Parliament on Tuesday that the United States is using "protectionist" legislation to stop foreign online poker and gambling companies entering the US online betting market, and that it may trigger legal action before the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Does U.S. Want Online Poker & Online Gambling All To Themselves?
6am Mon Jan 29th, 2007

The respected UK newspaper The Telegraph carried a hard hitting article this weekend which suggested that the US crackdown on online gaming, including online poker, may not be so much about morals as hard cash.

PPA President's State of Poker Address
12am Fri Jan 26th, 2007

In parallel to the 'State of the Union' address US Presidents traditionally delivers to Congress each January, Michael Bolcerek, president of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), posted a 'State of Poker' address on the organization's web site, reviewing where poker is today and where, with poker players' help, it can go in the future.