Barney Frank says Standalone Gaming Bill H.R. 2046 is Coming After April 20

Barney Frank, Chairman of the US House Financial Services Committee, told The Hill congressional newspaper last week that the bill to license and regulate online poker and Internet gambling, called the Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2046), would be introduced "After the break, definitely in April", referring to when Congress reconvenes after Easter break the week starting April 20.

Frank stated that the bill will be a standalone bill, in spite of the tactics used when, in the 11th hour, the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was piggy backed onto the 'must pass' port security bill in the 109th Congress.

Industry watchers note that a standalone bill might make it more difficult to get passed through Congress. However, Congressman Frank said that it would be "inappropriate" to follow the Republicans' path. "That is not my intention. It would be a mistake. I want to do this with hearings, discussions and votes," Frank told The Hill.

Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative which backs Frank's bill, told The Hill: "We welcome a standalone bill, which would allow for a thorough discussion of all the issues relating to regulations and consumer protections."

The UIGEA, which made it illegal for financial institutions to handle transactions between U.S. residents and online gambling companies, came into effect on January 19th 2009, one day before the inauguration of Barack Obama as President. Financial Institutions must comply with the UIGEA by December 1st 2009.

KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON CONGRESS

Frank's office has repeatedly underscored how important it is for the public to continue telling their congressional representatives that they support Frank's bill. In fact they stress that public pressure is the key for getting the bill passed. So keep contacting your Congressional Representatives!

HOW TO FIND YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) website offers a contact list and letter template for writing your congressperson (by zipcode) making it quick and easy to do (click here for it).

Alternately click here for a complete contact list and informative profile of all the current Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

If you do not know who represents your district, enter your state and zip code to the left of the map and you'll be shown the corresponding list for your location. Or you can click on your state on the map to see a complete list (good only if you know your district number).

Further encouragement for the bill's passage comes from the great need for revenues at state and federal levels, and the potential $52 billion in taxes for government coffers over the next decade, which were projected in a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

In hopes for the near term re-opening of the lucrative U.S. online gambling market, as well as any mergers and acquisitions, Party Poker parent, PartyGaming, this week agreed to pay the US Attorney's Office $105 million settlement, an important part of which includes a Non-Prosecution Agreement relating to the company's activities in the U.S prior to the passage of the UIGEA, removing the threat of possible law suits for the publically held company.

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