Sessions' Gambling Bill Gets Remote Gaming Association Approval

This is significant in that the RGA has largely been responsible for an ongoing investigation into protectionist practices by the U.S. conducted by the European Comission.

Pete Sessions' new bill, HR 6663, also known as the UIGEA Clarification Act, has garnered another in a growing list of endorsers. The Remote Gaming Association, the group that represents online gambling operators in Europe, has come out in favor of the law.

This is significant in that the RGA has largely been responsible for an ongoing investigation into protectionist practices by the U.S. conducted by the European Commission.The new bill, which would prevent further prosecution of online casinos by the federal government unless those sites were involved in sports gambling, addresses much of the concerns of the European Union.

Earlier this week, Congressman Bob Wexler had written to the Attorney General, asking that any probes into foreign gaming sites be suspended until negotiations with Europe could be completed.

Although the Poker Players Alliance does not support the bill, that is largely a matter of semantics. The PPA has taken the stance in court that poker, as a game of skill, is not illegal, and does not wish to group their game with games of chance in legal matters.

Still, the practical affect of the UIGEA Clarification Act would be to limit prosecutions to sports gambling, and allow other forms of gaming to prosper once again. By meeting the standards requested before the World Trade Organization by Europe, and potentially Antigua, the U.S. could free itself from looming damage assessments for violating trade agreements, and reduce the burden of enforcement on all concerned.