Online Gambling Ban Gets Congressional Review
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 has come under fire from many directions since its inception. The law was originally pushed through Congress by Bill Frist on his way out of the Senate, hidden away as an addendum to the anti-terrorist Security and Accountability For Every Port Act. This allowed passage of the UIGEA without debate, discussion, or democratic review.
Since then, bankers and credit card companies have decried the vague terms and inconsistent enforcement policies found in the bill; online operators have been forced to withdraw from the United States as a market, or risk being sought as felons; foreign nations have protested the U.S. policy as a clear violation of free trade treaties; and ordinary citizens have been refused the right to choose to entertain themselves by gambling online.
Several members of Congress, including Representative Jim McDermott and Representative Barney Frank, have introduced forms of legislation to supercede the UIGEA by regulating, licensing, and taxing online gambling.
Wednesday, Representative Luis Gutierrez, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology, announced his subcommittee will hold hearings on various proposed regulations and changes to the UIGEA, starting Wednesday morning, April 2nd, at 10:00 a.m.
The title of the meetings, "Proposed UIGEA Regulations: Burden without Benefit?” , suggests Congress is starting to get the idea that the UIGEA serves no one; it prevents revenue collection, wastes millions in enforcement, angers allied countries, disgruntles American business, and ruffles the feathers of the public. Hopefully, this is the beginning of major change to this useless law.
