Barney Frank to Introduce Internet Gambling Bill

Posted on February 17th, 2010

Since 2006 American bingo and poker players have not been able to gamble online legally. Despite the law most online players have found ways around the law and finance their online accounts using a variety of methods. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was forced through congress in a late night session with no room for debate by anti gambling extremists and was tacked onto an anti terrorism bill. The law did not make gambling itself illegal but prohibited the processing of any gambling related transactions. There have been attempts to overturn this unpopular piece of legislation but due to the global economic crisis attempts to repeal UIGEA were put on the back burner.

Now legalizing internet gambling including internet bingo is back before congress. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is heading the effort to legalize internet gaming. Frank’s plan is to push through a bill that would legalize, tax, and regulate internet gambling. Despite the law Americans spent a whopping $8 billion dollars in 2009 gambling online. Clearly the public wants legalized online gambling. A poll by US News and World Report asked people the following question–”Should Online Gambling Be Legalized?” 91% of respondents said yes, an overwhelming majority.

Despite the overwhelming support for legalized online gambling extremist groups like Focus on the Family continue to pressure some members of congress. In one of the more ridiculous statements issued by anti gambling extremists Focus on the Family said, “This would go outside the walls of a brick-and-mortar casino, outside the walls of a convenience store lottery, and into the living rooms and homes of all Americans.” Unfortunately groups like these have support in congress. One member of the House Financial Services Committee has vowed to block Frank’s bill. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) said “Internet gambling is a threat to the youth of our country … Young people are particularly at risk because, if you put a computer in their bedroom or dorm room, it’s a temptation that many cannot resist.”

Internet bingo players in the US have been adversely affected by current law and some bingo websites have gone so far as to ban American bingo players. Internet bingo is very attractive to American players because of the variety of bingo bonuses offered to players. Most internet bingo websites offer players a wide variety of perks such as a bingo sign up bonus or a bingo deposit bonus. Unfortunately current US law makes it difficult for American players to take advantage of these perks. The law has even affected the sale of lottery tickets. Some banks will no longer process transactions related to the purchase of lottery tickets.

Hopefully Frank’s bill will succeed despite pressure from extremist groups. It is clear that a vast majority of Americans are in favor of internet gaming. It is time to put an end to this prohibition and let citizens decide what they will do with their hard earned dollars.