Online Poker is as bad as crack cocaine according to Republican Spencer Bachus (who is apparently nowhere near as fun loving as the Roman god he’s named after). But this is the attitude Barney Frank faces as he tries to overturn the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. But as I’ve written about in previous posts, Barney Frank is working to move his bill — the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act — or HR 2267 forward.
The good news is that Barney Frank’s bill has passed a hurdle. The House Financial Services Committee has voted on his bill and given it a passing vote. Which means it can continue its move forward. The bill still has a long way to go before it is able to overturn the evil UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act).
The argument going on in the United States has a lot to do with the attitude of the politicians towards the people who elect them and put them in office. Apparently some politicians, such as Spencer Bachus, feel that these people aren’t able to use good judgment when they decide whether or not to go online and pull the virtual handle on slots games. Of course, these same constituents are apparently able to make good decisions when they go to the voting booth and make that choice. Though perhaps sometimes the outcome of either decision is an equal gamble.
But others are making that argument that Americans are going to take advantage of online gambling whether or not the politicians allow it. So it would serve those people better to put systems in place to regulate the industry than to attempt to simply outlaw an experience that people in other countries are able to enjoy.