Washington Post Discusses US Online Poker Legislation
Written by Matt W | Sunday, February 7th, 2010
The Washington Post publication ran a key piece on internet poker, written by Dan Eggen, this weekend. The article outlines the two sides of the ongoing online poker debate, discussing the efforts being made by politicians such a Rep. Barney Frank, as well as the opposition faced by these efforts through groups such as the National Football League, Focus on the Family and other, more conservative politicians.
While the article really doesn’t discuss anything we haven’t heard before, at least if you’ve been following the gaming laws in the US, it does provide a good recap of what has transpired and what is happening at the moment. I give the article a B- for recap, and a D for “news” we haven’t heard a million times over.
The Washington Post gives credit to online poker lobbyists for persuading the Obama government to delay the enforcement of the UIGEA. “Rep. Barney Frank (Mass.) and other Democrats are using the six-month reprieve to push ahead with legislation that would legalize and regulate poker, mah-jongg and other online betting games — pastimes that have exploded in popularity in a country that accounts for more than half of the $16 billion global Internet gambling market,” reads the article.
The piece shows that the federal government could net literally billions of dollars in tax and licensing revenue if online poker became legalized in the United States.
Eggen’s article lists those who back Barney Frank’s bill to change the current legislation, including former Republican senator Alfonse D’Amato who today is the chairman of the Poker Players Alliance. According to the piece, lobbyists have spent over $4 million on their efforts in the past year, while PPA members have bogged down Capitol Hill email channels with over 300,000 mailings only recently.
“I think there’s a growing realization in Washington that prohibition probably isn’t going to work, just like prohibitions throughout history have not worked,” John Pappas, PPA executive director is quoted as saying. “There needs to be a more common-sense approach, because it’s not going away.”
There are conflicting opinions when it comes to the chances of online poker proponents’ chances of success to change current regulation. Eggen says: “The outlook on Capitol Hill, however, is uncertain given a slate of unfinished business on health-care reform, cap-and-trade legislation and financial market regulations, not to mention nervousness among Democrats about November midterm challenges.
Gambling opponents say Democrats are unlikely to muster support during such a contentious year, but proponents say that changing mores and the prospect of new tax revenue give the effort a better chance than at any other time in recent memory.”
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· Written by Matt W · Filed Under Poker Gossip · Comments Off
