Barney Frank's Internet Gambling Bill Due to be Drawn up in Congress

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Tuesday, 13 July 2010 - 12:37

According to reports from the recent World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, representatives from the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) said that a new pro-internet gaming bill is expected to be marked up in Congress this week. This hearing is yet to appear on the schedule for the House Financial Services Committee, but the PPA is confident that the bill will be added over the coming days.

Congressman Barney Frank, who is Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has been one of the biggest supporters of Internet gambling in the US. Frank introduced this bill (known as HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act) in May 2009 and had indicated that it could go to vote. When the committee last looked at internet gambling legislation in December 2009, officials from the US Treasury and Federal Reserve did not attend, but they are now expected to be part of the next hearing.

The PPA, which has close to 1.2 million members, has raised $27,000 through sponsorship and donations to fund a campaign to support the mark up. Donations are still being accepted through their website.