Oh yes, one more time. One thing is certain: people who are fighting for the survival of online poker, are not ready to retreat.
On March 17, a draft law was presented to the U.S. Congress to regulate online poker. This proposal is the work of John Campbell (Republican) and Barney Frank (a Democrat).
The Bill entitled "Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act" resembles an ARJEL Italian sauce. Here are a few key points of this proposal:
-distribution of licences to operators by a federal agency
-creation of a list of 'illegal' operators
-implementation of preventive measures of 'protection of minors'
-verification of age and identity with the public authorities
-establishment of deposit limits, losses and withdrawals to "prevent the addictive behavior"
-implementation of surveillance against fraud, abuse and cheating
-regulation against "money laundering" via online games sites
-creation of process of combating "tax evasion"
This proposal would fill two of the important mandates completed by the UIGEA, i.e. to protect the players and to prevent money laundering.
The Republican Alfonse D'Amato, great defender of online poker, has a sense of urgency on online poker legislation. In his own words: "the States recognize the importance of regulating the game and pass their own laws to collect millions in taxes on income". It is also concerned that the many laws of several States make null and void federal laws.
This is quite long as the situation of the game online is blurred in the United States and more than ever it is time to legislate. In addition to harming the game industry, States lose millions of dollars in income and taxes.
15 March held in Washington a demonstration during the "Poker Lobby Day". The goal? Protest against laws voted in 2006 recently came into effect, including a ban players from Washington State to play on Full Tilt Poker and PokerStarstables. PokerStars that, it was not so long ago, argued the U.S. Congress, claimed today the Poker Player Alliance (PPA). Financial aid even came to this association.
Online poker continues to grow, to become more and more popular to generate millions, or even billions of dollars in a legal situation unclear. It is more than time to legislate clearly on the future of online poker.
Discuss this news on PokerCollectif forums: LEGISLATION: another proposal of law by Barney Frank
