Frank’s Anti UIGEA Bill Delayed

Gambling News - June 27, 2009 - Written by Renee

It was expected and everyone except for Barney Frank was saying it. Now a statement from his office confirms that discussion on the bill will be delayed.

Congressman Barney Frank introduced the bill titled the Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection & Enforcement Act (HR 2267), early in May. In an interview given earlier this week Frank had confirmed that the bill would pass through the House Financial Services Committee and be before the full House of Representatives this year. Frank had said, “We’ll get it done.”  

However the economic crisis has scuttled the bill. The legislation required to administer this crisis is naturally being given first priority. So voluminous is this workload that the HR 2267 has been put on hold at least till September. According to the schedule given now the bill will be heard in the House Financial Services Committee in September and would come before the full House of Representatives only in the next session of Congress.

The online gambling industry had a lot riding on this bill, especially with the recent attitude of the Department of Justice (DoJ). The DoJ recently froze funds meant for paying the customers of online gambling operators. Undoubtedly the DoJ will now have a free hand for a longer period of time. With the legislative doors shut, at least for a while, the online gambling industry’s hopes lie in the legal battles. The first and most important of these is scheduled for July 7 in Philadelphia. Meanwhile Frank’s bill continues to gather support. Alaska Republican Representative Don Young has become the thirty-fifth co-sponsor for the bill.