Poker Players Unite to Push Efforts to Legalize Gambling

May 15, 2009 - Written By Bonnie

Many people have taken an interest in the newly introduced bill pertaining to the legalization of online gambling. Representative Barney Frank, whom is head of House Financial Services Committee, has tried several times of the past couple years to have the ban of online gambling lifted, only to be out number by a strong congress. However, this go round is showing a little more promise. Poker players all over the world along with other online gamblers are stepping up and making their presence know. One thing that Frank has in common with these online gamblers is the fact that they all see online gambling as a form of personal freedom. When the government gets to decide how you spend your leisure time and hard earned cash, isn't that taking away the very thing that makes us proud to be Americans?

The Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 requires that online gambling be licensed and regulated by an appointed committee, in this case The Department of Treasury. If this bill passes, players will be granted the option to choose to gamble online without so many limitation and the government will still be in control and able to regulate and enforce the provisions outlined in the bill. Those of you that think this will cause a increase in addiction to online gambling, need to read a little more into it and you will find that studies show online gambling addiction is less likely to take place as someone in a land casino. Banning everything that displays addicting behavior will leave us in quite a mess but finding ways to control and regulate these activities still allows people the freedom to make decisions.

Barney Frank has presented a plan that not only gives players what they should have the right to, but there is a good chance with all the licensing and taxes that will be acquired, our struggling economy can see a slight step in the right direction.