Online Gambling Industry Could See Relief

[SKUNX]

The online gambling industry could see some much needed relief with the announcement that an independent group is seeking judgment restraining the United States from enforcing the "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006" (UIGEA). The current law prevents U.S. credit-card companies and banks from processing payments to online gambling businesses.

Gambling911.com first reported that The Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) filed the request Tuesday.

"There is something brewing in the online gambling industry that will be very positive for everyone," said one respective industry expert and now we learn what that positive development is.

The suit filed today in U.S. District Court outlined how the Unlawful
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act infringes upon basic constitutional
rights and sets a dangerous precedent for I-commerce by criminalizing
the transmission of money if the end result is illegal in some
unspecified place. The injunction, if granted, will prevent the
government from enforcing the UIGEA and pave the way for Internet
gambling to resume pending further order of the court.

"The purpose of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is to
prevent Americans from engaging in their fundamental rights to conduct
their lives in the manner they wish to live it - to be free from the
government imposing public morality in the privacy of one's home", says
Eric M. Bernstein, Esq., attorney for iMEGA.

The lawsuit also seeks to stop the enforcement of the UIGEA based on the
recent ruling of the World Trade Organization in a final appeal which
found the United States in contempt of treaty obligations regarding
Internet gambling. Washington spokesmen recently said the United States
would not appeal the ruling in favor of Antigua and Barbuda, the
Caribbean nation which won the WTO challenge against the US and one
nation where Internet gambling is legal. Instead, Washington says, the
US will try to modify its treaty obligation to eliminate Internet
gambling. The WTO ruling permits sanctions to be imposed against the
US.

----

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com

Originally published June 5, 2007 5:00 pm ET

[lots0]

This is VERY VERY VERY good news, if true.

Anyone have any more information on this?

Like what District Court this was this filed in?

I searched around and I can't find anything on this anywhere.

[SKUNX]

I was on gambling911.com a few hours ago and read this and decided to post it if I know of anything else I will post it for sure.

[lots0]

I read gambling911's article.

I searched for the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) found their site but it is just a holding page.
http://imega.org/

Sure wish I knew what District Court this was filed in... I would love to see the entire filing and who the Judge is going to be.

Oh man, if this is really true and the Judge grants the Injunction... God damn I am so excited, I really hope this is true.

[SKUNX]

YOUR excited ?

This means I get to have a steady job now

[lots0]

After looking around a bit, it looks like it may have been filed in the District Court in New Jersey. But the court is now closed for the day so I can't get anymore info till tomorrow.

Personally, I am sitting right on the very edge of losing almost ten years worth of work... This is like throwing a life line to a drowning man...

[Mousey]

Just now found this: http://www.imegagroup.com/index_2.html Is this the same people?

And I've seen that lawyer's name before... New Jersey? Of course there could be many with same name....

gone googling...

And a bit more found at Point Spreads... http://www.point-spreads.com/content/view/1945/2/

.....Edward Leyden, President of iMEGA, hopes that the lawsuit will "open the eyes of legislators encouraging regulation and taxation" and stated that two major benefits from regulation include "transparency and tax revenues" for the United States.

"The purpose of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is to prevent Americans from engaging in their fundamental rights to conduct their lives in the manner they wish to live it - to be free from the government imposing public morality in the privacy of one's home" stated iMEGA attorney Eric M. Bernstein.

Both Edward Leyden and Eric M. Berstein are set to speak in Montreal on Thursday at the Globe Interactive Gambling Summit & Expo (GIGSE). Point-Spreads.com will continue to monitor the ongoing news pertaining to the retraining order and lawsuit

[SKUNX]

I hear you loud and clear this my career , actually this made my month better

[lots0]

Just now found this: http://www.imegagroup.com/index_2.html Is this the same people?

I don't think so, that is a part of the Photon Group an Australian Marketing company, that as far as I know does not deal with gambling.

Nope I think the holding page located here http://imega.org/ is the one we are looking for. Checking the Whois info, it was registered in Jan 07, this fits with the info given, where the organization was started in 07. And the name it is registered under sure sounds familiar to me.
Registrant Name:Edward Leyden
Registrant Organization:iMEGA

Of course this all just speculation right now.

[lots0]

Bio of Edward Leyden;

Mr. Leyden is the president of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) in Washington, DC. A seasoned litigator in federal and state courts, Ed currently serves as Vice Chairman of the American Bar Association (ABA), Section of Taxation, and the Committee on Employment Taxes. Ed is also a Contract Advisor for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). Ed is a graduate of Drexel University, and earned his law degrees at the University of Baltimore and Georgetown University.

Bio of Eric M. Bernstein

Mr. Bernstein is lead counsel for the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) legal team.

Mr. Bernstein is a member of the First Amendment Lawyer's Association and the Free Speech Coalition, and practices all aspects of First Amendment and Internet law.

Mr. Bernstein is a regular and frequently requested speaker at state and national organizations and has been teaching for the Rutgers University Bureau of Government Research since the early 1980s. Mr. Bernstein has written articles for publication and serves as a Director of the New Jersey State Bar Association Local Government Law Section, where he was previously Vice President and Editor of its newsletter.