FRANK BILL HOLDING FIRE

14 September 2007

Proposal to regulate online gambling in the US needs far more support


Disappointing news for the online gambling industry came in an exclusive e-Review Journal interview with Congressman Barney Frank, the main mover behind the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, this week.

Frank told e-Review Journal writer Tony Batt that he acknowledged his bill to overturn an Internet gambling ban on financial transactions has stalled, although pressure from foreign countries could revive the legislation.

Congressman Frank revealed that no further action is planned this year, following hearings three months ago. He told Batt: "It's not dead. It's not very active. It depends on whether or not there's support. I don't think there's support for it yet. It's growing."

Frank went on to discuss the World Trade Organisation pressure on the US government, in particular the European Union claims for compensation.

There are currently 36 political co-sponsors for Frank's IGREA, falling well short of a significant movement to legalise and regulate online gambling in the United States. e-Review Journal reveals that a proposal by Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkely for a one year study by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences (see previous InfoPowa reports) has now attracted 64 co-sponsors but it is unlikely that it has enough momentum to hold a hearing this year.

Berkley told the Journal that she is waiting on Representative John Conyers, who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to introduce his own version of a bill to study Internet gambling, something he tried to do unsuccessfully in 2002 and 2003 (see previous InfoPowa reports). The Congresswoman also expressed confidence that if a study of online gambling passed through the House, Senate Majority Leader and fellow Nevada politician Harry Reid "....would be open to moving the legislation through the Senate."

"I know Senator Reid is favorably inclined to let the study bill pass the Senate even though he is not as enthusiastic about Internet gaming as I am," Berkley said.

Reverting to the issue of WTO compensation for Antigua and Barbuda, e-Review Journal spoke to the island government's attorney Mark Mendel, who revealed that there would be a ruling this November on the extent of the compensation that the US would be required to pay to the Caribbean nation. This could be between $1 billion and $3.4 billion, he opined.

"I feel confident that what we will get will be a massive number - one of the two or three largest WTO rewards ever," said Mendel in a phone interview from Ireland with the publication.

Mendel reiterated again that instead of damages, the islanders would prefer an agreement with the United States which would allow Americans to use the island's gambling Web sites.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa