July 20, 2010 (CAP News Wire) – Barney Frank’s crusade to legalize and regulate online gambling continues, after many false starts. A hearing on Frank’s iGaming bill, H.R. 2267, or the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday July 21, in the House Financial Services Committee (of which Frank is the chairman).
In light of recent efforts by states such as California and New Jersey to pass online gambling bills of their own — and thus bypass the need to overturn the UIGEA, if successful — the need to enact new federal Internet gambling legislation in the U.S. is stronger than ever.
“In May, Frank had promised a committee markup, or vote, on the bill in July. This will not be that markup, rather an opportunity for discussion and testimony on the legislation,” adds PokerNews.com.
As of press time, the official website for the House Financial Services Committee offers no additional details on the hearing regarding the witness list and/or prepared testimony.
The news comes shortly after Nevada Rep. Shelley Berkley wrote an article in the political publication Roll Call condemning the UIGEA as “a bust”.
“I firmly believe adults have the right to choose how they spend their leisure time and money, and that includes the ability to participate in Internet gaming from the privacy of their own homes and computers,” Berkley writes. “That is why I vehemently opposed the UIGEA when it came before Congress and why I continue to support the efforts of House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) — and others — to replace what would be better called the Unworkable Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.”
Follow the progress of Barney Frank’s online gaming legislation here.