Great News for US Online Poker Players
Corey Bruhn | August 1, 2010
Who doesn’t know about the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) that has been hanging over tens – if not hundreds – of millions of US citizens who love to play poker online? Most of us were forced to play more or less illegally, and poker sites that still accept US players, like Full Tilt Poker, have become rare. Since 2006, playing online poker has been restricted or even denied for people in the United States.
On July 28th, H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act passed the House Financial Services Committee with a 41-22 vote. The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), which has over one million members in the US, was pleased with this decision. The overall sentiment is that Congress realizes prohibition is failing, much like the alcohol prohibition did in the 1920s and early 1930s. Sensible regulation of online poker seems to be the way forward.
Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the PPA, said:
The fact is, online poker is not going away. Congress has a choice – it can license and regulate it to provide government oversight and consumer protections or lawmakers can ignore it, leaving consumers to play on non-US regulated websites. I’m glad the Financial Services Committee today overwhelmingly chose to act and protect Americans as well as preserve the fundamental freedoms of adults and the Internet.
Alfonse D’Amato
Sponsored by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, H.R. 2267 aims to protect underage players and problem gamblers while intelligently regulating internet gaming for adults using modern technologies and a regulatory authority. Additionally, the planned licensing and regulation could bring companies back to the US, boosting the economy through taxes and job creation.
H.R. 2267 ensures the right and legal possibility for US players to play poker online. It also goes further in consumer protection than the current law (UIGEA), which lacks control and consumer protection.
While much work remains, and lawmakers in the House and Senate will thoroughly review the new bill, there is already a positive atmosphere among PPA members. “This is a great day not only for poker players but for proponents of Internet freedom and individual liberty. We thank Chairman Frank for his leadership on this bill and look forward to working with him to bring this bill through the legislative process,” said Alfonse D’Amato.
Key points of the bill:
- Protection against underage gambling: Mandatory implementation of technologies to protect against underage gambling. This includes using commercial and government databases for online banking to verify identity and age.
- Limits for problem gamblers: Daily, weekly, and/or monthly limits for deposits and losses to detect problem gamblers.
- Standards to prevent fraud: Regulated standards to detect and avoid fraud, cheating, or any abuse of the poker software. This ensures secure and fair games for all customers.
- Prevention of money laundering and tax avoidance: Regulations to prevent money laundering and tax avoidance.
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