Poker Players Alliance should join forces with Sports Betting

CappersMall.com
2007-04-27

Officials backing online poker have spent the last several months working on an exemption for poker from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Over recent time poker representatives have also done it's best to try and separate itself from sports betting and casino gambling.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee introduced a bill (Internet Gambling Regulation & Enforcement Act 2007) that would legalize Internet Gambling. While it's unlikely this particular bill would ever pass through Congress it is important that the discussion of online gambling begin. In June the House Financial Services will hold hearings on this bill and the legalizing of online gambling.

When the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was introduced it was snuck in part of the Port Security bill at midnight and was overwhelmingly passed without debate. The United States congress was voting on Port Security which is a very important, sensitive subject to the United States. They weren't voting on Internet Gambling and many representatives' voted without ever reading the language of the UIGEA.

Is this how we have to pass laws in the United States? Sneak them in important security bills? When President Bush signed the bill in October of 2006 he did not mention Internet Gambling and still to this date has not spoke of it publicly.

Shouldn't a law that interferes with a hobby of millions of Americans be debated? Shouldn't it be acknowledged within the Senate that this was sneaky and underhanded?

The Poker officials, mainly the Pokers Players Alliance should join forces with sports betting leaders and make this a much bigger fight. There is noise to be made, momentum is on your side and it would be much better suited working together.

Online gamblers have already started signing a petition to repeal the UIGEA and it speaks directly to Congress on how this bill was passed. " I am further outraged to learn that the bill was added at a late hour to the Safe Port Security Bill without the ability of debate and only 15 minutes prior to a vote on a must pass bill. It is improper for Congress to declare itself the overseer of American Morals and to enact legislation that dictates ideology instead of common sense."

The Poker Players Alliance has done so many positive things for online poker but at some point should realize this fight is about all types of online gambling, not just poker. It's about our freedoms as Americans being taken away. We do applaud the Poker Players Alliance for taking a step forward today. The PPA released a statement today on their web site applauding the new bill, "Congressman Frank's bill is a common sense approach to Internet gaming," said Senator Alfonse D'Amato, PPA Chairman of the Board. "Licensing and regulation will allow us sort out the most responsible sites who are good corporate citizens from those engaged in unscrupulous activities and practices. This legislation creates good public policy that establishes real safeguards that protect minors and problem gamblers while allowing the majority of adults to enjoy poker and other games online."

Lotteries, horse racing and other forms of gambling are available in the majority of States. Let's not contradict ourselves! All types of gambling related activities should join together. I urge the Poker Players Alliance on behalf of Poker to join forces with the rest of the online gambling community and continue the fight to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.