News

Wednesday, 30 March 2011 01:11

Just when you thought the chances of Internet gambling becoming legal in the US were dead in the water, Barney Frank is back with another shot at glory.

He may have been down that road once before and become lost along the way, but Barney Frank is a politician with a mission. That mission is to get online gambling legalised and regulated in the United States. Last time, his bill was passed by the House Financial Services Committee and looked like going further, but was swamped by "more important" political issues at the time and faded into obscurity. This time around he has some very strong allies and a new angle on things. 

One of Frank's new allies is Republican John Campbell, who is set to co-author a new bill that is aimed at regulating online gambling at the federal level. Also behind this bill is Senator Harry Reid, who also recently attempted and failed to get a separate bill through on the same issue. It seems almost a possibility that this time around, showing a united front on the issue will bring about success where their individual efforts failed previously. There are some powerful lawmakers involved that will push this new bill and give it the best chance of getting where it needs to be, which is on the statute books in law.

To spearhead this attempt, the dynamic duo of Frank and Campbell have taken a different angle to the direct approach that fell flat on its face for Frank previously. Instead of promoting the financial benefits that approval of this bill will undoubtedly bring to the country's treasury, they are using the law enforcement side of the issue to bring it to the attention of those that need to hear it. The argument is very strong when taken as a way to clean up a shady industry controlled by offshore based, foreign operators. 

It would provide the protection that millions of vulnerable players across the country are in desperate need of while bringing millions in tax revenue into state budgets. The federal government would also benefit from taking a percentage of that revenue generated by the regulated online casinos and poker rooms.

The early signs are good as conservative Republicans who have long been steadfastly opposed to any kind of legislation that would allow online gambling are actually signing off on Frank and Campbell's latest Internet gambling bill. There is still a long way to go, but things can move swiftly once more support has been attracted. Its law enforcement stance could be just what it needs to get that support.