News

Monday, 27 June 2011 06:42

Another hopeful attempt at legalising online poker in the United States was introduced on Friday to the House of Representatives by Republican and keen poker player, Joe Barton.

The much-anticipated bill to bring legal and regulated online poker to the computer screens of adult Americans, HR 2366 was introduced by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) and is supported by an 11-strong team of original co-sponsors. This gives the bill a healthy start in life and it will need it if it is to make its way unscathed through the many levels of the political labyrinth to Congress and into the statute books. 

The co-sponsors come from both sides of the political fence and are made up of seven Democrats; Barney Frank (Mass.), Linda Sanchez (Calif.), Mike Honda (Calif.), John Conyers (Mich.), Shelley Berkley (Nev.), Steve Cohen (Tenn.) and Ed Perlmutter (Col.) along with four Republicans; Ron Paul (Tex.), Michael Grimm (NY), Peter King (NY) and John Campbell (Calif.).

HR 2366 will begin its journey in Chairman Fred Upton's House Energy and Commerce Committee. Being a former chairman himself, Barton expects few problems at this early stage. John Campbell and Barney Frank, both of whom introduced online gambling bills of their own last year, gave Barton's bill their approval as well.

In a statement, Barton said that poker is well known as being all-American and a game of skill and strategy. He said that poker is a game that millions of Americans do play online and for this reason an iron-clad scheme is needed to ensure that people who play poker for money are protected. They need an honest system that is fair, so they can enjoy the benefits of any winnings they accrue. The bill is all about giving people their freedom to play what has repeatedly been proved a game of skill that they enjoy, lawfully.

Barton also said that while he does not gamble himself, he believes that freedom has nothing to do with legislating what he likes to do while making what he does not, illegal. Freedom is all about permitting responsible American adults do what they enjoy doing.

The bill includes setting up a new Commerce Department sector to oversee all state agencies that will be issuing licenses, called the Office of Internet Poker Oversight. It would permit individual states to opt out if they wish. It also sets the age limit for players at 21 while online gambling in all other forms remains illegal.

John Pappas, Poker Players Alliance executive director said that the language of HR 2366 has the makings of eventually becoming law. The PPA will do all they can to get more co-sponsors along with a committee hearing as well as a markup during the summer.