Last Gasp for Internet Gambling Legislation in 2010
Last Gasp for Internet Gambling Legislation in 2010
It is time for Internet gamblers in the United States to strike back and help Harry Reid pull the same trick that then-Senator Bill Frist pulled with Bob Goodlatte, Jon Kyle and others in 2006. For those who need a reminder, these Congressmen pushed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) through in a lame-duck session at the end of 2006 by attaching the bill to must pass legislation. At that time the must-pass bill was the SAFE Port Act. The Act was passed at midnight on the day Congress adjourned for the 2006 elections.
Now Senator Harry Reid from Nevada has a similar opportunity. He is looking to work new legislation into the end of this years' session in favor of Internet poker and opposing the aforementioned UIGEA. OSGA's own Hartley Henderson wrote a plea to Reid last week (It's Crunch Time for Online Gambling Regulation). Within 48 hours of Hartley's post there were various news reports that Reid may be turning the tables on the Republicans. In 2010 the Democrats are losing their power in the House of Representatives and this time around these lame ducks' could push through a Poker Bill and attach it to a must pass bill like the SAFE Port Act of 2006.
Any legislation introduced could be a real game-changer and has every bit as good a chance to get through as Frist's bill four years ago. This last-minute legislative effort gives voters who desire the freedom to play online a chance to stick it to the Republicans, whose sneaky tactics in 2006 still affect many of today's issues realted to online gambling payments. Get Involved, Act Today!
Please take the time to contact your Congressman and let them know to back any efforts by Harry Reid, Barney Frank and other to add in a late Internet gambling or UIGEA repeal bill. For those in Nevada Harry Reid can be reached at http://reid.senate.gov/ or toll-free at 1 (866) SEN-REID (736-7343).