IGREA Gets 37th Co-Sponsor, Internet Gambling Bill Still Alive

On Monday, Congressman William Delahunt [MA-10], member of the House Judiciary Committee, House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, signed on to co-sponsor Chairman Barney Frank's bill H.R. 2046 to become the 37th Representative to join Frank in an effort to regulate Internet gambling and negate the effects of the UIGEA, which among other things, restricts individual personal freedoms.

The IGREA Initiative, which is the title of an informational package on Internet gambling issues in the United States, was delivered by Casino Gambling Web representatives to all members of Congress on behalf of all freedom loving Americans a week ago. It provided in depth information to lawmakers who were previously unaware of the scope and depth of harm the UIGEA has created.

The IGREA (Internet Gambling, Regulation, and Enforcement Act), addresses concerns of all those that oppose Internet gambling, and has within its definitions, provisions to protect underage gambling, safeguards to identify and protect problem gamblers, opt-out provisions for Sporting Leagues, Indian Tribes, and States wishing to not participate or allow such services.

The U.S. has been taken to task over the passing of the UIGEA, which is considered a prohibition in the states, by the small nation of Antigua & Barbuda via the World Trade Organization. Antigua has argued that the U.S. is denying foreign countries and businesses the right to compete with domestic companies that offer similar services, and as such, is in violation of Trade Agreements which are included in the GATS.

The WTO has agreed that the U.S. has in fact violated their trade agreements made in the Uruguay Round and is using protectionist measures to preclude foreign nations to offer this type of service. Citing that intrastate gambling is currently available and in use via horseracing, lotteries, and certain Indian Tribal facilities that are owned and operated and up and running at the time in the U.S.

The decision of the WTO was that the U.S. must come into compliance. Either allow foreign companies to compete, or deny U.S. companies that right. When they did not, several countries filed monetary claims against the U.S. which could amount to many billions of dollars annually.

The United States Trade Representative has made an offer to those countries affected for compensation, however, that offer is seen as no offer at all by the European Union, as what was being offered is also included in the current round of trade talks in the Doha round of negotiations. Effectively, the U.S. is doing nothing to resolve this situation, which could result in the country of Antigua suspending its trade obligations in other areas that mandate the protections of Trademarks, Copyrights, and Intellectual Patents.

If this is allowed to happen, many giant U.S. companies will suffer. The music, film, software, and pharmaceutical companies that hold rights to products and services are just a few of the industries that could be affected. All of them are at risk to legalized piracy which will cost the U.S. many billions of dollars in lost taxes, jobs, and growth.

According to Antigua attorney, Mark Mendel, Antigua is trying to do the right thing, they do not want to alter their commitments to safeguard products and services in these areas, however, the size of their country offers them no other option as trade restrictions against the U.S. will not even be noticeable in the U.S.

The U.S. could avoid all of this by simply allowing trade in Internet Gambling, which it has no specific laws against, other than the 1961 Wire Act which prohibits gambling on sports. The UIGEA prevents money transfers to foreign "illegal" gambling concerns. Yet nowhere in the UIGEA is a definition provided to define "Illegal offshore casinos".

"More lawmakers need to review the information that was provided to them titled 'The IGREA Initiative', and give an honest attempt to see how regulation could benefit society," said Casino Gambling Web's analyst, Gordon Price.

Since the UIGEA was put into law, reputable companies that were doing business in the U.S. in this area were forced out, and as a result, the 109th Congress "opened the door to abuse, underage gambling, and has caused a legitimate, self-regulated industry into the shadows. This modern day prohibition will have all of the ill-effects of exactly doing what conservatives were hoping to prevent," Price said.

Price also suggested that voting people of the United States should call, write, or fax support to Rep. Delahunt to thank him for signing on to co-sponsor bill H.R. 2046.

Congressman Delahunt can be reached at the following offices:

Washington, DC Office
2454 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-3111
Fax: (202) 225-5658

Cape and Islands Office
Congressman Bill Delahunt
146 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
(508) 771-0666
Toll-Free: (800) 870-2626
Fax: (508) 790-1959

South Shore Office
Congressman Bill Delahunt
1250 Hancock Street, Suite 802-N
Quincy, MA 02169
(617)-770-3700
Toll-Free: (800) 794-9911
Fax: (617) 770-2984

Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight
256 Ford House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
Phone: (202) 226-6434
Fax: (202) 226-4948

September 25, 2007
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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