IMEGA Claims Victories Within Defeat Of Online Gambling Ruling

Judging by the way that Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association Chairman Joe Brennan Jr. reacted after Tuesday's US Appeals Court ruling, one would think that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act had been overturned.

Brennan Jr. claimed victory even after the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia rejected IMEGA's arguments that the UIGEA violated privacy rights and was too vague to interpret.

"(The Justice Department) has been insisting there is a blanket ban on Internet gambling in the US, but the panel said state law is the determinant," said Brennan, as reported by The Associated Press, "If you go by that reasoning, if it's not illegal in the state, then it would not be a violation of federal law to process a transaction from a player there."

Currently, that would make it illegal to gamble online in only six states. Residents in the other forty-four states, according to Brennan, would be gambling legally online if they were to place an Internet bet.

Furthermore, after today's ruling, states such as California that are looking to expand Internet gambling, in the form of online poker, can now do so without having to worry about breaking any federal laws.

IMEGA has been busy at work the past couple of months. They not only had this appeal in the courts, but they also have joined the fight for legalized sports betting in New Jersey. New jersey Governor Jon Corzine is in favor of legalizing sports gambling in the state.

Today's ruling in Philadelphia could also possibly help Representative Barney Frank's attempt to overturn the UIGEA. Frank could argue that the UIGEA is a useless law if it only covers six out of fifty states.

Frank has already been receiving heavy support for eliminating the UIGEA. In addition to doing away with the ill-advised law, Frank also has proposed legislation that would regulate Internet gambling in the US.

September 2, 2009
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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