Public Opinion Fuels Internet Gambling Bill From Barney Frank

Representative Barney Frank has been one of the harshest critics of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act since legislators somehow squeezed the law into an unrelated border protection Bill back in 2006. Now, with the power shifting in the US, Frank is readying a Bill that would finally regulate the Internet gambling industry.

Frank revealed to the Financial Times that he will be offering up the new Bill within the next couple of weeks. He believes not only does he have the majority in both the House and the Senate, but also the knowledge that the public is behind his efforts.

The general publics reaction to the UIGEA has been similar to many of the other executive decisions made by the former administration. They did not approve, but they also did not have much of a say to do anything about it.

That has all changed now. Frank has been the people's representative on this issue for years, and changing the current laws will not be easy. Even many of his Democratic colleagues are do not agee with regulating Internet gambling. They will take some persuading.

Frank has cited in the past that stopping people from gambling in the comfort of their own homes with their own money is "infringing" on their freedom. That could be an easier sell for Frank than going the revenue route.

It is true that millions, if not billions, would be pumped into the economy in the US if Internet gambling is regulated by the government, but that is not Frank's angle.

The new Bill he introduces will center around Americans feeling that they should be able to gamble online if they are allowed to do so in a casino. It will be hard for anyone to argue against that point.

In addition to the new Bill, Frank also believes that the new administration will look at the last minute rules that were published for the UIGEA by lawmakers before former President George Bush left office.

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