Online Gambling Bill Moves One Step Closer
The long battle isn’t over, but Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has cause to celebrate a big Wednesday success.
Frank’s online gambling bill was approved in the House Financial Services Committee on a 41-22-1 vote.
Frank’s bill is called the Internet Gambling Regulation and Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act and it seeks to alter United States law that prohibits U.S. citizens from gambling in real money games online. Residents currently have to gamble online at sites that are run by offshore companies.
The passage of the bill in the house committee is seen as a huge success and a step toward overall approval of the bill.
“The Committee’s bi-partisan vote to approve Frank’s legislation is nothing short of historic,” said Michael Waxman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. “With Congress bitterly divided and only a handful of bi-partisan bills coming out of the Financial Services Committee, we’re pleased Committee members from both sides of the aisle were able to come together to advance this important legislation.”
Though many oppose online casinos, Frank has, until now, successfully made the argument that Americans should have the right to make choices for themselves about what they do when in their homes and when playing with their own money.
Several states are also considering bills that will allow legal online gambling in those specific states.
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