excerpt:

This week, Congressman Pete Sessions, a Republican from Texas, introduced HR 6663, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Clarification and Implementation Act. It’s a bill that attempts to clarify the vague language of the UIGEA by taking aim at the sports betting industry in the United States. Under HR 6663, the Attorney General of the United States would be instructed to focus his UIGEA enforcement efforts on halting this enormous moneymaker. HR 6663 is summed up by its Rule of Construction at the end of the document: “No provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed as clarifying or implying that Internet bets or wagers, other than sports bets or wagers, which were accepted subsequent to October 13, 2006, are in violation of Federal law.” It’s gotten mixed reviews from around the online poker world.

While HR 6663 may seem like a welcome sight for the online poker industry, its major lobbying group, the Poker Players Alliance, does not support Congressman Sessions’ legislation. PPA Chairman Alfonse D’Amato commented in a press release, “While we agree with several findings in the bill that correctly identify the illegality of sports wagering, the PPA remains concerned with the implication H.R. 6663 asserts in that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) has made Internet poker an unlawful activity that needs special protection from prosecution.” Executive Director John Pappas characterized the PPA’s stance as “not explicitly endorsing” HR 6663.

Jumping on the HR 6663 bandwagon with Sessions, the bill’s sponsor, are three original co-sponsors, all Democrats. They include Marion Berry (D-AR), Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL), and Bill Delahunt (D-MA). All three are at least five-term Congressmen from their respective districts. Calls to the press secretaries of these three Congressmen were not returned at press time.

Click here to read more:
Online Poker Scene – HR 6663 Focuses UIGEA on Sports Betting

Author Contact Info: Dan Cypra, PocketFives.com

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.