Anti-gambling groups are happy the UIGEA implementation will take effect June 1st, but legislation rendering the net casino ban moot is making slow progress and will give Internet gambling operators the last laugh.

The battle over implementation of the UIGEA will end tomorrow as compliance to the controversial law becomes required of economic institutions, however the war over regulation of online casinos continues. Even supposing payments and deposits at online gambling sites become tougher for operators, lawmakers comparable to Barney Frank continue down a slow road which can hopefully result in greater feedom for US residents, including the fitting to select entertainment like Internet gambling.

The UIGEA becomes effective after a six-month delay imposed by the Treasury after several bipartisan appeals, including a letter from all of the Kentucky legislative delegation, to suspend the problematic law until legislative review could correct the difficulties inherent within the measure. But Senator Jon Kyl, an impressive figure obsessive about preventing Internet gaming, maliciously blocked needed Treasury confirmations to secure an agreement that the UIGEA wouldn't sufer another delay.

Frank has introduced a bill to control online gambling, and effectively repeal the UIGEA. However, the financial crisis has occupied his Financial Services Committee, placing the review of the net casino bill at the backburner.

Frank even had a companion bill designed to offer a year suspension of the UIGEA to permit time for the legislative process to inspect the regulatory measure, but, ironically, the bill delaying implementation has not yet been heard.

However, growing forces on all sides of the political aisle are demanding regulation for online gambling instead of supporting the ban attempt. Republicans whose support for the UIGEA was assumed by Kyl and other anti-gaming types has been reviewing the idea that in a brand new light, as Tea Party groups cry for less government interference and more respect for liberty.

Even though implementation of the UIGEA means the measure turns into more entrenched, the slow progression of legislation by Frank, in addition to by Representative Jim McDermott and including the Gregg-Wyden tax reform act, may indicate that losing the battle hardly means losing the war.

Published on May 31, 2010 by JoshuaMcCarthy

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