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April 18, 2009 - So now that Congressman Barney Frank has finally laid out the bill which many believe is the one piece of legislation that stands a chance at overturning the UIGEA and regulating online gambling in the U.S. (actually, it is the only piece of legislation), I think it's nigh time I blogged about it. Sure, it's been a long time coming. But if you think about the nature of politics, now couldn't be a better time for Frank duce his bill to Congress.

With good'ol Bushy boy out of office, a new President who apparently enjoys a good game of poker, and the U.S. facing unprecedented economic challenges (unprecedented in the sense of how this muck started and will hopefully come to end), I couldn't think of a better time to overturn a pathetic attempt at banning online gambling and offering a more pragmatic and effective solution that will actually end up appeasing both liberals and conservatives. Need I mention the UK?

Sure, there will always be critics and nay-sayers. But with the UK now serving as a stellar example of how feasible it is to effectively regulate online gambling, Congressman Frank really couldn't have shaped a better hand. He took his time feeling out other members of Congress, urged pro online gambling constituents to make their voices heard, and foremost, did his research. It was nearly four years in the coming - but a very productive four years. I mean, we needed time to show how inpt the UIGEA would be anyways, right?

Why shouldn't Frank's legislation not get passed? Well, one of the arguments of posed recently by an opt-ed in DC politics rag mag "The Hill" was that Frank's is being introduced as a stand-alone bill, rather than as an attachment to a larger bill. Apparently, in U.S. politics, there is no limit to how deep you can bury a bill. Anybody for a filibuster? Just look at the UIGEA itself. By getting itself attached to a must-pass Port Security bill, you guessed it, it was passed - unbelievably unbeknownst to many politicians who voted for it.

While Frank could take the easy way out, like his new leader in chief, President Obama, Frank wants to do things the right way. Besides, he has every reason to. Having his confidence boosted by the fact that both conservatives and liberals are highly disappointed with the UIGEA, as well as the knowledge that more politicians have been properly schooled on the feasibility and merits of regulating online casinos, Frank knows that stand-alone legislation will pack more of a punch with politicians who want things done the right way.

With stringent guidelines protecting the vulnerable and underage, this is a bill that conservatives can root for. Promising billions in badly needed taxes, this is a bill that liberals and conservatives can root for. Whether U.S. online gamblers root for it will depend on their State of residence. That's right - this isn't regulation on a federal level. The bill gives each State the choice of regulating online gambling or not. While some certainly will, there will be some State's who don't. But at least it's a start. If it proves successful in those States who choose to regulate from the get go, such as Nevada, whose land-based casino operators are now begging to get online as they endure one of the worst profit losing streaks ever, other States will be sure to follow. Boom ya.

Originally published: April, 2009 | Categories: Gambling