Online Gambling, HR 2046 Support and Opposition
As HR 2046 is gaining support in congress, the American National Football League is showing a keen interest in the regulation of online gambling. According to the Financial Times, the NFL has "... enlisted the support of the Christian right to help drum up opposition" to the regulation act. It appears that the NFL is not pleased with the existing exceptions that apply to fantasy football.
Bill Wichterman, a top lobbyist and advisor in the political realm, has been encouraging conservative groups to co-sign a letter sent by the Christian Political Watch Group Focus on the Family to the US politicians, in an effort to uphold and strengthen the unpopular UIGEA. Wichterman was an advisor to former majority leader Bill Frist when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act went through during a late night session of Congress in October of last year. Now he is the point man for the conservative groups trying to support the measure.
In support of HR 2046 the New York Post covered the issue with an article written by two house representatives. Democrat Steve Israel and Republican Peter King co wrote the article ‘Web Gambling - tax it, don't ban it." this was published over the weekend. The article observes that the US Treasury department is responsible for a number of law enforcement jobs, including protecting the president, investigating counterfeit money, tracking terrorist financing and much more. It later notes that in recent days, due to a "legislative ‘rider' passed last year", Congress has told Treasury officials to spend their valuable resources perusing something extremely trivial individuals who enjoyed playing cards on a computer at home. "Frankly, federal law enforcement officials have bigger fish to fry," the article comments and then continues "Years ago, the Treasury's Secret Service agents used to help President Harry Truman put poker games together in the White House. Now they'd be locking him up!"
With both opposition and support growing from both sides of the political aisle the final vote on the matter is far from over. Cases are coming up against states laws of similar impact, challenging the foundation of the UIGEA, as well as the free trade agreements being hindered by the choice to close the online gambling. Other countries have found success in the regulation and taxation of the industry, and still some fight against the growth that is immense and difficult to close out of any boarders. How the final vote turns out regarding the regulation has yet to be seen, but is eagerly anticipated.