<img src="http://admins.liquidpoker.net/user_pictures/8b7ec8c7100874a09fe32d0e66a04242.jpg" align="right" style="margin:5px; border:1px solid black;">Another step towards the regulation of online poker was taken in the United States. The House Financial Services Committee met on Wednesday for a markup for the bill H.R. 2267, proposed by Rep. Frank Barney. The bill is known as the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. It legalizes and creates a regulatory structure for the internet gambling industry in the USA. This will be done by providing licensing of Internet gambling activities by the Secretary of the Treasury. H.R. 2267 is one of two poker-related bills proposed by Rep. Frank Barney, who has been a fierce supporter of online gaming.
After a hearing that lasted roughly six hours, the bill was passed by a vote of 41-22. Some amendments were proposed and voted on by the present representatives. A number of amendments were accepted, most of them welcomed by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA). Although there were a couple amendments who raises concerns about the future of sites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker in the USA. The amendments prohibits sites which have intentionally violated internet gaming laws from getting a license. The aforementioned sites accepted players from the USA on their respective poker rooms after the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act) was passed.
The next step for H.R. 2267 is to be sent to the House of Representatives for another voting and deliberation, and possibly more amendments. Should it pass, other voting will take place in the Senate, and then it would be signed into law by the President. The PPA made the following statement: “There is still much work to be done and areas of policy in this bill that must still be addressed. [...] The PPA will work with House and Senate lawmakers to ensure that the final legislation produces the best regulated online gaming environment for the consumer.”
"This is a great day not only for poker players, but for proponents of Internet freedom and individual liberty," said Alfonse D'Amato, chairman of the PPA. "We thank Chairman Frank for his leadership on this bill, and look forward to working with him to bring this bill through the legislative process."
Read a summary of Rep. Frank Barney's bill, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consusmer Protection and Enforcement Act. The committee vote and all the amendments can be found here
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