Frank Calls For Support On HR 2046 (Update)

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House Financial Services Committee to hear statements on regulation of online gambling this Friday

Spokesmen for Congressman Barney Frank have again reminded the online gambling community that support for the Congressman's legislation seeking to regulate and license online gambling in the United States is important.

Kelly Larkin, the director of scheduling for Frank's House Financial Services Committee said that it could be "vital" for citizens who support the Congressman's proposal to contact their individual state political representatives to stress their support.

Frank's Bill HR 2046 the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, proposing regulation and licensing is scheduled for a hearing by the Committee mid-morning this Friday (June 8) as previously reported.

Larkin says that each call should be unique, explaining briefly how the sender feels. Emails should be original but brief and sincere. Larkin suggested that possible statements might cover the need to exclude problem or underage gamblers by regulating online gambling venues and insisting on adequate precautions as a prerequisite for a license in the USA. Opposition to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement and its inequalities may be another subject to address.

Exhaustive lists of US state representatives, together with full contact addresses are available at major portals such as Casinomeister.com and Casino Gambling Web.com.

Frank sent a letter to all congressmen this week explaining his bill, Larkin revealed, reiterating that voters calling before the meeting would be vital for getting representatives on board with regulation.

HR 2046 specifically aims to amend title 31, United States Code, by providing for the licensing of Internet gambling facilities by the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

The House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing entitled "Can Internet Gambling Be Effectively Regulated to Protect Consumers and the Payments System?" on Friday, June 8 at 10 a.m.

The witness list for the hearing includes Howard Lederer, a member of the Poker Players Alliance Board of Directors, and Radley Balko, senior editor of Reason Magazine. Both have expressed strong opposition to UIGEA's and are in favour of regulating Internet gambling in the U.S.

Gerald Kitchen, CEO of SecureTrading, a UK-based Internet payment service provider, and Jon Prideaux, chief executive of Asterion Payments, will also speak during the hearing. SecureTrading's Web site claims that it is able to "virtually eliminate risks such as underage gambling, money laundering and abuse by organized crime and fraud against consumers."

Baptist minister Greg Hogan may testify. Hogan's son was the subject of a 2005 high media profile criminal case and is currently serving a sentence of imprisonment in Pennsylvania.  He was found guilty of robbing a bank to pay off debts to his fraternity brothers who helped him fund Internet poker accounts.

The hearing will be the first Congressional discussion on Internet gambling since the UIGEA, which bans financial transactions with online gambling companies other than those "exempted" such as horse racing, state lotteries and fantasy sports, became law last October.