iMEGA Fighting Feds On Online Gambling
iMEGA – Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association – a lobbying group for the legalization of online gambling in the United States, has decided to continue their fight against the government over the topic of online poker and other casino games. They filed a notice in the 3rd U.S. Court of Appeals challenging the dismissal of their lawsuit against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that was put into effect in 2006 and they are doing so with a vengeance. The act restricts any financial transaction that has to do with gambling online.
The challenge comes after a district court in New Jersey upheld the act, stating that the government’s ruling was proper and that gambling cannot be considered a form of ‘free speech’. This ruling actually helped iMEGA’s standing and enforced their legal right to initiate a lawsuit. This in itself is actually a small win for the whole online poker community. It is believed that any subsequent legal proceedings will bring the issue more visibility and hope for the online gambling set.
This is not the only gambling case currently sitting on court dockets across the United States. There was a hearing before the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology where Rep. Barney Frank, a Democrat from Massachusetts was planning on arguing his case for legalization of online gambling. Frank calls the UIGEA act ‘one of the stupidest things I ever saw’. He has proposed a bill that will shake the act right off its foundation if it’s passed. It would legalize and license Internet gambling in the United States.
Even the European Commission has joined the fight against the gambling act passed in 2006, stating that the actions of the American government has hurt them and the revenues that could have potentially been made from American players.
The global gambling industry has been affected by what they perceive as a hastily written law that was pushed through Congress without proper consideration. The law, which was passed at the last minute by President Bush, was attached to a bill that had absolutely nothing to do with online poker or casino games. It was attached to a bill to improve security at ports of entry into the United States - hidden some suggest so as not to arouse opposition.
Many online poker players who have suffered from the ramrod legislation have sarcastically started calling the law by its real name of the SAFE Port Act.
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admin :: Apr.17.2008 :: Gambling Info :: No Comments »