Poker Players Alliance Praises Proposed Online Gambling Legislation

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide, today praised House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) for
Poker Players Alliance  introducing the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act and called for its speedy consideration. The legislation establishes the needed licensing and regulatory framework for the United States to exercise appropriate control and oversight over Internet poker and other forms of Internet gaming.

"Online poker is a legal, thriving industry and poker players deserve the consumer protections and the freedom to play that are provided for in this legislation," PPA Chairman and former Senator Alfonse D'Amato said. "We are grateful for Chairman Frank's leadership and will be activating our grassroots army made up of over one million members to help him drive legislation."

Chairman Frank's legislation addresses the need for licensing and regulation of online poker, ensuring the original objectives of the proponents of the overly vague Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are met. By using the most modern technologies and regulatory authority, this bill goes further than UIGEA to keep children and problem gamblers off these sites, at the same time allowing for strong consumer protections for adult consumers who enjoy this recreational activity. Additionally, licensing and regulation presents an avenue for companies to return to the U.S., providing the economy with much needed jobs and tax revenue.

Key provisions of the bill include:

Thorough vetting of potential licensees;

Mandatory implementation of technologies to protect against underage gambling and to monitor and detect individuals with excessive gaming habits;

High standards to thwart fraud and abuse of customers;

Regulation to prevent money laundering;

Processes to prevent tax avoidance.