Barney Frank is the chief author of HR 2267

While last week’s hearing on Rep. Barney Frank’s (D-MA) HR 2267 was all talk, this week the legislation saw some action as it was marked up and passed in the House Financial Services Committee by a margin of 41-22-1. The legislation, which is designed to implement regulation and licensing of online poker rooms in the United States, is now one step closer to being signed into law.

HR 2267, also known as the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, underwent a full markup by the Committee on Wednesday, including the introduction and inclusion of several amendments to the bill. The amendments ranged from prohibiting credit card deposits on online poker rooms to implementing loss limits to refusing licenses to those who have previously violated American gambling laws. An amendment exempting intrastate tribal and state-run gambling from the licensing process was included in the bill as well.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) introduced the amendment that would ban sites which knowingly and willfully broke online gaming laws in the wake of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). While the precise definition of what constitutes “illegal online gambling” has been unclear ever since the UIGEA was passed in 2006, most within the industry believe this amendment could have a profound impact on sites like PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and UB Poker, all of which have continued to serve US customers following the passage of the UIGEA. The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) sees things differently and alluded to that fact in an official statement released Wednesday.

While only time will tell how the bill will impact US-serving sites, the amendment seemingly bodes well for land-based US casinos and sites like PartyPoker, who withdrew from the US in 2006 and have since made extensive efforts to work with the US Department of Justice in the past few years. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) proposed a similar amendment with harsher language and penalties that was voted down by the Committee.

The poker community was quick to respond to news of the passage of HR 2677. “The fact is, online poker is not going away. Congress has a choice – it can license and regulate it to provide government oversight and consumer protections, or our lawmakers can stick their heads in the sand, ignore it, and leave consumers to play on non-U.S. regulated websites in all 50 states,” said Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the Poker Players Alliance. “I’m glad the Financial Services Committee today overwhelmingly chose to act and protect Americans as well as preserve the fundamental freedoms of adults and the Internet.”

The next step for HR 2267 is the floor of the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, HR 2267’s companion piece of legislation, Rep. James McDermott’s (D-WA) HR 2268, is still waiting to be debated and marked up by the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill, also known as the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act, aims to tax regulated and licensed online gambling sites.

Keep checking in with BLUFFMagazine.com for more breaking news on HR 2267 and other major poker-related legislation.

Related posts:

1. House Committee to Work on Suspending UIGEA Monday, June 24, could be a big day for the...
2. Chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee Endorses U.S. Regulation of Internet Gambling Congressman George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Democratic Policy...
3. House Online Gambling Hearing Features Annie Duke Duke testified during Wednesday's hearing After a summer with...
4. Supporters Weigh In on Congress HR 4796 House Ways & Means Hearing Rep. Barney Frank is one of online poker's strongest...
5. Rep. Frank to Introduce Stand-Alone Pro-Gaming Bill in April In February of 2009, Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) made it...