The evidence keeps mounting that Capitol Hill is going to address the issue of internet gambling head-on. Recently, a column from noted libertarian politician Bob Barr suggested that legislation clarifying the legal standing of internet gambling is on the horizon.
On Monday, Barr published the latest installment of “The Barr Code,” his weekly column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The entry, entitled “Get ready to ante up to Congress,” predicted that Congressman Barney Frank‘s (D-MA) Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (HR 2267) would be heard in Congress sometime this fall. Barr pointed out that in addition to Frank’s bill, which seeks to reverse the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and implement a government-run system to tax and license online gaming venues, there are at least two other pieces of legislation designed to reverse the actions of the UIGEA. In addition to Frank’s aforementioned bill, Frank also authored the Reasonable Prudence in Regulation Act, (HR 2266) which, if passed, would delay the December compliance date for U.S. financial institutions to meet UIGEA standards by one year.
Barr went on to discuss one of the major causes behind the growing support for regulated online gambling: the economy. When discussing the possible hearings on the Frank bill, Barr noted, “It is likely that testimony in support of the legislation will be based as much on economics as on the principle that individuals should be able to gamble online if they want to.” The former Presidential candidate then went on to add what many online gambling supporters have been saying for some time: “The economics of taxing Internet gambling are indeed impressive.”
According to Barr’s calculations, which are based on a PricewaterhouseCoopers study, the U.S. Government stands to gain $51 billion during the first decade online casinos are in operation, a sum that has many in Washington suddenly taking interest in the issue. Even some of the traditional opponents of online gambling, like brick-and-mortar casinos, are coming onboard. Barr cited Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Executive Director John Pappas when discussing the growing support from these land-based institutions. Pappas pointed out that in countries in which online gambling has a less murky legal standing, many players take their gambling interests into nearby casinos as well.
The piece concluded with a reminder that even though there are a growing number of converts to the pro-online gambling movement, those who morally oppose gambling and institutions like the National Football League will continue to fight in opposition. However, considering the country’s economic situation, Barr warned those who oppose internet gambling that the fight would only be getting tougher in the coming months.
Here is the conclusion of his article: “Moralists and business that see online gambling as competition can be expected to continue to oppose efforts to resuscitate the Internet gambling industry. The poor economy and profligate government spending may have become their most serious adversaries.”
A former Republican, Barr ran for President in 2008 on the Libertarian ticket along with Vice Presidential candidate Wayne Allyn Root. A former sports handicapper, Root made appearances at last year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) to promote the ticket’s pro-online gambling stance.
