Many US online poker players are keeping watch over Washington D.C. tomorrow as Representative Barney Frank is planning on introducing a bill that may very well lead to the start of regulated online poker for the US. We will keep watch and report to you the progress that US poker players have been dreaming of since the un-ethical UIGEA was passed in 2006.

Similar legislation failed to make it in the last Congress. Frank said, [Supporters] “have been mobilizing,” he also went on to say in an interview last week. “This is a grassroots thing.”

The proposed legislation allows licensed gambling operators to accept online wagers from people in the U.S. Although it has never been a crime to play online poker, this bill makes a revision to  the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, that makes it a criminal offense for banks and other institutions to process financial transactions to be used for making illegal bets online.

Earlier this year, out going President Bush signed regulations implementing the law took effect in January, banks and other payment processors have until 12/01/09  to comply with the law or face possible criminal charges.

Las Vegas-based Harrah’s has registered to lobby for the first time and has spent over $405,000 from January to March in supporting  its in-house lobbyists. They have also hired veteran Democratic fundraiser Tony Podesta to assist in the cause.

As news emerges from Washington we will continue to keep you informed.

We urge you to register with the Poker Players Alliance and contact your representitives urging them to support this new bill and once again allow online poker players the right to enjoy online poker.

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