Update on the US Gambling Legislation from Barney Frank

**Moderator**

Update on the US Gambling Legislation from Barney Frank

The history of online gambling is not that long in the US. There were many problems regarding to legalization. Some of the sites are not having any kinds of regulations. Illegal online gambling is widespread and it is growing day by day. There are billions of dollars in this illegal business; it is prohibited by the law and local government. There were and there still are troubles including the legalization of online gambling, that is why there are many agencies, companies and people fighting for it.

One of the people fighting for US online gambling legalization is Congressman Barney Frank. He is the one wanting to transform this underground business in something legal fighting for those people’s interests who want to have fun by playing in online casinos without being punished by the authorities. The only legalized online gambling activity in the US is betting on horse races; Barney Frank is fighting to legalize all gambling activities, this way also revenue could be provided in today’s difficult economical situation. In order to reverse the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), he put together a legislation that could set down the milestone for the regulation of the online gambling industry in the US.

Frank sponsored two separate Bills that could facilitate the route of the legalization. A framework for federal reinforcement would be established where Internet gambling operators could get licensing in order to operate in the US. This conception can be found in the first Bill, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act of 2009. The other Bill is the Reasonable Prudence in Regulation Act.

According to this regulation and legalization Bill illegal online gambling, money fraud and laundering, underground business would disappear, underage gambling would be prevented. Congressman Barney Frank is trying to persuade those in the opposite crew, that legalizing online gambling is a benefit for the US, and could bring a lot to the states.

People should have the opportunity to gamble legally, after all they have to decide what is good for them, and as they have the right to a home, to a spare time, they should have the right to spend it as they want to.