With a looming deadline of December 1 fast approaching for banks and online payment processors to comply with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), the Federal Reserve and Department of Treasury of the United States of America announced a 6-month delay in the mandatory enforcement of the law.
Thus, while the law still exists, its enforcement has been delayed until June 1, 2010, in order to give banks and payment processors more time to comply.
The Poker Players Alliance (
www.theppa.org), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the American Greyhound Track Operators Association originally filed the petition to delay the enactment of UIGEA.
"The delay of the UIGEA regulations is just the first step," said PPA Executive Director John Pappas. "The poker community now has the opportunity to push Congress to action on legislation that will correct the UIGEA and provide for us a regulated marketplace. This means that poker players need to make their voices heard. The PPA makes it very easy to call or email your member of Congress. Simply go to our website,
www.theppa.org and click on "write your lawmaker." With the holidays approaching, members of Congress will be in their hometowns. Take a moment to find out if your representative or Senator will be making public appearances, seek them out and tell them that you want them to support your right to play poker on the internet."
The law, attached to a Port Bill during the Bush Administration in 2006, was intent on forbidding the processing of financial transactions of online gambling sites.
The effect of UIGEA on poker players has been significant since the 2006 law. The vaguely written law has led companies out of the United States, and as such, plenty of uncertainty has ensued, including poker players having a hard time withdrawing money from their online poker accounts.
When asked if the 6 month deadline is enough, Pappas said: "If we can demonstrate real progress on the legislative front, then we will have a very strong argument to make for a further delay."
Currently, two bills have been drafted that would support a U.S. legalization of some forms of online gaming, with oversight by the U.S. government, as well as taxation and regulation.
The House Services Financial Committee of the United States will hold a hearing on Senator Barney Frank's bill (H.R. 2267) on Thursday, December 3.