Online Gaming Bill introduced in America on 17th March 2011

The Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act was introduced in the House of Representatives last Thursday 17th March 2011 by Congressman John Campbell.  

This bill is very similar to the one that was passed last July 2010, in that it would establish a federal regulatory and enforcement framework under which online gaming operators would be able to obtain licenses authorising them to accept bets and wagers from individuals in the United States.

The proposed legislation can be seen as a response to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006, in that it increases the amount of protection related to consumers.

This proposed bill, which licenses and regulates online gambling, requires licensees to take appropriate measures to prevent fraud and money laundering and also caters for the “implementation of new technologies to prevent underage play and problem gambler abuse”.

Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato stated, “Given that millions of Americans currently play online poker, states across the country are recognising the value in licensing and regulating the game and many are introducing their own laws to allow for residents to play in a safe, regulated market while collecting millions in tax revenues. However, instead of a patchwork of state laws limiting the pool of players against whom residents can play and serving to only protect the Americans in those states, the time is now for Congress to step up and pass Federal legislation, like the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, that allows the entire country to benefit.”