Online casinos must now wait after gambling debate delay in US

The Committee head, Representative Barney Frank, introduced legislation that would have put an end to the Unlawful Internet gambling Enforcement Act. The bill, HR 2267, also would have laid the groundwork for legalized and regulated Internet gambling in the US.

That legislation has now been delayed thanks to the more pressing issues the Committee is dealing with. It appears now, according to the Poker Players Alliance, that the Bill will not be discussed until September at the earliest.

This is bad news for online casinos that have been positioning themselves to make a move back into the US market. Several big gaming companies have settled cases with the US in hopes of returning once the current laws are changed.

Representative Frank has received growing support for his online gambling legislation. To date, he has thirty-five co-sponsors for the Bill. The remarkable part of the co-sponsors is that they are from both sides of the aisle.

Lawmakers are understanding that the public wants the right to gamble online. Many of these lawmakers have swapped positions since they voted the UIGEA into law, while others who had a minimal opinion now believe legalized online gambling is necessary in the US.