Online US legislation stalled

Speaking this week, Frank said that his Bill to overturn the UIGEA has stalled although pressure from foreign countries could revive the legislation. He said that pressure brought on the Bush administration by the World Trade Organization along with compensation claims from the European Union could offer a significant boost to his legislation becoming a reality.

He also revealed that no further action is planned this year after Congressional hearings three months ago. 'It's not dead,” said Frank. “It's not very active. It depends on whether or not there's support. I don't think there's support for it yet. It's growing.'

There are currently 36 political co-sponsors for Frank's IGREA but this number falls well short of a significant movement to legalize and regulate online gambling in the United States.

Another measure, a proposed one-year study into online gambling by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, has also stalled and is awaiting more support.

Proposed by Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkely, she stated that the study has attracted 64 co-sponsors but it does not have enough momentum for it to be heard this year and she is waiting on Representative John Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to introduce his own version of a bill to study Internet gambling, something he tried to do unsuccessfully in 2002 and 2003.