A bill was proposed Thursday by a senior House Democrat, which aims to lift the ban in the United States over online gambling.
Barney Frank of Massachusetts, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced a bill to make it legal again for credit card companiesand banks to make payments to online gambling sites.
Frank said the law preventing the use of credit cards to gamble online “is an inappropriate interference on the personal freedom of Americans, and this interference should be undone.” He also referred to the ban as “one of the stupidest things I ever saw.”
According to Frank, since traditional forms of legal gambling exist in nearly every state the ban on online gambling leaves Americans who choose to play online “without meaningful consumer protections.” The bill intends to ensure and safeguard that online gamblers are at least 18 years old and live in a state that permits online gambling, while preventing fraud and compulsive gambling.
The new bill faces trouble as Frank acknowledged that the Democratic leadership of the House would probably not support his legislation and the Bush administration is also expected to oppose it.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was signed into law in October 2006 by President George W. Bush. It had won support from majorities of both Republicans and Democrats.
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