UIGEA pushed back six months

Poker News / Dave Allan / 26 November 2009 / Leave a comment

Barney Frank

Online poker players all over the world, especially in the United States of America, have something to celebrate, the delaying of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) from December 1 back until June 1 2010.

It will be announced on Friday 27 November that US Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner has granted the Poker Players' Alliance's (PPA) petition to delay the UIEGA for six month. The PPA and Congressman Barney Frank had requested for a delay of 12 month but this seems to be a welcomed compromise.

The UIGEA was due to come into force on December 1 when it would render any outgoing transaction from a US bank or financial institution to an online gambling site illegal. The legal uncertainty of the act is the main reason that many sites, including Betfair Poker, do not allow customers from the USA to use their services.

The delay gives Barney Frank a chance to push through his ow bill, known as HR2267. With 63 co-sponsors, HR2267 essentially outlines a framework which the US government can use to fully licence and regulated the entire internet gambling industry, revolutionising it some would say.

Congressman Frank, his colleagues and the PPA have a busy six months ahead of them to see if they can stop the USA prohibiting the amazing game we call poker. Frank will be wasting no time as he will be in room 218 of the Rayburn House Office Building at 1000 on Thursday 3 December where he will be meeting with fellow officials to outline his plans.

Betfair Poker will keep you up to date with any developments that may occur during the next 6 months.