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On Wednesday in Washington DC, there was a Congressional hearing on Barney Frank's online poker bill that would put UIGEA in the history books and open the North American market in regulated form for licensed operators. While the two opposing sides couldn't agree on practically anything, at least there was no shortage of verbal sparring.
The hearing was held at the House Financial Committee headed by Dem. Barney Frank. Especially spicy was the debate between Rep. Spencer Bachus (pictured), who is one of the most outspoken opposers of online poker, and poker pro Annie Duke who was an invited panelist representing Poker Players Alliance. Bachus compared poker players to heroin addicts while two other speakers likened the bill to allowing South American drug cartels to run drugs legally into the USA. Annie Duke responded by saying these arguments sounded like something the tyrannical governments in China or Iran might come up with.
Bachus also brought up the cheating scandal on UB (UltimateBet), a site that Duke endorses. Duke answered that the scandal is a prime example on why there is a need for a regulated system.
Another point that the opposers brought up was minors and how they will be stopped from playing. Duke noted that European online poker sites have age verification systems that are more reliable than asking for ID at the entrance of a live casino. Barney Frank retorted by saying the opposers of gambling in general use children as a political ruse.
Perhaps the only real news was Rep. John Campbell's announcement that he will propose a stop-loss amendment to the bill meaning that customers wouldn't be able to lose more than they can afford. It was not clear whether this provision would be optional or mandatory. Also of interest was Dem. Brad Sherman's statement that he could support the legislation if the sites that are currently operating in the US market are punished and/or banned for "violating US law".
It is expected that Frank will bring his bill to the House Financial Committee vote in two weeks time. If the bill passes the committee, it will be taken to the House floor for debate.
Source: CardPlayer.
Very ironic name. Bacchus, (two C's) a Roman god known as Dionysus to the Greek was a god of wine and intoxication.
That's how I got into debt: not drinking, not drugs, not poker, but going to school and learning about Dionysus. Then watching interest accrue and paying my loans back in spades.
yeah, poker, poker, poker... but all the hot girls are shooting dice.
chilly king, i had a lot of respect for you to begin with ...but knowing about Bacchus & Dionysus pretty much makes you an all-star in my books!"
by gosh & by golly, both those blokes (and/or that great goofy guy) have been good buddies of mine for a long long time.
3Cheers....for whatever it's worth, not that it helps with tuition nor am i a hot girl shooting dice.
& at any rate, Good Luck, good sir, any which way about it, etc.
:d: :c: :h: :s: "...it's just like the titanic, but it's full of bears!"
Cheers to that man. I've been out of school for almost 4 years so, no tuition but I'm down to about 6k in (total) debt so I'm not bitter about it. just lil pissed thinking about the cash I could have had laying around.
yeah, poker, poker, poker... but all the hot girls are shooting dice.