Republicans Remove Online Gambling Language

August 27 - Ever since US Congress passed a bill in October 2006 that effectively banned online gambling throughout the United States, the country has come under fire by the online gambling industry for what it perceives as an unjust and 'freedom-limiting' action.

However, a move to repeal the draconian anti-online gambling bill may have been given new hope after the Republican Platform Committee - previously a staunch supporter of the ban - recently removed language supporting the prohibition of online gambling from its draft platform.

Anti-online gambling language was included in the last two Republican party platforms in 2003 and 2004, as well as ahead of this year's election. In a surprise move, however, it was removed ahead of next week's Republican National Committee meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Ironically, it is the Republicans who are now leading the opposition to bills currently in subcommittee that are seeking to clarify the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) and limit its scope.

This marks a small victory for many organisations in the US that have lobbied - ever since the ban was introduced - to legalize and regulate online gambling. The hope is for the US to emulate forward-thinking countries such as the UK that have formalized their online gambling industries.

One such organisation is the Poker Player's Alliance (PPA) that to date has accrued over one million members and has already spent over $1.2 million this year alone to lobby for the reversal of the anti-online gambling bill.

Said PPA Chairman, Alfonse D'Amato, 'This is a small victory in our determined effort to educate both sides of the aisle that there is a true constituency in America that values its online (Internet) freedoms.'

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