Rep. Barney Frank said he may introduce legislation to reverse the Unlawful Enforcement Gambling Act, which went into effect last year to block U.S. players from online gambling. With the Democrats taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Frank ascending to the chairmanship of the House Financial Services Committee, anti-gaming laws may be in jeopardy.
Frank has been a longtime opponent of the restrictive legislation, which was generally supported by Republican lawmakers. "I guess people think gambling is tacky," Frank said in opposing the act. "They don't like it. Well, fine, then don't do it. But don't prohibit other individuals from engaging in it."
Frank indicated also that the legislation restricting gambling wouldn't be effective because it is too difficult to regulate.
The law bars U.S. credit card companies and banks from processing gambling bets. U.S. players have dominated online gambling activity and many have turned to alternate -- in some cases offshore -- methods to place their bets.
According to media reports, a member of Frank's staff said the congressman is in the "thinking stage" of drafting legislation that would in effect repeal the Unlawful Enforcement Gambling Act.