Rep. Barney Frank’s bill H.R. 2267, will most likely be up for a committee vote in the month of February.

Frank is one of the most powerful members of Congress and the chair of House Financial Services Committee. The bill, which he introduced in May of last year, allows the federal government to license and regulate online poker rooms and casinos within the United States.

Gambling advocates are especially excited about the news, seeing that this would be the first time any bill regarding the licensure and regulation of online poker or online gambling, for that matter, would be brought to a vote.

"We expect within a few short weeks, most likely in the month of February, there will be a committee vote on this legislation," said John Pappas, President of the Poker Players Alliance. "This is a very critical and important for vote for the Poker Players Alliance, as well as the poker community, and we need everyone to step up and make sure that their voices are heard."

Frank held a hearing on the bill last month but the committee vote was not taken.

Miss B says: The passage of this legislation would definitely prompt to a major boom within the industry. Things look good. There’s no reason for Congress to vote against Frank’s bill. Current prohibitions on online gambling are ambiguous and if the government does regulate online gambling, studies project the government will generate an estimated $42 billion within the next 10 years. So it would be wise of congress to pass H.R. 2267.