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Representative Barney Frank, the chairman of the House of Representatives' Financial Services Committee and author of H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, says that it is unlikely that legislation for regulation of online gambling will pass during the current session of congress.
Although H.R. 2267 has cleared the Financial Services Committee, Frank told reporters that the bill is not likely to see any action before Congressional elections in November.
"I'm not optimistic and I do not have a commitment from the Democratic House Leadership that they would move this bill along before the traditional ‘lame-duck session'," Frank told The Hill a publication that follows Congress.
Every other year following the elections Congress meets up to consider various items of business this session is called a ‘lame duck' session because the lawmakers who return for the session will not be the same ones who return in the next congress. The fact that the bill is unlikely to see a floor vote prior to the elections makes it highly unlikely that the bill will be passed any time this year.
There is still a slight chance that the HR 2267 could be piggy backed on to another bill (added to the end of a bill that is certain to pass much like the UIGEA) especially if the bill introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott makes it out of the House of Ways and Means Committee but with elections fast approaching it is unlikely. Looks like gambling fans will just have to wait and see if the new congress is any more willing to push for legislation.
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