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As to be expected, sides are being picked in regards to the introduction of Barney Franks online casinos bill.  The highly anticipated bill sent shockwaves throughout the country and the gambling industry when it was introduced last week.  The bill is designed to give authority to the United States Treasury Department to regulate online casinos and Internet gambling in the United States.

Republicans, typically opposed to legal online casinos, are not very happy with Frank’s bill, partly because it will do away with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.  This largely flawed piece of legislation was rushed in to law when conservatives sandwiched it between the pages of a very important port security measure.

“Apparently, Rep. Frank believes that [Treasury Secretary] Timothy Geithner can do a better job at enforcing our nation’s criminal laws than the Department of Justice, which is scary considering [Geithner’s] track record on complying with the tax code,” said Republican Robert W. Goodlatte, taking a shot a Frank’s judgment.  Goodlatte was a supporter of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and does not like the idea of online casinos being explicitly legal.

One organization is in 100 percent support of Frank’s bill; that is the Poker Players Alliance.  The Poker Players Alliance formed a few years ago shortly after the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.  Today the organization is 1million members strong.  Last year the Poker Players Alliance established a political action committee.  The committee contributed a total of $43,553 to congressional campaigns.  Frank’s campaign received $4,950.

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