Next Up Online Gambling: Markup Hearing Resumes

Over the last week, the United States Congress has taken real steps toward the passage of gambling legislation that would undo the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank’s Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (HR 2267) is currently being tweaked in a markup hearing on Wednesday morning after long discussions on other bills Tuesday pushed HR 2267′s markup to today.

Early on in the proceedings Representative Peter King of New York, a co-sponsor of HR 2267, proposed a sports gambling amendment to clear up the idea the bill would allow betting on sporting events. King’s amendment effectively bans Internet betting on sporting events, like NFL football games.

The NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA and Major League Baseball have pumped millions into lobbying against HR 2267.

Although Chairman Frank supports the amendment, his sarcastic tone was evident in his remarks.

The bill sponsor implied the ridiculousness of the NFL’s stance that wagering on their games does not exist in the U.S. and that HR 2267 would somehow introduce betting on football games.

As the hearing pushes on, they expect to break for lunch around 11Am and then continue on this afternoon.