US opposition grows

We all know that internet poker is banned in the US, but the word on the street is that it will soon return, and indications are good, with the moves of some poker operators, including Doyles Room, to re-enter the marketplace.

It seems US players may soon be one again able to log on and play online poker with the rest of the world.

There is without doubt a growing and organised opposition to the ban, and recent devleopments in Washington DC mean things could change.

Top experts have testified before the House Committee on the Judiciary and called for the US to reverse it policies related to Internet gambling, arguing the prohibition of Internet gambling activities, the approach most recently undertaken in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), violates the American principles of personal freedom and individual liberty.

The experts explained how the ban on Internet gambling violates U.S. treaty obligations with other countries and exposes U.S. businesses to potential criminal retaliation overseas. Additionally, Internet verification software technology was described that successfully protects against underage and compulsive gambling, further eliminating the rationale for banning online gambling activity.

"Today’s hearing made clear the arguments why Congress needs to reverse its current policies related to Internet gambling," said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative.

Expert testimony at the hearing was provided by Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV), professional poker player Annie Duke, New York University Law School professor Joseph Weiler and Michael Colopy, a representative of Aristotle Inc., a leading provider of verification services for child protection online.

Professional player Annie Duke testified that Americans deserve the right to determine whether to gamble online without government intrusion.

"What’s at stake here is the right of individual Americans to do what they want in the privacy of their homes without the intrusion of the government," said Duke.

"This country was among the first to embrace the idea that there should be distinct limits on the ability of the government to control or direct the private affairs of its citizens. More than any other value, America is supposed to be about freedom. Except where one’s actions directly harm another person’s life, liberty or property, our government is supposed to leave citizenry alone. Examples of Congress straying from this principle are legion, but few are as egregious as The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006."

Joseph Weiler, a professor of law at the New York University School of Law and an expert in the law of the WTO, provided testimony that the U.S. is in violation of its WTO trade agreements around Internet gambling and should seek to bring itself into compliance.

Michael Colopy, a representative of Aristotle Inc., a leading provider of verification services for child protection online, provided testimony on the opportunity to use technology and controls available on the Internet to combat compulsive and underage gambling.

"Online age and ID verification has matured as a needed solution such that any merchant may do online what is routinely done at stores every day across America," said Colopy. "In fact, as ever more efficient technologies and databases have been developed, online transactions have become in many instances faster and less risky than the visual driver’s license scans that suffice for alcohol or cigarette purchases in America’s neighborhood convenience stores, restaurants and bars."

Colopy added that a self-exclusion list program is an example of a solution to keep compulsive gamblers from wagering online. "A central self-exclusion list program (SEL) has been under development over the last several months and is now deployed. Through the SEL, individuals will be able to put their own names on a confidential list of those who do not wish to be solicited or allowed to open an account with a casino."

Here’s hoping that this coherent and well-reasoned initiative will make the US government see sense.