Special Hearing for HR 2267 Held - 12-05-09 |
December 5 - A special hearing was held through the House Financial Services
Committee on Thursday as a means to bring forward information about Barney
Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of
2009 (aka HR 2267).
The HR 2267 hearing showcased how it was not only possible but also
imperative to introduce a regulated online gambling industry in the United
States.
Speakers on the subject included Barney Frank himself; Parry Aftab of
WiredSafety, and internet safety and help group; Professor Malcolm Sparrow who
penned the Harvard study "Can Internet Gambling be Effectively Regulated?
Managing the Risks", as well as the chairman of Youbet.com, Michael Brodsky.
"The status quo offers no meaningful assurances that consumers will be
protected," said Parry Aftab. "There are a number of technologies routinely used
in other industries that are easily adaptable to online gambling sites. They are
real, proven and in use today. They are also improving by the minute."
Dr. Sparrow, who served as a Detective Chief Inspector with the British
Police for many years said: "At a minimum, even an imperfect legalization and
regulatory regime for online gambling would give Americans much more protection
than they have now."
Republican Representative Spencer Bachus quite predictably presented an anti
online gambling view and dramatically produced a letter from the Federal Bureau
of Investigations stating that collusion is possible at online gambling sites,
adding that little was done to counter the problem.
The Poker Players Alliance immediately reacted to these claims, saying that:
"The largest poker sites all use software to detect collusion. If a site is
subjected to allegations that players are cheating, few players will play at
that site."
"Every concern that the letter raises is better addressed by licensing and
regulation than by prohibition," said John Pappas of the PPA. "The letter
misconstrues much about the current state of online poker, but it does so in a
way that clearly makes the case for why federal oversight is necessary."
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