Frist still Pushing for Online Gambling Ban
5 Oct 2006
Earlier in September the "phone march" held and sponsored by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) boasted great success. Over 3000 phone calls were received in the offices of US senators in Washington. The "phone march" was held to protest the online gambling ban passed by the House of Representatives in July. Despite the large protest, Bill Frist, Senate Majority Leader and supporter of the online gambling ban, continues to push ahead to push some form of an online gambling ban in the senate.
The Online gambling ban [Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (H.R. 4411)] succeeded in it's aims to disallow payments to online gambling companies from banks and from credit card companies. The PPA decided to protest the online gambling ban by phoning in to the offices of senators. The president of the PPA, Michael Bolcerek, said that the march succeeded in sending a message to the Senate that "Americans are passionate about their ability to play the popular game of skill on the Internet." In addition he remarked that congress cannot disregard the wide support for online gambling and the freedom of citizens to use the internet.
Not many senators are as enthusiastic as Frist about the online gambling ban, who is said to be attempting to attach the online gambling ban to a defense bill. Frist, who is looking towards the 2008 Republican nomination for the presidential race, has mentioned the importance of the online gambling ban to his legislative agenda. The PPA is encouraging the senate to allow online poker to continue under an appropriate system of regulation, security and safety.
