Barney Frank Says Opposition to Internet Gambling Ban Growing

Tony Batt of the Las Vegas Journal Review reported Thursday that although there may not be much support in Congress for Internet gambling, Rep. Barney Frank says resistance is growing against a ban passed late last year.

"I think a lot of members of Congress voted for that (ban) without having given it a lot of attention," Frank said Wednesday. "And I think that there is growing opposition to it," he said. "I think that this may be a case where, after the fact of having voted for it, people don't like it and they reconsider."

Frank is slated to introduce the new bill within the next two weeks.

And while Democrat Shelley Berkley and Republican Jon Porter, both of Nevada, will be unveiling their own legislation in the next two weeks that pertains exclusively to a one year study on internet gambling, Frank is looking to go further.

Frank told the Las Vegas Journal Review he may support the Nevadans' bill, but "I want to go beyond the study."

The Poker Players Alliance, represented by former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, R-N.Y., also may seek legislation that would exempt online poker from the ban.

Although he said it would be "premature" to discuss details of his bill, Frank explained why he has described the Internet gambling ban as one of the "stupidest" ever passed.

"Because I like to tell the truth," he said. "It has no valid public purpose in my judgment. It intrudes in people's private lives.

"One argument for it ... was this activity adds nothing to the GDP (gross domestic product). That's a chilling principle; that if something doesn't add to the gross domestic product we can ban it. That's a kind of ... corporatism that is very troubling to me."

The ban prohibits the use of credit cards or other bank instruments to pay for sports bets and gambling online. Before the ban, Internet gambling had become a $12 billion industry with more than 2,300 Web sites.

"But I know (lawmakers) are hearing from people who don't like it now. So I'd say the situation is very fluid," Frank said.

The online gambling industry is in the process of orchestrating a concerted attempt to support Mr. Frank. 

Gambling911.com learned that a meeting was being held between the Financial Services Committee and lobbyists regarding a strategy for the repeal efforts involving the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act this afternoon. 

The PPA is also heavily involved with talks among Washington politicians and other interests. 

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com

Originally published April 19, 2007 11:25 am ET