Internet Gambling: The Barney Frank Support Front

This week a few internet gambling website owners will be meeting to discuss plans to forge a "Barney Frank Support Initiative".  The process will need to be simple for the entire online gambling community to take part.

Barney Frank this week announced plans to repeal a law that severely curbs some forms of internet gambling.  In order for Frank to be successful, it is urgent that every operator, poker player, sports bettor, gambling portal website owner, casino player etc.. from all over the globe offer support. 

While gamblers outside the United States have been able to bet freely (with the exception of a few companies featuring similar laws to the States), the vast majority of online gambling firms have been financially strapped as a result of not being able to penetrate the US market.  Ultimately this hurts the gambling community in terms of trying to obtain the best market value and promotional offers.  Opening up the US market would also help to increase the number of payment processing options available (i.e. reduce fees through competition). 

But ultimately it is those individuals living in the United States that will need to show their support for Congressman Barney Frank.

This issue cross party lines.  While Frank may be a Democrat, his efforts are supported by some Republicans as well.  Among the more important allies to online gambling - though perhaps not directly to Mr. Frank's efforts - are Christopher Strow (R) Washington and Jim Kasper (R) North Dakota. 

"Yes, a Platinum Member of the Republican Presidential Task Force, which helps determine who the party will nominate for President, is supporting a gay Democrat's efforts!" joked one hard core Republican who is already on board to help with the Barney Frank support initiative.  "After 22 or so years of supporting, donating and raising millions of dollars for the party, I am still going to support Barney Frank's efforts."

A form letter would likely be the best way to go.  We are currently exploring the best ways of having such a letter sent to Mr. Frank's office and elsewhere if necessary via the Internet (as opposed to through the mail).  Those involved want to make this a simple "two minute" effort for all end users as a way of increasing the volume.  Once a final option is adapted, we would then work with all our close friends in the online gambling community to have the form letter accessed from their respective websites (with the option of customizing the letter).

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com

Originally published April 14, 2007 1:27 pm ET