Former FBI Director Joins Grassroots Effort to Legalize Online Poker

In addition to the former Republican Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, the newly formed grassroots organization FairPlayUSA to legalize online poker has also brought on board former FBI Director Louis Freech.

"Current federal laws fail to provide U.S. law enforcement vital tools to address illegal internet gambling, enabling a 'wild-west' atmosphere," said Former FBI Director Louis Freeh in a statement issued on Tuesday. "I am joining FairPlayUSA to improve this environment by clarifying these laws, better empowering law enforcement agencies to crack down on violators and using licensing and regulation to ensure safe and legal online poker."

"States and tribes have rights that must be protected by authorizing them to decide for themselves whether to accept or prohibit online poker and make use of sophisticated technologies already in use in other industries to enforce those decisions," said former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.

FairPlayUSA is a coalition of law enforcement officials, consumer protection experts, poker players and others.  The group admits to receiving a hefty cash infusion from some of the big name Las Vegas casino companies.

Current legislation has hampered the online horse racing and state lottery industries operating in the US today, which were exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed in 2006, by making it difficult for consumers to use credit cards for funding betting accounts.  Banks are authorized to prohibit such transactions when they become known and do not differentiate between the so-called “legal” and “illegal” companies that cater to US citizens today. 

- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher