Harry Reid folds - no Internet poker legislation in U.S. this year

[The Buzz]

According to ESPN.com's Andrew Feldman, Harry Reid has abandoned his plan to attach a bill to regulate Internet poker in the United States during the lame duck session of Congress.

"We are disappointed that Congress failed to act and provide the necessary consumer protections and sensible oversight over this multi-billion dollar industry," John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, wrote in an e-mail to ESPN.com. "Sadly, some politicians remain with their heads firmly in the sand. The leadership of the Poker Players Alliance got the debate this far and we are determined to see this through."

Full story here: http://espn.go.com/sports/fantasy/bl...ine-poker-2010

[The Buzz]

ESPN's Andrew Feldman, one of the most prominent poker writers in the U.S., wrote last night that sources have told him Harry Reid's attempts to pass online poker legislation in the lame-duck session of Congress have failed.

John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, wrote an e-mail to ESPN.com explaining his disappointment the bill was dead.

From ESPN.com:

"We are disappointed that Congress failed to act and provide the necessary consumer protections and sensible oversight over this multi-billion dollar industry...Sadly, some politicians remain with their heads firmly in the sand. The leadership of the Poker Players Alliance got the debate this far and we are determined to see this through."

[wagerjunction]

As we say in French "Affaire à suivre..."

[Sunflower]

They need to find a better person to back this cause. Since he took all that money from the Vegas lobbyist to get re-elected it looks bad for him to lead this fight. A whole lot of people wanted him out of the senate. They know he can be bought and supporting this bill looks like a payback.
Terry

[andreea]

Please let us know when and if this is confirmed by all sources. Sad news.

[Anthony]

The Reid bill was not a great bill. It was so overwhelmingly sided for the large Vegas casinos, I don't know how Reid thought he could get it though.

Or maybe he knew that and it was just a token effort to keep the money flowing from the casinos...

Now we will have to look for the states to act.

[wagerjunction]

They need to find a better person to back this cause. Since he took all that money from the Vegas lobbyist to get re-elected it looks bad for him to lead this fight. A whole lot of people wanted him out of the senate. They know he can be bought and supporting this bill looks like a payback.
Terry

Hmmm, indeed if he received contributions from them this will make him look bad.

Is it definitely confirmed then that the bill is dead and burried or can we hope for a revival some time in the future?

[vinism]

It's most likely dead. The only way it moves forward is if Reid finds a bill he can attach it to, but all the likely possibilities seemed to have disappeared. Of course, that's what everyone thought with the UIGEA, so we'll just have to wait and see in the end. Most of my sources are telling me it's not going to happen. But they're not declaring it dead yet.

[GamTrak]

It's officially dead as of midnight yesterday. Maybe now we can work on a BETTER bill. Wonder what Barney is up to these days?

[GPWA Aaron]

It's officially dead as of midnight yesterday. Maybe now we can work on a BETTER bill. Wonder what Barney is up to these days?

Unfortunately Barney Frank won't have any real power once the new Congress is sworn in. Since the Democrats no longer control the house, he won't be the Chair of the Financial Services Committee. He's the top Democrat, but that doesn't mean he wields much power.

I'm sure he'll submit the bill again for consideration, but it will be up to Spencer Bachus to decide whether he wants to bring it up in Committee. Considering how vocal an opponent he is of regulated Internet gambling, I won't bet one red cent on it going anywhere (at least through that route) in the next two years.

[GamTrak]

That's what I figured, but was hoping for some sort of positive with the new congress. So now what do we need to do? I've already taken the past year off from igaming and not sure how much longer I want to fight this huge uphill battle if it's gonna be for another 2 to 6 years. Good luck and besh wishes to those that continue to do so!

[Gabriel_LCP]

Definitely a step back for the industry!

[wagerjunction]

I'm sure he'll submit the bill again for consideration, but it will be up to Spencer Bachus to decide whether he wants to bring it up in Committee. Considering how vocal an opponent he is of regulated Internet gambling, I won't bet one red cent on it going anywhere (at least through that route) in the next two years.

2 years? That's huge.

You mentionned "through that route", according to you is there any other way something could be done?

[Big City Jack]

Was there ever even anything there with this Senate version to begin with anyway but a bad dream? Isn't its demise nothing but a cause for celebration, and its passage nothing but a twisted curve ball nightmare? If what I found was accurate, I don't know of any universe, planet, or episode of The Twilight Zone in which it could be otherwise based on the reports I posted in my last thread, and where such a blatantly lopsided special interest ambition to impose an "Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2010" to "make all other types of Internet gambling clearly illegal" could or should be met with anything but revulsion in the industry. That's certainly how I was feeling the more the curtain was pulled. Is there any good reason for anyone to feel otherwise really?

[JoeAdams]

It's really a sad story.. I think so, the bill is already dead and will soon be buried. I don't think there would be some revivals. Probably some alternatives. And regarding the money that Reid took from the Vegas lobbyist, he shouldn't have took the money if he wasn't completely sure that he could win the battle.

[wagerjunction]

It's really a sad story.. I think so, the bill is already dead and will soon be buried. I don't think there would be some revivals. Probably some alternatives. And regarding the money that Reid took from the Vegas lobbyist, he shouldn't have took the money if he wasn't completely sure that he could win the battle.

You know what they say... The Sirens Call is very nearly impossible to resist.

[GPWA Aaron]

2 years? That's huge.

You mentionned "through that route", according to you is there any other way something could be done?

Well Reid could certainly try to do what he tried to do again. Since he's still the Senate Majority Leader, he still has a lot of pull. But don't look for anything to originate from the House during the next Congressional session. Too many of the people in power are vehemently against any form of Internet gambling.