The list of members of Congress who are now co-sponsors of Barney Frank's bill, which would essentially make online poker legal at a federal level in the United States, has grown to 44. The bill would provide for the licensing of Internet gambling facilities by the director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and would allow states to choose if they want to allow online gambling.
Recently, representatives from New Jersey, Washington State, and Connecticut became co-sponsors to Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 (H.R. 2046). They are Rep. Robert E. Andrews, Rep. John B. Larson, and Rep. Adam Smith.
The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection at the end of April, where it remains.
This is one of four bills in Congressional committees that deal with the subject of online gambling and poker. Rep. Robert Wexler's Skill Game Protection Act (H.R. 2610) would allow people to play games of skill online (poker included), has 20 co-sponsors, and has been referred to several House committees this summer.
Rep. Shelley Berkley introduced H.R. 2140 on May 3. This calls for the National Academy of Sciences "to identify the proper response of the United States to the growth of Internet gambling." It has 68 co-sponsors and is also in referral in several House committees.
Rep. Jim McDermott's Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2007 (H.R. 2607) calls for the United States to tax and regulate online gambling. It was introduced June 7, 2007, and has one co-sponsor. It was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, where it remains.
