Opposition first from Capitol Hill, Now from Private Sector

Gambling News - July 8, 2009 - Written by Glen

Ever since its inception, civil rights activists have been struggling to overturn the UIGEA. Having been sneaked in on the Safe Port Act of 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act has impeded online gambling and is only getting harder. As of December of 2009, banks will be incapable of completing financial transactions linked to online gambling. The Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association has brought the matter to civil court. The Defendant? The Department of Justice.

According to their website, iMEGA's goal is to "Foster cooperation between the online industry and the government at all levels... and to promote freedom on the Internet." To further this agenda, they have decided to challenge the UIGEA's constitutionality in the courts. With increasing support in Congress to oust the UIGEA, this court date may have some serious potential to conquer the former regime's decision to limit our personal freedoms with underhanded tactics. Three judges will preside over the hearing, and oral arguments began July 7th at 10:00 am. This could be the first step toward the actual removal of the UIGEA, assuming the judges are on board.

This is the first time the Act has been brought into the court and iMEGA chairman, Joe Brennan, has stated that iMEGA is "very confident that when the judges take a look at the law, they will see just how defective it is, and they will overturn it."

All information was taken from iMEGA's site, and is all factual. How the situation unfolds is up to the attorneys and the judges. Civil rights activists as well as gamblers are watching and waiting for good news. If things go well, Barney Frank's struggle in the Capitol to overturn this law will be unnecessary.