US anti-gambling law slammed
10th April, 2008
A broad spectrum of US treasury department and federal officials have told Congress that America's Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is ineffective and unfair on casino fans.
The act was introduced in 2006 and is intended to outlaw all forms of internet-based casino gambling activity on US soil.
But according to Louise Roseman, the head of the Federal Reserve's bank operations, the online casino bill is so poorly written that its enforcement is next to impossible.
"The challenge we have is interpreting something, particularly federal laws, that Congress itself isn't sure what they mean," she told the the House Financial Services subcommittee.
Another official, Wayne Abernathy of the American Bankers' Association said the legislation attempted to "make financial institutions [serve as] the police, prosecutors, and judges in place of real law enforcement officers".
Critics have railed against the UIGEA ever since it was introduced, arguing that the bill violates civil liberties and runs the risk of infringing upon international free trade agreements.
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