President Obama Keeps Poker Face

President Barack Obama is not likely - anytime soon - to repeal, or overturn the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act). Since assuming power, Obama has left pro-regulation lobbyists bemused.

The liberal Obama, a man who has not been shy to pass the biggest financial bailout in the history of governments apparently still has cold feet when it comes to considering repealing the UIGEA.

Barney Frank fights on
Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass) is firmly in favour of overturning the terms of the UIGEA. He wants the US official stance on online gambling - especially online Poker - to become regulated. This powerful figure is supported by many heavyweights in the online gambling community. This week Frank presented his case for the regulation of online gambling in Washington DC to the House Financial Services Committee. Spencer Bachus is firmly against Frank's proposals.

And for Obama, it remains a ‘no-go' option. Recently the President met with a group of college students in Allentown, PA. When a Lehigh Carbon Community College student asked if he believed that legalizing non-violent crimes, including gambling and drugs to stimulate economic growth was an option, President Obama said no.

Obama expressed his gratitude for the student's probing question but failed to give any further attention to the topic. Obama has however purported in his election campaigning that he wants to keep the Internet free from government interference. And yet he has not taken a firm position on Internet gambling as yet.

But behind the scenes
While Obama was a candidate in the election race he would sit with Senator Terry Links and play a sharp game of Poker. It is on record that Barack Obama was a masterful Poker player and in their weekly games, Obama wouldn't play a hand unless he felt he had a good chance of winning. Food for thought...