The House Financial Services Committee passed HR6870, the “Payment System Protection Act”, which paves the way for a clear and distinct definition of what illegal online gambling is in respect to the UIGEA.

Here is a statement from the Poker Players Alliance chairman Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato:

Washington, D.C. (September 16, 2008) – Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, chairman of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide, today issued the following statement upon passage of H.R. 6870, the “Payment System Protection Act,” by the House Financial Services Committee.

“The PPA is pleased that the House Financial Services Committee today recognized the need to provide necessary clarification to what constitutes ‘unlawful Internet gambling’ under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by passing H.R. 6870.

“This bipartisan compromise bill will rightfully advance the UIGEA to become immediately effective for such internet gambling that is clearly unlawful, namely sports betting. The legislation also appropriately requires a formal rulemaking, overseen by an administrative law judge, to provide the clarification requested by the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve, among others, as to the definition of ‘unlawful Internet gambling.’

“Even those who oppose internet gambling should applaud the passage of this legislation as it provides the most realistic opportunity to block truly unlawful internet gambling transactions.

“The PPA congratulates the Republicans and Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee on reaching this strong compromise bill, and we look forward to enactment of this sound public policy during this legislative session.

“We thank Chairman Frank for his continued leadership on this important issue of protecting individual rights and personal responsibility.”