Frank Debates Leno on American Online Gambling Laws

Posted: September 9, 2010

Updated: October 4, 2017

The no. 1 advocate for liberalization of gambling laws in the United States, Rep. Barney Frank (D.-Mass.) went onto “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”

The no. 1 advocate for liberalization of American gambling laws, Rep. Barney Frank (D.-Mass.) went onto “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” this week to discuss the personal freedom, the economy and ways to help people get jobs in tough economic times, including his pet issue of fully legalizing online casinos in the United States.

After touching on the war in Iraq, Frank and Leno informally debated whether certain personal freedoms should be allowed as “revenue raisers.” First up was the possibility gambling – and specifically poker – online which “could generate billions of dollars” according to Frank. Right now it is basically illegal for a citizen to play online poker in the USA and “why that’s anyone in the government’s business is beyond me,” said the congressman.

Leno “kinda disagreed” on this point with concerns that people could use credit cards indiscriminately online, but Frank countered by stating that his reformation bill H.R. 2267 would limit transactions at online casinos to those conducted with prepaid or debit cards.

Frank is current head of the House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee, which allows him to address current U.S. gambling laws as defined by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). His position may be in trouble after the next election, however, as a Republican victory in the House would lose Frank that title in favor of a party member.