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Utah Supports Frank’s Plan for UIGEA Repeal

Barney Frank has just received support for his bill to repeal the UIGEA from a very surprising place. The Attorney General of one of the United States’ most conservative states has announced in a radio interview that he will support Frank’s push to bring online gambling back to Americans, because the bill makes provisions to protect U.S. residents from illicit and untrustworthy casino sites on the World Wide Web. Utah A.G. Mark Shurtleff is a very surprising addition to Frank’s stable of supporters, owing to Utah’s standing as one of just two U.S. states with no forms of legalized gambling.

Shurtleff pointed to the fact that the UIGEA has not actually stopped U.S. players from gambling at online slots and casino gambling sites, and has only stopped the most reputable (and safe) casinos from doing business with them. He stated that he had a specific interest in working on the law alongside Frank so that he could make sure there were no loopholes that might allow tribal gaming in the Beehive State, but critics called his acceptance and open-mindedness on the issue “refreshing.”

Federal law allows Indian tribal nations to operate gambling establishments within state lines, but Utah specifically prohibits casino play and is seeking to keep things that way. Shurtleff said that he has an interest in protecting Americans from unsavory and predatory gambling operators, since there has been no indication that the UIGEA has done much to stop these behaviors. Experts believe that Shurtleff’s involvement bodes well for Frank’s bill, because he is a strong conservative voice on the issue.

Back to March 2009 Archive.