Many different opinions have been thrown around the internet about how one should go about getting the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act repealed for internet poker.

A carve-out for poker?

The Poker Players Alliance thinks a carve out based upon poker's unique mix of skill and luck rolled up into a gambling game should be thought of in a different light then internet casino sites which were also hit hard by the shuttering of Neteller and other UIGEA related fall outs that have effected but not demolished online gambling businesses.

Enter U.S. Representative Barney Frank, through an article at PokerPages, he firms up his stance on the fight to reopen the online gambling waters in the United States. He believes that distiguishing between a double down and a double up at the no limit hold em tables would muddle the waters further making it more difficult to get the votes necessary to get rid of this unpopular law.

Below is a piece of the interview and link to it (hat tip to Wicked Chops):

Congressman Frank, a senior Democrat who is chairman of the powerful House financial services committee that oversees financial services, told reporters earlier that the online gambling bill passed last fall was "one of the stupidest things I ever saw."

UIGEA was attached to an unrelated but "certain to pass" Port Security Bill last October just before a Congressional adjournment for electioneering, and made it illegal for financial institutions to handle transactions between online gambling companies and US residents.

The UIGEA caused widespread disruption in the U.S. market and was responsible for substantial investor and corporate losses on processors and public online gaming companies registered on the London stock exchange.

"I want to get it [UIGEA] undone. I plan to file legislation," Barney said, explaining that he would lay out his plans in the next couple of weeks but would not move them forward until other lawmakers are on board.

However, Frank noted that his House Financial Services Committee by itself could not do more than lift the ban on using credit cards to pay for Internet gambling.

"My committee only has jurisdiction over credit cards. I can't do more than repeal the ban on the use of credit cards. We don't have jurisdiction generally over the Internet or other aspects of this," Frank said.

In addition, he rejected a carve out that Poker players have been lobbying for, similar to the way the UIGEA currently exempts using the Internet to bet on horses and sports fantasy games or buy Lottery tickets. Frank said he was "unpersuaded" to work for such a carve out.

"I am not going to draw a distinction between poker and blackjack," Frank said.