Support is growing for the possible legalisation of internet gambling according to Paddy Power. Ireland’s bookie had been offering odds of 6/4 that pro-gambling Congressman Barney Frank would be successful with his attempts to lift the US federal ban on gambling before 2011.
However they were forced to cut their odds from 6/4 to 4/5 following numerous ‘significant’ bets placed through their online betting site supporting the Frank’s sponsored bill getting the green light.
A spokesperson for the bookmaker said: “I understand that Congressman Frank was at the World Series of Poker last week drumming up support for his campaign and this seems to have acted as the catalyst to reignite speculation with punters that online gambling may yet be legalised.”
“Rumour has it that President Obama plays a mean hand of poker so maybe the Congressman could find himself with some very powerful supporters.”
Barney Frank, who is the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has been a campaigner against the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which effectively banned Internet gambling by outlawing the transfer of funds from a financial institution to Internet gambling sites.
Paddy Power are also offering bets on which American State will first veto the bill should it be successfully passed into legalisation. Bible bashing Utah is the 2/1 favourite following by Nevada at 4/1.
Which State will opt out first if Bill is passed?
2/1 Utah, 4/1 Nevada, 6/1: New Jersey, Texas, 8/1: Louisiana, Tennessee, 10/1 Arizona, 16/1 Pennsylvania, 20/1: California, Illinois, 25/1: Florida, New Mexico, 33/1: New York, Washington DC, Massachusetts
Due to the UIGEA the bookmaker is not offering his services to customers from the United States currently.