With less than a week before the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is finally set to be implemented, six new allies have joined the cause to get the new law delayed.

The six men, all of whom represent the great state of Kentucky in Congress, are in favor of delaying the implementation of the UIGEA- despite four of the six belonging to the Republican party- as they are concerned with the very real possibility of over-blocking severely affecting Horse Racing- one of Kentucky's most prominent and beloved industries.

Over-blocking, is the term for banks and credit card companies "playing it safe" in regards to the murky language of the UIGEA, by blocking any gambling transaction that has any possibility of being included under the scope of the new law.  Already there have been specific instances of UIGEA related over-blocking not only affecting the Horse Racing Industry but the lottery industry as well and it is quickly becoming apparent that on Dec 1st, if the UIGEA goes into effect, many more supposedly exempt industries will also be effected.

The six Kentuckians banded together to try to stop this possible reality and sent a letter to Secretary of Treasury, Tim Geithner, asking him to consider the evidence of these recent over-blocking examples as real proof that the UIGEA is flawed legislation.

Similar letters have already been sent by over a dozen other congressman, as well as from the Poker Players Alliance, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the American Greyhound Track Operators Association.

For more information on the UIGEA and how you can help, visit the Poker Players Alliance website (www.theppa.org).


Story by Mark Anderson