By Tony George www.sportsaudioshows.com  

A lawsuit today was filed in US District Court against Alberto Gonzales, The United States Attorney General by The Interactive Media and Entertainment Gaming Association (IMEGA). Earlier in June the IMEGA filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department of the US Government claiming that the Unlawful Internet Gabling Enforcement Act infringes upon basic constructional rights, (which it does) and that lawsuit has yet to be responded to. This second filing of this brief is to expedite things quicker in order to get an injunction against the justice department so that sportsbooks and poker rooms as well as on-line casino's can operate in the interim pending further orders from the courts. This would be a huge victory for the industry and American citizens who care about their rights and freedom of choice. Mr. Gonzales is busy covering his own butt in a Senate investigation into his role in firing almost all of the US district attorneys, and claims of perjury surround him at the moment. Another in the long line of President Bush rejects under fire at the moment.

Momentum is mounting from congressmen like Barney Frank and others trying to pass legislation to ease restrictions, as well as sanctions and lawsuits from many small nations like Costa Rica and others, who are suing the US Government for monies lost due to this right winged, tight assed legislation tapped into a Port Security bill back in October of last year. The groundswell of opposition is beginning a firestorm in Washington DC folks. Barney Frank is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and has garnered support from other congressmen on a repeal of the legislation. He also is an openly gay man, and believes in freedonm of choice as a basic Amercian right. Senators and Congressmen alike have admitted that contact by phone and e-mails from angry voters in their districts have led the surge in trying to make a change, and their focus is highlighted on this issue. One thing about a politician, you threaten to cancel a vote for him or her come election time, and they will listen.

People who read this article are reading it on a sports gaming related site, as I am a well know handicapper in the industry, so no doubt if your eyes are on this right now, YOU are affected by this violation of civil rights and liberties by the Justice Department. Being told what you can and cannot do on-line when it comes down to a "choice" by a responsible adult in the privacy of his or her home is in my mind, a violation of civil liberties, and many agree with me. I am not talking about some guy luring some child out in the open in some kiddie porn ring or some pedophile out there breaking the law in a chat room on-line. I am talking about, ranting about, and focusing on FREEDOM OF CHOICE! If I chose to place a wager in a country that allows gambling, and that entity is legal and regulated, whose business is it other than mine that I am placing a wager or playing a few hands of poker? I am openly excited about this legislation being overturned, and an injuction to lift it currently in the works in the court system.

The ease in restrictions would further allow financial institutions to do business with offshore companies in terms of wire transfers and depositing of funds without fear of federal prosecution, like what has happened to Netteller. Also sportsbooks would breathe easier knowing that in the future, that they may have to report money transfers to US citizens in terms of payouts, but can operate at 100% capacity again without fear of being arrested when people from their firm enter the United States. This comes as good news since the king of all wagering sports is 8 weeks away with football. Recent numbers in terms of entries at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, the main event, were down, and attributed to on-line players being unable to quialify because of restrictions on poker rooms on-line.

In closing, I urge you to contact your Senators and Congressmen in your districts, drop them an e-mail on their federally paid for website, to let them know your thoughts on this issue. There is rising inetrest not only from sports bettors and poker players, but others who are looking at this issue with open eyes in terms of the validity of the law itself. Lets hope an injunction passes in the interim, and we are all going to be able to excersise our right to choose as citizens of a free society. In otherwords I want to place $500 on the Bears -3 come October without fear of the Feds knocking down my door to haul me off to jail, and imprison the guy who took the bet down in Costa Rica!