Former lobbyist and author Jack Abramoff explains to QuadJacks how he would have effectively opposed the passage of the UIGEA in 2006 if he had been around to do so, just like he did with the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act in 1999 and 2003.
by Marco Valerio
Jack Abramoff, author of the new book Capitol Punishment: The Hard Truth About Corruption from America’s Most Notorious Lobbyist, appeared on The Gaming World on QuadJacks Poker Radio on Thursday, and spoke at length of his many years representing gambling interests on Capitol Hill. In 1999 and 2003, Abramoff was instrumental in stopping the Internet Gambling Prohibition Initiative (IGPA), which was a precursor to what ultimately became the UIGEA.
In 1999, U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) introduced a bill called the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which, if successfully passed, would have explicitly outlawed all forms of Internet gambling in the United States, with the notable exemption of horse racing wagering. The bill was likely on the way to being approved, since it was mostly supported by Republicans, who at the time controlled both houses.
eLottery, an Internet company looking to continue providing online ticket sales, contracted Abramoff for the purpose of preventing the bill from being passed. Until then, opponents of the bill were mostly attempting to convince its supporters that online gambling was not such a big deal and that citizens should have reserved the right to do whatever they wanted on the Internet. This wasn’t working. So Abramoff and his agents were able to overturn right-wing support for the bill by utilizing an alternative method of persuasion.
