The Remote Gambling Association, one of the biggest online gambling supporters in the world, has decided to back the bill recently passed to the congress as an attempt to make clear certain terms and notions mentioned in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The bill, which is titled H.R. 6663 or the Unlawful Internet Enforcement Clarification and Implementation Act (UIGEACIA), was brought by Rep. Pete Sessions about a week ago and will try to clarify exactly which activities can designated as “unlawful internet gambling”.

Last Friday, the Remote Gambling Association announced it would be backing the bill on the assumption that it’s only real target are online sportsbooks and online casinos and not online poker. The RGA is confident that the new bill will clear the road for internet poker companies who have been excluded from the U.S market after the UIGEA’s approval such as PartyPoker, Mansion Poker, Titan Poker and 888.com’s Pacific Poker.

The RGA also recommended the European Union Commission to launch an investigation regarding the U.S. online gambling policies augmenting discriminatory actions directly affecting several European operators. According to RGA Chief Executive Clive Hawkswood, the H.R. 6663 would have to go a long way if it wants to meet the RGA and EU concerns regarding this issue.

"We took our case directly to U.S. legislators who have heard our message, understood the inequity of the Department of Justices' stance and appreciated both the unfairness in their enforcement policy and the risk to U.S. priority interests and its reputation if the policy was pursued further. This could be a major step in demonstrating that the rule of the law and integrity of the WTO are still important in Washington” said Hawkswood.

On the other hand, the Poker Player's Alliance has chosen not to support the bill due what they qualify as “confusing language" used on the text.

The H.R. 6663 specifies that online poker is considered an illegal activity according to the original UIGEA, and that such activity will need special protection in the future. But even when that is enough for some people, the Poker Player’s Alliance maintains that if they support the bill then they will have to admit that poker is an illegal activity.

Even when the bill has gained the support of several organizations related to the legalization and protection of online gambling, it's doubtful the bill will be passed in the next few months, with the Congress has taking a summer recess until September it's unlikely that it will get passed in the months previous the U.S presidential election.