The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative (SSIGI), has been around long enough to make a sterling contribution to the debate on legalising online gambling in the United States, prompted by its goal of freedom for individuals to safely and legally gamble over the Internet.
This week the organisation announced an extensive revamp of its website at www.safeandsecureig.org, incorporating a convenient facility through which interested parties can make their views known to their congressional representatives in the USA.
The revamp is timely, coming on the cusp of Congressman Barney Frank’s next assault on the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and its infamously imprecise regulations. Frank’s staff confirmed earlier this month that the industry’s favourite (and most determined) politician, who is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, plans to again introduce legislation attacking the UIGEA before the end of April.
Jeffrey Sandman, the oft-quoted spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, continues to support Frank’s efforts and has objected strenuously to other important online gambling issues in the United States such as the attempt by Kentucky’s Governor Steve Beshear to hijack international domain names belonging to Internet gambling companies .
The Initiative has also backed the laudable efforts of the UK’s Remote Gaming Association in spurring European Commission activity against the antiquated and protectionist approach to online gambling of the United States in the World Trade Organisation.
Sandman and his colleagues are clearly following the trend to embrace new media in their efforts, too; the announcement of the revamp includes an invitation to join SSIGI on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!