Barney Frank at the World Series of Poker

Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank, will be available for interviews Sunday at this year's World Series of Poker, being held at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas.   Congressman Frank is trying to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) that prohibits most forms of online gambling.   The Poker Players Alliance announced his appearance Friday afternoon.  

"Chairman Frank has been online poker's greatest advocate in Congress, sponsoring legislation to license and regulate the game (H.R. 2267) as well as delay implementation of the UIGEA," a PPA presser declared. 

Only credentialed media will be able to meet with Barney Frank at 1 pm PDT on Sunday, July 5, 2009, where he will be available to discuss current legislative efforts to protect online gamblers rights.
Chairman Frank will also do "Shuffle Up and Deal" for day 1c of the Main Event Sunday.

His appearance comes at a dark time for online poker following news last month that the US Attorney's Office out of the Southern District of New York had seized upwards of $40 million from the industry's top two poker rooms.  Statements attributed to the Assistant US Attorney suggested there was a "money laundering" investigation involving payment processors conducting business with both betting operations. 

On Thursday, Costigan Media, which owns Gambling911.com, filed a Motion to Intervene and to unseal court records involving the issuance of a seizure warrant of funds tied to online poker rooms PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker.