New rules which would TIGHTEN already tough laws on internet gambling in the U.S. are being rushed through by President George Bush.

The plan is to get the regulation in place BEFORE president elect Barack Obama is installed in the Whitehouse.

The people behind the move believe that will make it hard for President Obama’s new administration to overturn the controversial Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which many see as unworkable and unfair.

The push is led by lobbyists from America’s National Football League (NFL) which has actively CAMPAIGNED against the reform of UIGEA and has OPPOSED legislation to legalise and regulate online gaming.

Opposition

Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, said: “At a time when the financial system is in crisis, it is irresponsible for the Bush Administration to rush through a fundamentally flawed regulation that even representatives of the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve have stated on record is unworkable.”

The NFL has been a strong opponent of all forms of Internet gambling except for fantasy sports — a business that generates more than £65 million a year in revenues.

The proposed new rules come despite a commitment by President Bush not to issue final regulations after November 1, 2008 except in “extraordinary circumstances.”

Manoeuvre

Sandman added: “Bush is setting a horrible precedent of pushing through flawed regulations at the very last minute to deliberately circumvent the in-coming administration.

“The special interests, including the NFL, are clearly the big winners with this last minute manoeuvre, leaving already struggling banks and financial companies to implement costly and poorly crafted regulations.”