On June 5th the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association filed a lawsuit in opposition to Alberto Gonzales, U.S. Attorney General, that looks to prevent the UIGEA (the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) from being implemented.  

A quote by an attorney from iMEGA outlines one of the firms key oppositions to the UIGEA,  "The purpose of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is to prevent Americans from engaging in their fundamental rights to conduct their lives in the manner they wish to live it - to be free from the government imposing public morality in the privacy of one's home", Eric M. Bernstein, Esq.

To further illustrate their point, the following is a quote made by iMEGA President, Edward Leyden last month, "We think the law infringes on the First Amendment and Tenth Amendment rights of our members," he says, "And we also believe the government has exceeded its authority in its WTO dispute with Antigua and that too has harmed our clients."

Alongside the lawsuit, iMEGA has requested that a temporary restraining order on the current laws that prohibits US banks and other financial institutions from accepting any transactions related to online gaming, that were created by the Attorney General (and the Treasury), be put into action at least until the courts can hear their arguments on the subject.  

The request for the hearing by iMEGA has been granted and is currently scheduled to take place on Sept 4, 2007 in the US District Court of Trenton, New Jersey.  Judge Mary L. Cooper will be the official presiding over the hearing.  

Founded in 2007, the mission of iMEGA (the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association) is to work cooperatively and constructively with all levels of the government, corporations and citizens to carry on the incredible growth of the Internet and to maintain the freedom, innovations and openness of the medium to benefit all.