burntazure
08-11-2004, 11:57 AM
Greetings All:
It seems that the United States Legislative body has been up to some work. Since the country has been so successful in so many other areas and that they have so much free time the Legislators have decided to focus their energy on Internet gambling! (Hopefully soldiers dying or 9/11 victims won't mind). Indeed I was watching on CSPAN last night when a congressman from Illinois was grilling Wolfie (Paul Wolfowitz) on why Afghanistan was still deriving 1/2 of its GDP from poppies; Wolfie shrugged it off and said any drug destruction or lab shutdowns would be incidentals (i.e. 'We came across them.') It is disheartening to say the least that Internet gambling is coming under fire and yet another example of the "freedom" that is so often spoken of in America is freedom of capital (for the capitalists) and not freedom of the individual. Of course, we must invoke a Chris Rock style definition to differentiate between being wealthy and being rich: the rich man is like Kobe Bryant, the wealthy man is the old relic that can afford to pay his salary as well as buy any other corporation or people that he pleases....
Okay, enough ranting. I do not wish to politicize this issue now. I simply want to start a discussion to see if other people have heard of this and what the possible impact of US poker players will be. Of course, each person should view the issue under a political lens and act accordingly.
The following are the specifics.
I first came across the idea that there is currently a bill scheduled for vote in the congress and senate when they next resume another voting session from this innocuous website found here (http://www.profreedom.com/).
Not being a simpleton, I decided to do a web search to corroborate this information. I was then led here (http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR00021:).
It seems that the proposed act is called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act. Here are some specifics:
[ QUOTE ]
Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act - (Sec. 3) - Prohibits any person engaged in a business of betting or wagering from knowingly accepting in connection with the participation of another person in Internet gambling: (1) credit; (2) electronic fund transfers or funds transmitted by or through a money transmitting business; (3) any instrument drawn by or on behalf of another and payable through any financial institution; or (4) the proceeds of any other form of financial transaction involving a financial institution as payer or financial intermediary for another.
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Includes in the definition of bets or wagers: (1) the purchase of a chance or opportunity, predominantly subject to chance, to win a lottery or other prize; (2) sports betting; and (3) any instructions or information pertaining to the establishment or movement of funds in an account by the bettor or customer with the business of betting or wagering.
Excludes from the definition of bets or wagers: (1) any activity governed by the securities laws for the purchase or sale of securities; (2) any transaction subject to the Commodity Exchange Act; (3) over-the-counter derivative instruments; (4) any other transaction exempt from regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act or from State gaming or bucket shop laws; (5) any contract of indemnity or guarantee, or for insurance; (6) deposits or transactions with a depository institution; (7) any participation in a simulation sports game or an educational game or contest that meets certain requirements; and (8) any lawful transaction with a business licensed or authorized by a State.
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Directs that relief granted under this Act against an interactive computer service: (1) be limited to the removal of, or disabling of access to, an on-line site violating this Act, or a hypertext link to such site, that resides on a computer server that the service controls or operates, with an exception; (2) be available only after notice to the service and an opportunity to appear are provided; (3) not impose any obligation on a service to monitor its service or to affirmatively seek facts indicating activity violating this Act; (4) specify the service to which it applies; and (5) specifically identify the location of the on-line site or hypertext link to be removed or access to which is to be disabled.
Requires the court, in considering granting relief against any payment system, or any participant in a payment system that is a creditor, credit card issuer, financial institution, operator of a terminal at which an electronic fund transfer may be initiated, money transmitting business, or international, national, regional, or local network utilized to effect a credit transaction, electronic fund transfer, or money transmitting service, or a participant in such network, to consider the following factors: (1) the extent to which the person is extending credit or transmitting funds knowing the transaction is in connection with unlawful Internet gambling; (2) the history of that person in extending credit or transmitting funds with such knowledge; (3) the extent to which that person has established and is maintaining policies and procedures in compliance with regulations prescribed under this Act; (4) the feasibility that any specific remedy prescribed in the order issued under this Act can be implemented without substantial deviation from normal business practice; and (5) the costs and burdens the specific remedy will have on that person.
Directs the Attorney General or a State attorney general to: (1) notify that person and the appropriate regulatory agency of the violation or potential violation and the remedy sought; and (2) allow that person 30 days to implement a reasonable remedy. Prescribes a criminal fine and/or up to five years imprisonment for violations of this Act. Authorizes a court to enter a permanent injunction enjoining any person convicted of a criminal offense under this Act from any activity related to illegal bets or wagers.
[/ QUOTE ]
How much will this affect US poker players?
Since this is a game of skill are we safe?
How will they enforce this federal law?
How many people will choose to ignore this law?
Who will do anything political with respect to this law?
And on a last note, is it ironic that the sponsor of this bill is Rep. Leach?
It seems that the United States Legislative body has been up to some work. Since the country has been so successful in so many other areas and that they have so much free time the Legislators have decided to focus their energy on Internet gambling! (Hopefully soldiers dying or 9/11 victims won't mind). Indeed I was watching on CSPAN last night when a congressman from Illinois was grilling Wolfie (Paul Wolfowitz) on why Afghanistan was still deriving 1/2 of its GDP from poppies; Wolfie shrugged it off and said any drug destruction or lab shutdowns would be incidentals (i.e. 'We came across them.') It is disheartening to say the least that Internet gambling is coming under fire and yet another example of the "freedom" that is so often spoken of in America is freedom of capital (for the capitalists) and not freedom of the individual. Of course, we must invoke a Chris Rock style definition to differentiate between being wealthy and being rich: the rich man is like Kobe Bryant, the wealthy man is the old relic that can afford to pay his salary as well as buy any other corporation or people that he pleases....
Okay, enough ranting. I do not wish to politicize this issue now. I simply want to start a discussion to see if other people have heard of this and what the possible impact of US poker players will be. Of course, each person should view the issue under a political lens and act accordingly.
The following are the specifics.
I first came across the idea that there is currently a bill scheduled for vote in the congress and senate when they next resume another voting session from this innocuous website found here (http://www.profreedom.com/).
Not being a simpleton, I decided to do a web search to corroborate this information. I was then led here (http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR00021:).
It seems that the proposed act is called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act. Here are some specifics:
[ QUOTE ]
Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act - (Sec. 3) - Prohibits any person engaged in a business of betting or wagering from knowingly accepting in connection with the participation of another person in Internet gambling: (1) credit; (2) electronic fund transfers or funds transmitted by or through a money transmitting business; (3) any instrument drawn by or on behalf of another and payable through any financial institution; or (4) the proceeds of any other form of financial transaction involving a financial institution as payer or financial intermediary for another.
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Includes in the definition of bets or wagers: (1) the purchase of a chance or opportunity, predominantly subject to chance, to win a lottery or other prize; (2) sports betting; and (3) any instructions or information pertaining to the establishment or movement of funds in an account by the bettor or customer with the business of betting or wagering.
Excludes from the definition of bets or wagers: (1) any activity governed by the securities laws for the purchase or sale of securities; (2) any transaction subject to the Commodity Exchange Act; (3) over-the-counter derivative instruments; (4) any other transaction exempt from regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act or from State gaming or bucket shop laws; (5) any contract of indemnity or guarantee, or for insurance; (6) deposits or transactions with a depository institution; (7) any participation in a simulation sports game or an educational game or contest that meets certain requirements; and (8) any lawful transaction with a business licensed or authorized by a State.
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Directs that relief granted under this Act against an interactive computer service: (1) be limited to the removal of, or disabling of access to, an on-line site violating this Act, or a hypertext link to such site, that resides on a computer server that the service controls or operates, with an exception; (2) be available only after notice to the service and an opportunity to appear are provided; (3) not impose any obligation on a service to monitor its service or to affirmatively seek facts indicating activity violating this Act; (4) specify the service to which it applies; and (5) specifically identify the location of the on-line site or hypertext link to be removed or access to which is to be disabled.
Requires the court, in considering granting relief against any payment system, or any participant in a payment system that is a creditor, credit card issuer, financial institution, operator of a terminal at which an electronic fund transfer may be initiated, money transmitting business, or international, national, regional, or local network utilized to effect a credit transaction, electronic fund transfer, or money transmitting service, or a participant in such network, to consider the following factors: (1) the extent to which the person is extending credit or transmitting funds knowing the transaction is in connection with unlawful Internet gambling; (2) the history of that person in extending credit or transmitting funds with such knowledge; (3) the extent to which that person has established and is maintaining policies and procedures in compliance with regulations prescribed under this Act; (4) the feasibility that any specific remedy prescribed in the order issued under this Act can be implemented without substantial deviation from normal business practice; and (5) the costs and burdens the specific remedy will have on that person.
Directs the Attorney General or a State attorney general to: (1) notify that person and the appropriate regulatory agency of the violation or potential violation and the remedy sought; and (2) allow that person 30 days to implement a reasonable remedy. Prescribes a criminal fine and/or up to five years imprisonment for violations of this Act. Authorizes a court to enter a permanent injunction enjoining any person convicted of a criminal offense under this Act from any activity related to illegal bets or wagers.
[/ QUOTE ]
How much will this affect US poker players?
Since this is a game of skill are we safe?
How will they enforce this federal law?
How many people will choose to ignore this law?
Who will do anything political with respect to this law?
And on a last note, is it ironic that the sponsor of this bill is Rep. Leach?