I thought I would post a copy of the email I sent to my senator. As someone else pointed out, you can very easily obtain email addresses for your senators from
www.senate.gov, or just go to
www.profreedom.com to have your name added to the list of those opposing this bill.
Dear Senator Clinton:
I am an attorney from New York City. I write to you in hopes you will oppose S.627, the misleadingly-titled "Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act."
Millions of people enjoy recreational online gambling, the same way they might enjoy the occasional trip to Atlantic City, but from the comfort of their own homes. These are regular people who enjoy putting a few dollars in a slot machine every once in a while or meeting people from around the world by participating in games such as Internet poker.
The bill before the Senate, which I understand passed the House by only 3 votes, would prohibit an individual from using various forms of payment such as credit cards or bank transfers to fund their hobby of wagering online.
This is a bad idea for two main reasons. First, it does not actually prohibit the gambling activity these legislators seek to reach, in fact that activity typically takes place offshore beyond the regulatory reach of the U.S. Instead, it merely forces individuals to take their transactions "underground"; instead of using easily traced methods of transferring funds, such as credit cards, the preferred method will become blind transfers of electronic cash. All that will be accomplished is that the flow of funds in and out of the U.S. will become less transparent and harder to trace. The bottom line is that Prohibition did not work for alcohol and it will not work for gambling; it will simply force these activities to take place in a shadier manner which is no good for anyone.
This ties in closely with the second reason to oppose this bill, which is that the legislation misses a golden opportunity to regulate the field and create a lucrative source of tax revenues. The U.S.-based gambling industry - including the same respected entities who operate casinos in Las Vegas and nationwide - would love to become involved in operating Internet gambling, but current law prevents them. Instead, the industry is driven offshore, where the U.S. government cannot regulate OR tax them.
The current state of the law exists because certain self-appointed moral arbiters feel it is their duty to stamp out Internet gambling. Not only are they unfairly making a moral choice that belongs to individuals, but more importantly, they are not really preventing anything. They are merely driving the activity further and further underground, missing an opportunity to accrue significant tax revenues and regulate the industry to ensure appropriate consumer protections. A vote against this bill is not a vote on a moral issue; it is a vote for common sense and it's right for America.
As a three-time Clinton voter I hope my vote counts with you. I appreciate you taking the time to consider this issue.