If you want to play Internet Poker, tell your Senator NOW

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

What we really need to do is get the people who use sites like NETeller for non-gaming transaction involved. They're going to get screwed, too. I wonder what the folks at eBay think about this bill, or if they even know that it's going to throw a monkey wrench in their works.

[MtSmalls]

I have been following the passage of the bill in the house for the past few weeks (Cardplayer.com has links to gaming stories from a wide network of sources), and am appalled at the usual window dressing they are using to push these types of bills through. Its not about money laundering, that is just the smoke screen they use to justify their conservatist thinking that all gambling is bad and has to be restricted.

I plan to fight them on their own turf: In addition to making many of the same salient points about poker in this issue, I will make two more:
1) If you are TRULY worried about laundering and OC rigging the deck in favor of the house/shills/props, then LEGALIZE and REGULATE it the same way you do for Atlantic City, Las Vegas and the thousands of Indian casinos in the country! Its that simple. MGM closed their online casino, based on the Isle of Man, because they couldn't access the US market legally.
2) Are they going to show up next April at the WSOP or any other major tournament and take all the players, like Mr. Moneymaker, in to custody for "illegal gaming'?? I think not.

write now. write often. Legalize it, regulate it, PROFIT from it (of course once legalized the taxes get paid onshore. HMMM $6 Billion wagered online annually.....sounds like a not insignificant revenue increase for the US)

[Parmenides]

Another traitor to the USA shows himself. The money laundering, mob ruled world of internet poker will eventually be shut down unless you bribe enough Republicans.

Writing your congessman will do nothing.
Having the sites contribute a few million to his or her PAC will do more.

[fnurt]

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.

[zooey]

Dear Senator Clinton,

I enjoy playing poker, it is a fun and social skill game. Unfortunately, I'm not one of the elite who can fly off to Atlantic City, like the stalwart defender of public decency Mr. Bennet. But I do play on the internet, a few hours a week. I've been playing internet poker since 1999, at reputable sites, and have never been defrauded or check-raised by a terrorist money launderer.

I'm writing to ask you to vote no on Senate Bill 627. If you have concerns and feel it should be better regulated, I would love to see experienced American firms have a shot at this fast growing market. But it will be a sad day when my government takes away my freedom to enjoy poker with citizens around the world.

[XlgJoe]

Just as a reference how many states do not have there own form of legalized gambling in the form of lottery/scratchoffs. I thought I read that there are only three. Is that correct?

[RollaJ]

I have written to my NY Senators, even the bitch [img]/forums/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[Ted Geisel]

LOL, good checkraising line

[Ted Geisel]

eBay bought Paypal, shut down its gaming business and THEN endorsed a prohibition. They're the reformed sinner I guess, but funny, they have never offered ANY evidence of laundering, despite being neck deep in the business.

(They want to crush their gaming dependent competition.)

[Ted Geisel]

No, on S627.

Rollaj, .....just curious how you addressed the Letter .... LOL