Congress Passes Bill to Curb Online Gambling

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[Lunatic Fringe]

It Was Snuck Through on the Back of Port Security Bill

It took a backdoor move by the Senate Majority leader, but the bill designed to curb online gambling in the United States has passed.

Sen. Bill Frist helped get the Internet gambling ban attached to a defense bill designed to boost security at nation’s ports. The bill passed Saturday.

The bill calls for banks to work with the federal government to stop transactions between customers in the U.S. and offshore gaming companies. The bill makes it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make transactions with online gambling companies.

The bill considers online poker a form of gambling. Recently, online poker sites have worked harder to expand its customer base outside the United States, where about 80-percent of online poker players live.

The bill will not target player but does call for prison time for people who run online gaming companies. Banks that don’t comply by the bill may also face punishment. A representive from the Independent Community Bankers of America testified to the House that its members will have trouble enforcing the act.

The United States is moving in an opposite direction concerning this issue compared to the rest of the world. The United Kingdom recently moved to tax and regulate online gambling sites, and the European Union had made it clear that it considers online gambling a product that should be allowed to be freely traded.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Regardless of how you feel about Internet gambling, I think this goes way beyond the authority of the Commerce Clause.

[antiRepublicrat]

Pick what this is about:

a) Election time grandstanding on morality
b) Protecting people from evil online casinos
c) Protecting the lotteries from competition
d) Eliminating something where the government doesn't get its cut

Hint, it's not b.

[jeremiah]

Protecting Indian casinos from competition. The organized crime finance and run operations, are always good for a few million bucks for the "critters".

[taxesareforever]

You left one out:

Protecting Indian casinos. Lots of payback by Congressmen here.

[kingu]

Protecting Indian casinos from competition. The organized crime finance and run operations, are always good for a few million bucks for the "critters".

Where do you get that from? Is there a federal law that prevents card rooms from opening? No. There isn't.

And there are far more non-Indian card rooms than reservation gambling establishments, and since most reservations are about fifty miles from nowhere, why would this help Indian gaming? In Los Angeles, for example, there's four major card rooms, yet this is supposedly some victory for reservation casinos a hundred miles away?

Been seeing this pat response too often.

[UncleJeff]

Seems politically stupid to me to sneak this in just before the election. There are a couple dozen million players who are also voters in this Country, and by using this backdoor means to get it passed now rather than wait for the lame-duck session it lets the Democrats hang it securely around Republican's necks.

With as many races looking to be as close as these are expected to be this will likely alienate a lot more voters than it pleases, voters the Republicans can't afford to give away.

[stephenjohnbanker]

That and no tax revenue from overseas operations : )

[stephenjohnbanker]

ROTF!

[stephenjohnbanker]

Correct

[UncleJeff]

Those "overseas operations" have been begging to be allowed to relocate to the States and taxed and regulated fairly. They figure their increased revenues would more than offset the costs.

There's literally billions in tax revenue being refused.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I was unaware of this, thanks.

[stephenjohnbanker]

""Put bugs in their ass, gas in their nose and nuke 'em 'til they glow in the dark." "

ROTFLMAO!

B U M P

[Mike Darancette]

The same thing the government did to Indian Cigarettes.

[UncleJeff]

An old Chemical Corps motto from the late 70's-early 80's ;)

[cynwoody]

You left one out:

Protecting Indian casinos. Lots of payback by Congressmen here.

'Rat response:

• Protects Jack Abramoff's clients.
• Violates the right to gamble.
• Evidence of Christian right influence.
• Slimy to sneak it onto a non-germane bill.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Internet casinos will just offer gamblers pre-paid debit cards (with the companies' name on them) or some type of purchase order wired to an off-shore account.

The legislation is already obsolete, as both the casinos and gamblers will find loopholes big enough for a tractor-trailer to go through. But that doesn't stop the busybodies from beating their chests and proclaiming victory.

[baystaterebel]

Morons....

They have pissed off a huge swath of 20-30 male voters for nothing. Idiots

[taxcontrol]

Hmmm, I see an opportunity here for someone overseas to set up a "bank" ... not governed by US law, that will accept wire transfers and then issue credit cards to the people in the US.

Online Bank of UAE / Electronic Bank of Moscow / etc.

Feel good laws like this just create more markets in shadier parts of the world.

[mugs99]

Sen. Bill Frist helped get the Internet gambling ban attached to a defense bill designed to boost security at nation’s ports. The bill passed Saturday

Yeah, good ol' Bill Frist just protecting "American Values".

The same Bill Frist who took bribe money from Jack Abramoff.

The same Bill Frist who, along with his wife, are the only trustees managing a family foundation, Hospital Corporation of America. HCA was the subject of a decade-long Federal investigation into double-bookkeeping and suspected criminal fraud involving the bilking of Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare.

The same Bill Frist who is under investigation by the SEC for insider trading.

The same Bill Frist that the FEC fined $11,000 for hiding $1.4 million dollars.

The same Bill Frist that Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington singled out as one of the most "corrupt" members of Congress.

The same Bill Frist who just took a liberty from me.
Shall I vote Republican in November? I think not!
.

[jwh_Denver]

"issue credit cards to the people in the US."

They've been doing that for awhile now. This law is absolutely meaningless.

[mugs99]

That and no tax revenue from overseas operations

The IRS collects taxes on your "overseas" winnings. When I cash out of an online casino the bank reports the transaction to the IRS. When I cash out of a stateside casino the government has no way of knowing.

[Wormwood]

Regardless of how you feel about Internet gambling, I think this goes way beyond the authority of the Commerce Clause.

Ya think?

Both parties believe your money belongs to the government.

At least the Democrats are fairly up front about it.

[Wormwood]

Frist is a filthy, corrupt political whore.

But his (R) buys a lot of cover.

[KDD]

Sen. Bill Frist helped get the Internet gambling ban attached to a defense bill designed to boost security at nation’s ports.
In the dead of night.
On the weekend of the last session.

These are not the political tactics of an honest Government. Republicans under Frist did this in a cowardly way. I see he put in the promised protections for on-line racetrack betting and State Lotteries. What hypocrites. It proves to me that Frist is nowhere near being worthy of being President.

Wonder which Country will be first in line to sue the U.S. in front of the W.T.O. Five to one it'll be Antigua.

[mugs99]

Hmmm, I see an opportunity here for someone overseas to set up a "bank" ... not governed by US law, that will accept wire transfers and then issue credit cards to the people in the US.

They already have. It's called Virtual Visa and can even be used in ATMs in the states....Thank you Canada!
.

[mugs99]

But his (R) buys a lot of cover.
Yes and those "covers" make it difficult to refute the Dems claim that the RP is the culture of corruption.
.

[Theo]

Has "internet gambling" ever been legitimate? Seems to me those who do "internet gambling" are all spammers. I say the more you can do against spammers, the better.

I've never "done" internet gambling, and don't know anyone who has, so maybe it's a legitimate way to take stupid people's money.

[Wormwood]

I've never "done" internet gambling, and don't know anyone who has, so maybe it's a legitimate way to take stupid people's money.

That's why it's called gambling.

But not everyone who wants to lose money has access to a bookie or a casino.

[Theo]

In all honesty, I don't see why so many FReepers are against this legislation. Gambling itself is seedy enough; online gambling seems to be the bastion of spam gangs. What am I missing? Is there some reason we should support online gambling? Are those who support online gambling the same as those who support the legalization of pot for all uses (not just medical uses)?

[mysterio]

Because some of us still believe that grown ups don't need our friend the government to protect us from ourselves. It used to be called rugged individualism.

[Wormwood]

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I'm a little tired of having my behavior regulated by the venal, the ignorant, and the arrogant. Maybe I don't want the State to monitor and regulate personal behavior which does not encroach upon the person or property of others.

But then again, I'm no longer a Repblican because of these 'foolish' ideas.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I am being educated tonight. I don't gamble, so I am a bit of a neophyte on this matter.

sjb

[UncleJeff]

I think you're asking the wrong questions.

From where does Frist derive the authority to regulate commerce in other Countries??

Is this really a priority matter for the Country at this time??

Is this a proper way for Law to be made??

Is this the stupidest political move Frist ever made?? He just alienated several million voters Republicans badly need in a month, voters who really don't figure it's any of the Government's business if they want to play cards.

Never mind the minor point that the Supreme Court ruled several years ago that poker is a game of skill, not a game of chance...

[KDD]

10 April 2005 On Thursday, a World Trade Organization appellate body released its ruling regarding the legitimacy of U.S. offshore online gambling policies. The verdict related to an appeal filed by the U.S., after the WTO ruled in favor of Antigua and Barbuda in November of last year. The original WTO decision stated that U.S. restrictions against offshore online gambling ventures violated international trade agreements. Instead of clarifying its position on the issue, however, the WTO ruling was ambiguous enough to allow both the U.S. and Antigua to claim victory.

While the current ruling maintained most of the previous findings, the WTO appellate body recognized the U.S.'s concerns for social problems associated with gambling. Specifically, the WTO referred to the 1961 Wire Act, which prohibits sports betting over the internet, citing it as necessary to uphold "public morality" and "public order". Although the U.S. sees this recognition as essentially legitimizing its online gambling policies, the WTO also found U.S. policies to be discriminatory. Accordingly, the WTO posits that U.S. citizens are given easier access to domestic gambling venues than offshore online gambling options.

This Bill doesn't even mention the 1961 Wire Act because to do so would harm domestic online gambling operations such as horse racing and State Lotteries. So much for Free Trade. This Bill is just one big protection racket for special interests.

[taxesareforever]

You mean the same Bill Frist who thinks he could be President? Options for Republicans getting a Republican in as President in 2008 are getting slimmer by the day.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Yes, Internet gambling is legitimate. If it wasn't, they would have no customers.

[Theo]

Yes, buying off-brand drugs from Chinese spam gangs is legitimate. If it weren't, they would have no customers.

Yes, helping Nigerian kings transfer money from one account to another is legitimate. If it weren't, they would have no gullible people to help them complete the transfer.

I say whatever we can do to disrupt the spam gangs and other types of gangs, the better. I have no sympathy for these onling gambling advocates. None.

[jeremiah]

The big money is not in card rooms, but slots. Where I live, I can go to 5 different large tribal casinos that are 90 minutes or less away from me. The state legislature ruled that if a tribe buys property, it becomes de facto part of the reservation. Since non tribal gambling has no slots, and smoking is not allowed anywhere indoors except on tribal land, where do any customers of gaming go?

[Just another Joe]

I've never "done" internet gambling, and don't know anyone who has, so maybe it's a legitimate way to take stupid people's money.

And then again, maybe it's about a nights entertainment for about $2.
I play online poker and have a lot of fun for about $2 a night for the nights I play.
Show me a casino, even out of my area, where I can do that.

[antiRepublicrat]

You both are right, how could I have forgotten that one?

[Lunatic Fringe]

By "legitimate" I meant that yes, you can play cards online and you can win (and lose) money, just like in any poker room and casino.

If you see this as some type of anti-spam legislation, I'm afraid you will be disappointed.

[mugs99]

I am being educated tonight. I don't gamble, so I am a bit of a neophyte on this matter.
It's about more than gambling. It's about government dictating how you can spend your own money.
.

[38special]

Isn't this one of the reasons why we call the GOP the "Stupid Party"?

[kms61]

The D's October Surprise was the Foley thing, but this stupid piece of legislation may end up hurting GOP chances even more, and it was entirely self-inflicted. In fact, they had to work hard to even get it passed at the last minute. Foley is just another Beltway scandal, same-old same-old. This affects a lot of people who normally don't pay much attention to politics, and now they're incensed.

[mugs99]

You mean the same Bill Frist who thinks he could be President? Options for Republicans getting a Republican in as President in 2008 are getting slimmer by the day
Yeah, that Bill Frist. The Republicans obviously want to return to the good old days of Democrat rule...they miss FDR.

[kingu]

The big money is not in card rooms, but slots. Where I live, I can go to 5 different large tribal casinos that are 90 minutes or less away from me. The state legislature ruled that if a tribe buys property, it becomes de facto part of the reservation. Since non tribal gambling has no slots, and smoking is not allowed anywhere indoors except on tribal land, where do any customers of gaming go?

So it's up to you and folks like you to get several laws changed - dumping the smoking bans, permitting the establishment of casinos, allowing slot machines in those casinos, etc.

As to the non-tribal land becoming tribal land - the state can pass as many laws as they like, but unless the secretary of the interior signs off on the land transfer, it's not tribal land. It's easier to convince one person vs. convincing a legislature filled with politicians who look to tribes for campaign funding.

None of this, of course, has anything to do with internet gambling.

[Lunatic Fringe]

The bill's chief Senate sponsor was conservative Republican Jon Kyl, who, like Leach, has said he believed Internet gambling was a moral threat. He has called online betting as the Internet version of crack cocaine.

Oh, brother...

[taxesareforever]

LOL and crying at the same time :(

[Stone Mountain]

Hmmm.... that may be the Rat response, but I agree with it - those reasons are all true as far as I can see (possibly excluding a "right" to gamble, but I think peop;e whould be able to gamle if they want to).

[Stone Mountain]

I've never "done" internet gambling, and don't know anyone who has, so maybe it's a legitimate way to take stupid people's money.

I know at least two people who win at online poker consistently. One is probably up about $3000 in the last year, and the other is up at least $10,000 over the last two years or so. It is a legitimate way to take stupid people's money - most online players are atrociously bad.