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in the U.S., as long as we re-introduce prohibition (getting rid of alcohol), making tobacco illegal, ban pornography on the Internet, and ban anything else that has the slightest potential for life destruction.
The Christian-right can’t have their cake and eat it too; it’s got to be all or nothing.
Personally, I believe it’s nothing more than a placebo for the flailing Rebublican party to “do something moralistic”, when in fact, they are doing it because they aren’t seeing any revenue from it.
Only in America…………
Good article!
Yeah, I like the perspective that RedHerring puts on this situation. They are a well recognised media source. Makes me feel a little better about it. Had noticed that basically the bill would make into law what is already common-place, which is the inability to fund a gambling account via credit card. Guess it does add checks and wires into the equation, but who does that anyway. Neteller is way safer than sending a check.
It will be very difficult to pass this bill. The oposition is start to voice. In a few days, they will understand the consequences of such a move and they won’t procced with this, I think.
This is only getting worse for all the country, because with this financial bans, gambling companies are now more far away from the US.
And think on the consequences of a ISP ban on a country like US. This is not acceptable on a democratic country. This what happens in countries like China. People simply won’t accept that. Filtering websites is censorship.
This was just posted at egamingreview.com (I’m posting the article, for those who aren’t registered at the site):
Egaming industry must speak out against “lying” US politicians
A leading commentator has called for the online operators to group together to combat “lying” US politicians after a bill to prohibit gambling on the internet was put before Congress last week.
The bipartisan Internet Gambling Prohibition Act was reintroduced by Congressmen Bob Goodlatte and Rick Boucher with the intention of increasing the penalty for what the bill terms illegal gambling from two to five years in jail.
The bill aims to prohibit gambling sites from accepting most forms of payment, including credit card and bank transfers and would allow federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to seek injunctions to prevent and restrict violations of the Act.
In statements accompanying the reintroduction of the bill, its promoters suggested legislation was needed help stem the “explosive growth” of internet gambling.
In an unintended compliment to the phenomenal success of online gambling, Goodlatte said: “For too long our children have been placed in harm’s way as online gambling has been permitted to flourish into a $12bn industry.” Rep. Boucher said online gambling operations “often serve as a prime vehicle for money laundering and other criminal enterprises.”
In response to these allegations, Patrick O’Brien, internet gaming expert at US law firm Greenberg Traurig said: “These politicians are lying when they talk about online gambling and money-laundering and people being driven to bankruptcy.”
The online industry has to speak out on such emotive issues, he said. “You need more rhetoric in return. The operators do need a concerted effort. They need to work with individual states. I don’t believe regulation will happen at a Federal level.”
Susan Breen, partner and head of the betting and gaming department at UK-based law firm Mishcon de Reya, agreed that though there was some work being done behind the scenes by the online operators, more needed to be done. “Maybe it needs to be a bit more upfront,” she said.
“These guys, like Goodlatte, Kyl and Leach, are just not going to give up. But the question is, will someone collapse on the other side of the argument. Will they buckle and let something in?”
Sebastian Sinclair, from US-based gambling consultancy firm Christiansen Capital Advisors, said that while the industry would be impacted by the passage of any legislation, any Act would fail in its ultimate aim. “US citizens will keep right on gambling online if they want to,” he concluded.
Thank you, greedygirl.
Operators do need to find a better way to get heard now.
Good post Greedygirl. I’m glad to see that the troops are assembling on the other side of this bill.
Although I’m vehemently opposed to any such bill passage, looking at things objectively, I am concerned. The Republican party is flailing at best, and in my estimation will look to pass something like this to appeal to the moral majority, to say that they are doing something for the people. They will use Abramoff as a scapegoat, and whatever other methods they can, to scoot this through Congress quickly. What worries me, is that this nearly passed in the House several years back, and the online gaming business Rev has doubled since then, and has gotten a helluva lot more notoriety (tremendous TV exposure, including a big “expose” on 60 Minutes on CBS). Given all this media attention, which is a lot more plentiful than it was several years back, I believe we’ll see a lot of Congressman (mainly Republicans) be swayed into trying to kill online gambling, without looking at the big picture.
Making it illegal, will probably deter some, but not most, from continuing to gamble, as ISP site prohibition is a ridiculous thought, because it will never be implemented.
The real gamble becomes with us – will the government wind up going after Affiliate information sites, and will we be shut down ? Alternatively, should we shut down for that matter ? Will we be subject to the same fines and punishment, if we ignore a law passed ? Will I actually have to go back to work as a result (this last question is a selfish one) ????
Opinions ?
Are there any updates on this issue?
The word in the press is that they may vote on it within 2 months, and if passed, would sign into law around year’s end. Of course, a companion bill would have to be floated and passed in the Senate as well during this timeframe.
Thank you, dhayman. I am starting to believe this may be more than just scare tactics this go ’round…. But fingers crossed for the latter.
