Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) July 17, 2008 — BlockPicks.com recently launched a petition to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) and the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act), citing limits to civil liberties and inabilities to completely eliminate online gambling.
The online petition addresses steps that BlockPicks.com and its users believe would aide in the regulation of the $12 billion a year gaming industry, including the creation of a national gaming chamber where only gaming companies adhering to both security and U.S. government gaming regulations, as well as U.S. taxation laws can apply to bypass the current Acts (UIGEA and SAFE Port Act). U.S. players would file for a international gaming ID (similar to a social security number) and receive a 1099 Miscellaneous form reporting any gains or losses from each institution. Anyone with an international gaming ID would be able to use a regulated institution to place a bet. Bets can be tracked by the both the government and institution to determine the amount won or lost, the appropriate taxes that should be paid on each bet, and how much the institution is required to pay in taxes for accepting the wager. Lottery machines can also be converted to swipe player cards and take wagers.
"The level of hypocrisy in the legalities of gambling/gaming is extremely high," explains John Roberts, a spokesperson for BlockPicks.com. "States are able to run individual and multiple state lotteries or raffles which are no different than purchasing a betting ticket on the outcome of a sporting event. In fact, the odds are better for the sports bettor and are fixed at purchase (which is the same in a state-run raffle). Odds of winning a lottery are variable based on the number of tickets sold. As far as using social consequences or gambling addiction as reasoning for the ban, there are no limits to the amount of lottery tickets an addicted gambler can purchase. If the saying 'the House always wins' holds any truth, why doesn't the U.S. government want to be the House?"
The list of petition signers will be sent to all parties involved (including Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Ron Paul (R-Texas)) in any repeal of UIGEA and the SAFE Port Act.