America's Watchdog releases "report" regarding UIGEA circumvention

[chrisptp]

sigh...

http://www.prweb.com//releases/2007/8/prweb549001.htm

their 'report' is very thin on the details, but looks like this group can be added to the list of those actively lobbying against what we're lobbying for...

their webpage offers essentially no details about their org, and in fact there's no mention of online gaming on their page (that i could find with a quick scan, anyhow)... anyone know more about them? seems like a very thin front for something else

http://americaswatchdog.com

[meleader2]

i didn't see anything in there regarding poker. just internet casinos.

[Quanah Parker]

Yellow journalism is alive and well, I see.

Despite the obvious slant and sensationalism of the article, it does acknowledge prohibition is a policy of failure and push for US regulation.

What the heck is Americas Watchdog anyway?
I couldn't find much thru a quick search.
Seems strange for them to take such an alarmist and aggressive stance.
Looked like a liberal "fight the man" type site on the surface, but Americas Watchdog seems to be something else.
I saw a their name popping up for a lot of mortgage and real estate stuff. Strange.

[oldbookguy]

Most interesting. Their site makes no mention at all, they hid the release at another site.

A real attack on us though.

A letter to them will follow shortly and be posted.

E-Mail them at:
AmericasWatchdog@aol.com (can't be a big site, not even e-mail using the organization name).

Also, the press Release Host Site, Engineer, we can make GREAT use of this place and maybe make some ethanol from hay there.

We will need a simple host site to trackback to and I can provide this later this afternoon or early evening.

obg

[tangled]

There might be a clue in their rhetoric as to who is backing this. They argue that the current US facing sites are dangerous and crooked and the US player is at substantial risk. But they then argue that online gaming should be regulated to protect Americans. Party was arguing this from the day UIGEA was passed. Also, Harrah's has the same reason to push this garbage.

Also, if they are backed by a online gaming interest wanting to get into the US market, then they would not want anyone to know it as their bias would be clearly evident.

I am not accusing any site, I am just looking for clues.

[permafrost]

[ QUOTE ]
i didn't see anything in there regarding poker. just internet casinos.

[/ QUOTE ]

From the article [ QUOTE ]
Americas Watchdog is also formally demanding that all major U.S. credit/debit card issuers, and U.S. banks, cease and desist from allowing any U.S. citizen or resident to utilize their credit or debit cards in any transaction involving a "on line casino, sports book or any type Internet gambling ".

[/ QUOTE ]

And what is this "formally demanding" phrase? Have they sued and are trolling for persons to join in?

[Legislurker]

The language is very Naderlike. Anti-predatory lending and corporate crime are part of the Green/Progressive agenda. Remember, the far left hates gambling as much as FoF.

[permafrost]

[ QUOTE ]
The language is very Naderlike. Anti-predatory lending and corporate crime are part of the Green/Progressive agenda. Remember, the far left hates gambling as much as FoF.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe, but would the following quote fit that agenda?
[ QUOTE ]
According to the groups President, "what the U.S. Congress and the President should now do is amend current legislation that will continue to outlaw off-shore Internet gambling, but allow U.S. states like Nevada or Native American Gaming the ability to provide a regulated version to U.S. citizens, with a fee/tax split between participating individual states". At least this way the environment could be regulated and much safer for U.S. players.

[/ QUOTE ]

It seems to be asking for a wide form of IHA pool enabling law, to go along with the exisiting intrastate gambling regulation regimes. (and that is a good idea for poker, but if most gambling is included, it would be hard to pass)

[Legislurker]

The primary purpose of the site seems to be the credit/mortgage industry. What state has a large progressive left, indian casinos, labor unions, Greens, and an active grassroots political environment? Where does Nader live?
California.

[rminusq]

25 uses of the phrase "Americas Watchdog" including 5 "According to Americas Watchdog" and two "in the opinion of Americas Watchdog". In an article of 38 sentences, that's pretty impressive repetition. They want anyone who's been paid to let them inspect the evidence... yeah that's not gonna happen.

[Grasshopp3r]

The web designer is from Seattle, which is close enough to California.

[poker_bill]

What's funny is that there's no mention of poker in that article at all. What the hell were they playing?

[oldbookguy]

Agreed, they are an odd group and trolling may be what they are up to.

Visiting the site links to seem to be promoting for class action suits.

The number listed to call is a D.C. number as well.

obg

[Legislurker]

[ QUOTE ]

Agreed, they are an odd group and trolling may be what they are up to.

Visiting the site links to seem to be promoting for class action suits.

The number listed to call is a D.C. number as well.

obg

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe they tried to parlay their retainer fee at Bodog before they knew it was rigged, so this is their revenge.

[rminusq]

[ QUOTE ]
What's funny is that there's no mention of poker in that article at all. What the hell were they playing?

[/ QUOTE ]

They always use the word "casino", so quite possibly they were playing blackjack, roulette, etc. and/or betting on sports.

[MiltonFriedman]

How about, " STFU" !!!

Are you trying to school people who want to f*ck with your ability to get cashouts processed ?

[MiltonFriedman]

In May, America's Watchdog went on a rant concerning internet sales of cigarettes and/or prescription drugs ... similar rhetoric.

They WERE kind enough to provide contact information:

call 866-714-6466.

###

Americas Watchdog
THOMAS MARTIN
866-714-6466

Wonder how they respond if contacted ?

[permafrost]

[ QUOTE ]
Americas Watchdog has uncovered little to no compliance related to obeying any part of the legislation enacted by President Bush in October of 2006 (The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act).


[/ QUOTE ]

His "no compliance related to" UIGEA is strange since compliance isn't expected yet. The bank/card regulations that will have to be complied with, don't exist yet. The unlawful gambling sites weren't expected to comply with the prohibition, that's why there will be regs for the banks, or maybe there won't.

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
sigh...

http://www.prweb.com//releases/2007/8/prweb549001.htm

their 'report' is very thin on the details, but looks like this group can be added to the list of those actively lobbying against what we're lobbying for...

their webpage offers essentially no details about their org, and in fact there's no mention of online gaming on their page (that i could find with a quick scan, anyhow)... anyone know more about them? seems like a very thin front for something else

http://americaswatchdog.com

[/ QUOTE ]

It seems like they're just some nobodies trying to make a name for themselves. Their press release went nowhere and is filled with typos (including their organization name). It's probably just one lonely guy with a web site who thinks he can save the world from corporate fraud.

[oldbookguy]

"On the rare occasion there was a win...."

Maybe he is a FISH who got reeled in really good and is just pissed off.

obg

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]

"On the rare occasion there was a win...."

Maybe he is a FISH who got reeled in really good and is just pissed off.

obg

[/ QUOTE ]

I wasn't too impressed with the rigor of his analysis of the win rate one could expect at the various casinos. /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[fnurt]

I sense there's some scamminess going on here. Googling the name got me at least two links of companies that America's Watchdog has supposedly "endorsed" as being incredibly reputable. I don't know if the guy is astroturfing or just a stock scammer or something, but I get a seedy vibe.

[Ron Burgundy]

[ QUOTE ]
It's probably just one lonely guy with a web site who thinks he can save the world from corporate fraud.

[/ QUOTE ]

[DeliciousBass]

"...an average U.S. citizen has a about a 1 in 10 chance of ever winning at an Internet casino."

I like my chances! I've made far more than ten trips to Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, AC, Tahoe, Mississippi, St. Louis, etc. and have never won anywhere close to this often. (I like the slots and the dice...what can I say?)

"If a consumer has played in a "on line casino or sports book" and has copies of their "winnings" in the form of checks or wire transfers since November 2006, Americas Watchdog would like to inspect these documents."

Sounds reasonable. Are you sure there's no other highly personal information I could send to you? Except I'm afraid the only "copies" of my "winnings" are in the form of my 56" TV and several car payments...sorry.

On a side note: I'm curious to see how they rig the sportsbook.

On another side note: I think I'll send the brainchildren at Americas Watchdog a letter consisting of a single apostrophe in 900 font.

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
On another side note: I think I'll send the brainchildren at Americas Watchdog a letter consisting of a single apostrophe in 900 font.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Maybe his keyboards broken (practicing writing like Americas Watchdog).

It is funny how one guy can pretend to be anything he wants on the web. I'm humored that he named himself "Americas Watchdog".