Online gambling to be attached to defense bill???- article Uh oh!!!

[Jack Bando]

He wants to allow betting on the ponies on the internet, right? Are those accounts funded in the same ways as poker?

[nrog]

Guys...all I can tell you is we (NROG) have a team in D.C as I write this and it's a real threat. This is not one threat either. We must first stop the attempt to piggyback on the DoD bill again. This could happen as early as today. The bill will be out of conference by Monday. If this attempt fails FRIST already has another bill he's eyeing so we'll have to rally the troops again next week.

Levin (D-MI) and Warner (R-VA) are the ranking members of the SASC and have said no to this once already. Lets flood their office with calls along with calling your Senator's office. I have

If you need numbers they are all at www.saveonlinegaming.com.

[Nate tha\\\' Great]

[ QUOTE ]
He wants to allow betting on the ponies on the internet, right? Are those accounts funded in the same ways as poker?

[/ QUOTE ]

This is scrubbed from youbet.com, a US-based horse racing site:

How are funds deposited and withdrawn from my wagering account?
Funds may be deposited to your wagering account in the following ways:
1. By ExpressCash (electronic check transfers). Funds can be transferred to your wagering account directly from your checking account.
2. By credit card, using an independent fee-charging vendor (details are included in the membership kit).
3. By mail, using a cashier's check, money order or personal check. Please allow 5-7 business days to process your deposit.
4. By wiring the money.

=======

There's no mention of NETELLER, although I didn't dig around too much.

[Mr.K]

[ QUOTE ]
Guys...all I can tell you is we (NROG) have a team in D.C as I write this and it's a real threat. This is not one threat either. We must first stop the attempt to piggyback on the DoD bill again. This could happen as early as today. The bill will be out of conference by Monday. If this attempt fails FRIST already has another bill he's eyeing so we'll have to rally the troops again next week.

Levin (D-MI) and Warner (R-VA) are the ranking members of the SASC and have said no to this once already. Lets flood their office with calls along with calling your Senator's office. I have

If you need numbers they are all at www.saveonlinegaming.com.

[/ QUOTE ]

must... resist... urge... to... say... I... told... you... so...

Oops.

[BluffTHIS!]

Mr. K et. al.,

Any indication on what germaine issues in the bill remain contentious and still to be worked out? It would *seem* that once all the actual defense issues are worked out, then they aren't just going to delay filing for any types of piggybacks.

Also of course, since you have noted before that this bill doesn't have to pass right now as opposed to later, or even at all apparently as it merely directs how an otherwise appropriated lump sum for defense is to be parceled out, if the bill gets totally logjammed on defense matters like the national guard thing, then that is good for us in the short run before adjournment.

[antneye]

PPA issued a press release..........


http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060922/dcf019.html?.v=62

[Berge20]

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. K et. al.,

Any indication on what germaine issues in the bill remain contentious and still to be worked out? It would *seem* that once all the actual defense issues are worked out, then they aren't just going to delay filing for any types of piggybacks.

Also of course, since you have noted before that this bill doesn't have to pass right now as opposed to later, or even at all apparently as it merely directs how an otherwise appropriated lump sum for defense is to be parceled out, if the bill gets totally logjammed on defense matters like the national guard thing, then that is good for us in the short run before adjournment.

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct - Once they get the major issues ironed out, I would imagine they will file immediately.

[Berge20]

Update from Congress Daily PM:

"Senate Majority Leader Frist's bid to attach a rider to the defense authorization bill that would crack down on online gambling has picked up momentum after it was thought to be written off earlier this week. "We are working and pushing and trying and hoping and negotiating -- but it's not done yet,"said a top Frist aide, who declined to detail negotiations.

Gambling industry lobbyists have stepped up their presence, especially aiming to persuade the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees to jettison the provision as they attempt to file the conference report as early as Monday. "The question is whether the authorizers get enough grief over this that they force the [House and Senate] leaders to move off," said one top lobbyist. "Time is a major factor now. They have to file soon." The House in July passed, 317-93, a comprehensive measure to ban most forms of online gambling. Lobbyists said they feel the issue is primarily being driven by Frist's bid to court conservative Christians who play a critical role in the GOP presidential nominating process and for whom the online gambling ban is a top legislative priority.

Frist is pushing a truncated version of the House bill that essentially would bar banks and credit card companies from processing payments for online bets and make it a crime for a gambling business to accept credit cards, wire transfers or any other bank instrument to process payments for illegal gaming transactions. But, according to lobbyists, Frist was able to pick up key Senate support after including a carve-out for the politically powerful horse racing industry, which has supporters such as Majority Whip McConnell. House leaders appear inclined to go along with Frist, according to lobbyists, even though his rider does not include House language sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., that would amend the 1961 Wire Act to prohibit businesses from using all forms of new technology to accept bets over state and foreign lines. Goodlatte had strenuously fought to include changes to the Wire Act in the House bill, but that language has been considered too contentious to take up in the Senate. A top aide for Speaker Hastert said he was on board with Frist's bid. One lobbyist was even more direct: "Hastert's rolling Goodlatte." Goodlatte's office did not respond for comment.

One key question is the influence of the American Gaming Association, especially AGA President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., a former chairman of the Republican National Committee. The AGA is calling for a commission to study the online gambling industry, including whether the United States should regulate and tax the industry rather than enacting a complete ban. It also counts Senate Minority Leader Reid as an ally. "I favor a ban. I don't like it. But failing that, I would certainly go along with a study," Reid said Thursday. Lobbyists said Native American tribes with gaming interests also are contacting lawmakers. Sen.
Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., a gambling opponent, said Thursday he thought that his side would eventually succeed even if the rider was not included on the defense authorization bill, but possibly another piece of legislation before the end of the year. "We will find a way to get legislation on online gambling this year," said Kyl, who faces a tough re-election bid. "Some gambling interests oppose what we are trying to do, but I am confident that we have a way to get it done." -- by Bill Swindell

[DuderinoAB]

[ QUOTE ]
Update from Congress Daily PM:

"Senate Majority Leader Frist's bid to attach a rider to the defense authorization bill that would crack down on online gambling has picked up momentum after it was thought to be written off earlier this week. "We are working and pushing and trying and hoping and negotiating -- but it's not done yet,"said a top Frist aide, who declined to detail negotiations.

Gambling industry lobbyists have stepped up their presence, especially aiming to persuade the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees to jettison the provision as they attempt to file the conference report as early as Monday. "The question is whether the authorizers get enough grief over this that they force the [House and Senate] leaders to move off," said one top lobbyist. "Time is a major factor now. They have to file soon." The House in July passed, 317-93, a comprehensive measure to ban most forms of online gambling. Lobbyists said they feel the issue is primarily being driven by Frist's bid to court conservative Christians who play a critical role in the GOP presidential nominating process and for whom the online gambling ban is a top legislative priority.

Frist is pushing a truncated version of the House bill that essentially would bar banks and credit card companies from processing payments for online bets and make it a crime for a gambling business to accept credit cards, wire transfers or any other bank instrument to process payments for illegal gaming transactions. But, according to lobbyists, Frist was able to pick up key Senate support after including a carve-out for the politically powerful horse racing industry, which has supporters such as Majority Whip McConnell. House leaders appear inclined to go along with Frist, according to lobbyists, even though his rider does not include House language sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., that would amend the 1961 Wire Act to prohibit businesses from using all forms of new technology to accept bets over state and foreign lines. Goodlatte had strenuously fought to include changes to the Wire Act in the House bill, but that language has been considered too contentious to take up in the Senate. A top aide for Speaker Hastert said he was on board with Frist's bid. One lobbyist was even more direct: "Hastert's rolling Goodlatte." Goodlatte's office did not respond for comment.

One key question is the influence of the American Gaming Association, especially AGA President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., a former chairman of the Republican National Committee. The AGA is calling for a commission to study the online gambling industry, including whether the United States should regulate and tax the industry rather than enacting a complete ban. It also counts Senate Minority Leader Reid as an ally. "I favor a ban. I don't like it. But failing that, I would certainly go along with a study," Reid said Thursday. Lobbyists said Native American tribes with gaming interests also are contacting lawmakers. Sen.
Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., a gambling opponent, said Thursday he thought that his side would eventually succeed even if the rider was not included on the defense authorization bill, but possibly another piece of legislation before the end of the year. "We will find a way to get legislation on online gambling this year," said Kyl, who faces a tough re-election bid. "Some gambling interests oppose what we are trying to do, but I am confident that we have a way to get it done." -- by Bill Swindell

[/ QUOTE ]

So no ISP block is proposed? Am I reading this correctly?

[Berge20]

No clue since I haven't been able to see the proposed language. It's one of those things that the media report could have simply overlooked or it may not be in the language being floated.