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

[futuredoc85]

Any speculation on how likely stars, party, etc. are to just block all american accounts if this goes down?

P.S. keep calling!

[MiltonFriedman]

Zero chance, unless the language includes a Wire Act amendment.

[jrbick]

This entire issue is a great example of what American politics has become. Sen. Frist, as far as we can tell, is not 100% opposed to gambling online. This isn't a personal agenda that stems from pure opposition to internet gambling. If it was, then he would stand his ground in such opposition and work harder to ban all forms of internet gambling. This seems to be an attempt to win the votes of certain groups and the hypocrisy of this bill will more than likely never reach the ears of those groups. It's obviously more than just about winning votes; it's about a coalition of several politicians in office with personal agendas geared towards one thing: staying in office. Obviously this could be a far stretch on my part since none of this comes directly from the mouths of these politicians, but then again, what does?



jrbick

[jrz1972]

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If not its encouraging news. While its not much of an obstacle for people who really want to play, I would see it as more of a problem than the financial stuff for Joe Fish. If he can go to the website and see that there are 60,000 people online playing I would think he would be willing to go jump through a few hoops in order to play. Either way I'd much rather the whole thing not pass [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Obviously this is all speculation right now. But if this language doesn't amend the Wire Act, doesn't include the stuff about ISPs, and leaves Neteller alone (which is a real possbility though far from a sure thing), then this could all be a big net win for us. This would be exactly the sort of thing that wouldn't have much of an effect on the industry, but would probably preempt stronger and more effective legislation down the road.

[Zele]

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Any speculation on how likely stars, party, etc. are to just block all american accounts if this goes down?

P.S. keep calling!

[/ QUOTE ]

Opinions differ (heatedly) on this subject. So as not to start another flame war, I direct you to this thread.

[ZBTHorton]

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Zero chance, unless the language includes a Wire Act amendment.

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I don't understand why. Half the poker sites out there have begun to stop accepting US customers, why wouldn't they?

I'm not argueing, because I don't know, just wondering.

[jrz1972]

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Half the poker sites out there have begun to stop accepting US customers, why wouldn't they?

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Because the US accounts for about 2/3 of the global online poker market, that's why.

[jrbick]

[ QUOTE ]
Any speculation on how likely stars, party, etc. are to just block all american accounts if this goes down?

P.S. keep calling!

[/ QUOTE ]

My guess is that they will come up with alternative funding methods, but I have no idea how or what. I don't understand how Neteller can possibly be effected by this peice of legislation when it isn't even a company based in the US. Can't they continue to do business with whoever they want to? Am I missing something here? Can someone explain that?


jrbick

[Megenoita]

First, I'm assuming someone who doesn't want a criminal business. Second, I believe the reason players haven't been prosecuted yet is b/c of the unclear nature of the Wire Act. This would fix that, and I think it will be enforced if passed.

[Megenoita]

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Megenoita,


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The saga continues, according to Congress Daily PM, but not in a good way. These a$$holes sure are determined:

JUDICIARY
Frist Making Last-Minute Bid To Block Online Gambling
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

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(emphasis added)


Obviously we won't know anything until we see the actual language of the truncated version of the bill, but fwiw. I believe this was clarified earlier in this thread; that the language of Frist's effort won't be containing an ammendment to the existing Wire Act.


jrbick

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It was confirmed later that this truncated form of the bill did include the amendment to the Wire Act.