Senator Bill Frist Writes Concerning Internet Gambling

Misfire · #1 10-10-2006, 01:29 AM

Before it wrapped up business before the elections, Congress passed an important new law to make it easier to crack down on illegal Internet gambling. I believe that America needed this law because Internet gambling presents a serious and growing problem that existing laws don’t address. The new law passed because members of the pro-family movement — including many people involved with Focus on the Family - brought the issue to the attention of both Democrats and Republicans.

A quick Web search reveals that Internet gambling has grown out of control. Although four major federal laws and hundreds of state policies already make it illegal to gamble on the Internet, enforcement has proven almost impossible. Since all significant gambling Web sites operate outside of the United States, they lie beyond the reach of federal or state regulators.

This hurt families throughout the country. Although Internet gambling did not have a prominent place on either party’s radar screen just a few years ago, its explosive growth and potential for damaging families made it a very important issue to me and many others in Congress.

In fact, online casino Web sites have the potential to turn every personal computer in the country into a miniature version of the Las Vegas Strip. Rigorous state enforcement means that brick and mortar casinos make a good faith effort to keep minors away from gambling. The same isn’t so for online casinos: a Web site can’t tell whether someone is 13 or 33. The existence of Internet gambling, moreover, makes a mockery of laws in states that forbid casino gambling. Experts who testified before Congress agreed social trouble has increased as a result: people who play casino games online are almost twice as likely to become problem gamblers as those who gamble in other places. Problem gambling destroys lives and families.

The new law, which President Bush is expected to sign later this month, makes it much more difficult to send money to Internet gambling sites. Internet casinos that want to accept credit cards, internet bank transfers, or any other illegal gambling payments will find themselves blocked. It’s important that people in the pro-family movement remain vigilant to be sure that the regulations implementing this law accomplish all that Congress intended. The government will also be able to ensure that Web site operators don’t provide links to gambling Web sites. Finally, anybody who violates the Internet gambling law can have all gambling licenses revoked: thus, any land or water-based casino operator that opens a gambling Web site could see all of its casinos shut down.

Some believe that Congress should have gone even further in amending and strengthening current laws, but the enforcement tools provided by this legislation is an essential step towards ensuring that we uphold the current law and punish those who break it.

We already have evidence that the law will work. As soon as the bill’s passage was announced, shares in the United Kingdom’s largest online gambling companies have dropped more than fifty percent on the news of Congress’ action. At least one major online casino has already decided to pull out of the U.S. market altogether and others appeared likely to follow suit. Internet casinos, which made a fortune violating existing laws, bet against Congress taking them on. Thanks to citizens concerned about America’s families, their bets didn’t pay off.

-Bill Frist, MD United States Senator, Tennessee United States Senate Majority Leader

DrewOnTilt · #2 10-10-2006, 01:31 AM

Thanks, but this was posted earlier.

Frist is clueless.

Misfire · #3 10-10-2006, 01:33 AM

Sorry, did a search and didn't find it.

kevin017 · #4 10-10-2006, 02:48 AM

P.S. Slimmity Jimmity has been running hot lately I hear. So why don't you and your kids have some family time, get back to traditional american values, and drop that paycheck honing your horse-betting skills.

She · #5 10-10-2006, 08:38 AM

Lovely.

CountingMyOuts · #6 10-10-2006, 09:53 AM

I am not trying to argue with you, but Senator Cat Killer knows exactly what he is doing (pandering to the MM).

DuderinoAB · #7 10-10-2006, 10:16 AM

I think we all need to put things in perspective. Frist doesn't have any interest in internet gaming. His life goes on pretty much the same whether it is allowed or not. He sees an easy way to score points with a group of people who are crucial to his chances of becoming the next president. Think of whatever life long goal you have. Now imagine you can meet that goal by simply banning pocket protectors. You don't care about pocket protectors, and if you ban them you might be able to reach your life long goal. I would do it in a heartbeat and so would you. You wouldn't hesitate for one second. None of us would. Now, to those that manufacture pocket protectors and to the millions of nerds that use them, this is the end of the world, the sky is falling, you're a Nazi or a fiesty proctologist, etc. In a way they have a right to feel that way, but you were just doing what was in your best interest.

cmac99 · #8 10-10-2006, 10:19 AM

I'm sure he wrote this while staring at his confederate flag..

genesisgkh33 · #9 10-10-2006, 10:50 AM

Please do not tell me I, nor anyone else would simply sell out anything to achieve a life goal. Some of us have character and principals. which is probably why we are not politicians.

Lori · #10 10-10-2006, 11:08 AM

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I'm sure he wrote this while staring at his terrible pokertracker stats

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Lori