There will soon be no more fish (longish).

[tiltaholic]

I think this deserves its own thread, even though Wookie already posted this in the NC thread. Wookie feel free to lock or whatever.

Today the House of Representatives passed HR 4411, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. This bill, in its current wording, will make it severely more difficult if not impossible to place money on poker sites for the average, casual player. Now this bill needs to pass in the Senate, so I would urge all American citizens to contact their senators (you have 2) by email, mail, phone, or appointment (or all of the above) and voice your concerns over their vote and your preference.

There are many ways to send a form letter, or create one of your own choosing. This is one (below) I will be sending to my senators (that I already sent to my rep.). Feel free to make suggestions or modify.

ps. more info can be found in the legislation forum.
pps. don't bi[/i]tch or complain about the government. politics, like poker, is what it is and it's the rules we play by. simply act and educate as many people as possible.

Dear Senator xxxxxxxx,

I am a resident of CITY, STATE and am proud to have you representing my voice in Congress.

I am writing you in regard to Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (H.R.4411) which was recently passed in the House of Representatives. I urge your opposition to this bill and its Senate companion, which attempts to prohibit internet gambling through serpentine financial restrictions and the monitoring of internet usage. I realize it is tough to appear to be "pro-gambling". However, I urge you to take a stand against this blatant attempt by some moral zealots to criminalize my private life.

While I understand the importance of protecting children from problem gambling and preventing money laundering over the internet, it is ludicrous to assert that criminalizing online gambling by US citizens will accomplish either of these goals. This bill simply denies adult Americans the personal liberty to make decisions for themselves.

Gambling, and specifically the game of poker, is enjoyed by millions of law-abiding adult Americans safely from the privacy of their own home. Poker is shown on television regularly, and offered on the internet by reputable, publicly traded businesses such as Party Gaming and Cryptologic (traded on the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ respectively) that have strict age-requirements and limits on the amounts of money transfers allowed. Criminalizing online gambling would senselessly destroy a safe, responsibly conducted leisure activity under the most flimsy of pretenses.

Please do not allow the moral views of the extreme few to become law for all. I look forward to hearing your position on this matter, and would be happy to discuss it further with you.

Thank you for your time,

me

[shadow.]

fyi, i would change

[ QUOTE ]
However, I urge you to take a stand against this blatant attempt by some moral zealots to criminalize my private life.

[/ QUOTE ]

to remove "moral zealots" and insert something else. like "over-activists" or something similar. Moral zealots is a bit too inflammatory and shows needless bias.

Having worked a little bit in the political field, I urge everyone to call AND send this letter. Don't e-mail, actually print this out and sign it. If you have the opportunity, go down to your senator's state office and ask to be heard. Naturally, you'll probably just talk with an intern, but these visits, phone calls, and letters are all closely monitored and tracked.

FWIW, I put passage of this bill in the Senate at about 3:1 against.

[Rev. Good Will]

cliff notes:

everyone try to grind out a roll for 3/6 live as quickly as possible

EDIT - as an effor to be at least a teeny bit constructive, here is a link to make your job even EASIER, by providing your local congressman's/congresswoman's contact information
pwnz0r!1

[MaverickPS]

lol chalk up 2 emails sent for Texas

[tiltaholic]

[ QUOTE ]
to remove "moral zealots" and insert something else. like "over-activists" or something similar. Moral zealots is a bit too inflammatory and shows needless bias.

[/ QUOTE ]

i thought "moral zealot" was the non-inflamatory, impartial way to say compassionate conservative. my mistake [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
but these visits, phone calls, and letters are all closely monitored and tracked.

[/ QUOTE ]

for clarification: not for the purpose of determining illegal activities, but for the purpose of determining the issues of importance to the concerned citizenry.

[ QUOTE ]
FWIW, I put passage of this bill in the Senate at about 3:1 against.

[/ QUOTE ]

if you are right i am not happy with the chance of losing that wager.

[raphet99]

I sent letters to my senators (in CA) and the response was that they support this bill because it "protects the children". Send in your letters, but good luck in trying to change that tune...it looks too good for future campaigns.

[Fantam]

I live in England, but nonetheless there would be an enormous impact everywhere if online poker playing was not allowed in the States.

We dont really seem to have anyone to currently voice an opinion to about on-line poker over here.

The debate at the moment seems to be about the opening of super-casinos in low development areas.

But I very much hope that the Bill you mentioned does not get passed.

Our government seems to copy whatever the US does ! LOL. [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[Bilgefisher]

It seems the Brits have the right idea on online gambling.Theire new legislation. I wouldn't worry to much over there, except that the fish pond over here will dry up.

[Bilgefisher]

To me this is simple, want more people involed, go to the player base. Some of you guys see 100 different players a night. Tell them about the bill. Inform them on contacting their senators and house members that voted for this bill.

If you wish, think of this as a long term +ev.

[kumarshah]

I did this for Net Neutrality, nothing happened. The chances of it happening for a gambling legislation is even less.