R. Wexler (D-FL) to introduce legislation exempting poker from UIGEA!!

TheEngineer · #1 06-06-2007, 06:49 PM

Excellent news!!! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

http://www.reuters.com/article/compa...43855220070606

US lawmaker to seek online gambling ban exemptions
Wed Jun 6, 2007 5:48PM EDT
By Peter Kaplan

WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - A Florida congressman is expected to introduce legislation on Thursday exempting poker and some other games from the Internet gambling ban passed by Congress last year, the lawmaker's aide said on Wednesday.

The bill planned by Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler would carve out "skill games" such as online poker, bridge, chess and mahjong from the online gambling prohibition that President George W. Bush signed into law in October.

"It allows Americans to play poker online as they should have every right to do," a Wexler spokesman, Josh Rogin said on Wednesday.

The online gambling ban passed last year made it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites.

Wexler's bill will be unveiled the day before the House Financial Services Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the subject at the behest of Rep. Barney Frank, the committee chairman and an outspoken critic of the online gambling ban.

The subject of Friday's hearing will be legislation Frank introduced that would more broadly roll back the online gambling ban. Rogin said Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, is also supportive of Wexler's bill.

Scheduled to tesify at Friday's hearing are the heads of several online payment processors.

Wexler is a member of the financial services panel, as well as the House Judiciary Committee.

Rogin said skill games should be treated differently from games of pure chance. "You win and lose based on your ability," he said. "It's a deserving distinction."

Frank has conceded he does not yet have enough support in Congress to rescind the online gambling ban. The ban won majorities among both Republicans and Democrats and opponents of online gambling have vowed to fight efforts to rescind it.

The ban also irked some in the European Union, which is home to some online gambling companies that were forced to withdraw from the United States. It has been closely monitored by investors in some British-based gaming companies, such as Partygaming Plc (PRTY.L: Quote, Profile, Research and 888 Holdings Plc (888.L: Quote, Profile, Research.

In a crackdown on Internet gambling, U.S. prosecutors arrested BETonSPORTS' then- chief executive in July and its founder last month. Two founders of payments processor NETeller Plc were arrested in January.

BUTNAHHHH · #2 06-06-2007, 06:54 PM

CMON congress one time

MiltonFriedman · #3 06-06-2007, 07:06 PM

Let Frank study for a year or so, but support the Wexler bill ... if it really exempts poker.

Let's see what is introduced Thursday.

David

ImsaKidd · #4 06-06-2007, 07:06 PM

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY THIS YEAR PLZ PLZ PLZ.

This is really awesome though. Theres like 3 different "prongs" of the anti UIGEA attack.

1: This bill
2: Suit against Gonzalez
3: Whatever Frank is up to.

Let us gogogogogo

dontmesswithme · #5 06-06-2007, 07:10 PM

First the Colbert interview, now this. If this guy ran for President I'd actually vote for once.

SoftcoreRevolt · #6 06-06-2007, 07:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
CMON congress one time

[/ QUOTE ]

This is all I have to say.

MiltonFriedman · #7 06-06-2007, 07:20 PM

"If this guy ran for President, I'd actually vote for once"

Once? You're not from Chicago.

Zele · #8 06-06-2007, 07:21 PM

It's worth noting again that Wexler was a UIGEA supporter, and seems to have changed his mind quite a bit. Let this be a lesson to us.

TheEngineer · #9 06-06-2007, 07:27 PM

[ QUOTE ]
It's worth noting again that Wexler was a UIGEA supporter, and seems to have changed his mind quite a bit. Let this be a lesson to us.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, it's good to remember he used to support banning Internet gaming. He even spoke on the floor in favor of an early ban. He came around and voted against HR 4411 (the bill that became UIGEA), and now he's leading the charge for us. Peter King made a similar about-face. It's possible, so I sure hope everyone here will continue to write and call Congress, the DOJ, and the Treasury Dept.

We've been working hard, and good things are starting to happen. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

oldbookguy · #10 06-06-2007, 07:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
It's worth noting again that Wexler was a UIGEA supporter, and seems to have changed his mind quite a bit. Let this be a lesson to us.

[/ QUOTE ]

yes, true.
You know that old saying, hell was paved with good intentions, lol.
Even republican Pete King of N.Y. on the house Services Committee said the bill went farther than they thought and there was never an intention to ban poker. He is a sponsor of Frank''s bill. You may remember King, he was the one on TV (C-Span) the night it was passed heading up the GOP that night in the house.

obg