UK Players - Who is this joker?

crzylgs · #1 10-13-2006, 02:49 AM

Is this a serious threat, or just political pandering?

Mike Weir, the SNP MP for Angus, last week called on the government to take strong action, similar to that passed by the US Congress, making it illegal for banks and credit card companies to process payments to online gambling companies.
He also lodged a motion at the House of Commons to push the campaign.
Weir last night told The Herald: "I'm very pleased about that (the banks' action), it's a significant step forward.
"But, I think we need to go further than that and introduce it (a ban on online gambling) in the UK.

From http://www.theherald.co.uk/business/72062.html

ttttt · #2 10-13-2006, 02:59 AM

We have our fair share of nob heads too!!

Richas · #3 10-13-2006, 05:23 AM

This link is to the gen on this no mark.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/michael_weir/angus

Good news is he has a marginal constituency, people from Angus should give him grief and the SNP is pretty marginal in this debate.

The bad news is that he sits on the Trade and Industry Committe and is an SNP ultra loyalist so this probably represents their view, no maverick he.

His voting record is pro civil liberties anti ID card etc so an appeal on civil liberties grounds might work, he is also interested in fair trade (presumably not for Antigua) so that might work. We should contact him (there is a link from the link above to his personal website.

http://www.angussnp.org/

Richas · #4 10-13-2006, 05:31 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3988581.stm

The SNP may be a lost cause, I blame the presbyterian roots....

Richas · #5 10-13-2006, 05:49 AM

My email to Mike Weir:

Quote:

I was disappointed to hear that you (and presumably the SNP) support the recent legislation in the US that makes it illegal for banks to process payments to internet based gambling sites and indeed want to extend such legislation here.

Firstly this is a civil liberties matter. I should be free to play online poker in a safe regulated environment that offers protection for my cash held on account and prevents access by minors.What justification could you have for denying me this freedom? In any case your proposal would not stop Internet gambling it would like prohibition drive it into the hands of criminals rather than stop it.

Secondly this US act is a clearly protectionist in direct contravention of the WTO ruling in the Antigua case. Small countries need to be supported in the WTO against the major economic powers protectionism if the WTO is to result in fairer trade.

Finally do you not find it bizarre that it should be legal for banks to process payments for assault rifles, the arms trade, drugs, pornography etc etc but illegal to process a payment for a small wager placed by a consenting adult with their own money? Internet poker allows players to play for pennies in a game of skill, against each other rather than the house. In a casino, home game or illegal speeler with it's criminal overtones and potential threat to both winner and loser alike the game is played at far higher stakes. Your proposal would do far more harm than good. Please reconsider your position on this as on civil liberties, fair trade and practical grounds you have made a mistake.

Auren · #6 10-13-2006, 05:56 AM

Good mail. Go after him as fast as hard as you can. Now we all know what it might mean to think these as silly suggestions that will never pass.

I would suggest sending the info to few UK based gambling industries as well so they are aware of it. And point how USA people ignored similar suggestion and what happened.

Ron Burgundy · #7 10-13-2006, 06:32 AM

No relation to Mike Weir the golfer, I hope.

Richas · #8 10-13-2006, 06:35 AM

Using the TheyWorkforYou website to search Hansard on Poker and Internet gambling reveals that Labour MP Ben Chapman is keen on tighter regulation and has a bit of a downer on Poker - it isn't clear if he is happy with the 2005 Gambling Act or if he is a total anti. He seems very anti under 18s and anti Gambling advertising.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/ben...n/wirral_south

Dennis Macshane (Labour Rotherham) also seems to welcome the US legislation before calling for the same legislation for child porn.

Don Foster (Lib Dem, Bath) seems keen to get the companies onshore and regulated asap.

Kelvin Hopkins (Labour, Luton North) is against the UK becoming a leader in online gambling.

Jo Swinson (Lib Dem, East Dunbartonshire) seems to be anti a Scottish Super Casino, The Labour Blackpool MP Gordon Marsden seems to want it there instead.

Tessa Jowell and Richard Caborn the Labour ministers in charge of this seems to be doing a good job defending regulation and bringing the companies on shore.

In the UK it is important to remember that the 2005 Gambling Act was agreed with the Conservative Party and implemented by Labour. It is unlikely it will be overturned any time soon. (Scotland may want to worry though as the Scots seem a bit more anti)

In all we have remarkably few antis in parliament.

crabclaw · #9 10-13-2006, 07:05 AM

[ QUOTE ]

Tessa Jowell and Richard Caborn the Labour ministers in charge of this seems to be doing a good job defending regulation and bringing the companies on shore.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're right about Tessa Jowell doing a good job defending the government's gambling policy. Here is a link to the gambling debate in parliament on the 9th October 2006.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate...r%3A10001#g4.2

She says:

1. "our approach to gambling regulation is different: to avoid prohibition, to introduce regulation ".

2. "We are concerned to ensure increasingly that online gambling companies understand the benefits of registering in this country".

3. "our aim to get online gambling companies to register and to come on-shore. If we do that, we will have better powers and those companies will be in a better position to act in a socially responsible way, so we will ensure that, in a rapidly increasing area of gambling, we can keep down the proportion of problem gambling. We are not marketing the UK as a centre. We are marketing the UK as having the toughest regulatory regime in the world and as being the safest place for people to gamble. It is a public interest test."

However as you say there are a few anti gambling MPs, including Diane Abbott, who said "The Secretary of State will be aware of concern about the rise in online gambling. It is difficult to see what social good will come from it, as it does not even create jobs. She will be aware, too, that the US Congress is examining steps to clamp down on online gambling by stopping credit card companies processing payments. Are the Government looking at such measures for the UK?".

SwingSwingSwing · #10 10-13-2006, 07:58 AM

I think Mike Weir's interest in online gambling comes from a case that happened in his constituency.

Richard Mahan, already known to be a compulsive gambler, used his parents credit cards to run up £68000 of debt in two days. He then tried to commit suicide.

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...al/5175722.stm

SSS