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  #1  
Old 02-23-2007, 01:42 PM
TheEngineer TheEngineer is offline
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Default Fight UIGEA!! -- Action plan for week of 2/26

Over at BJ21.com, we started getting tired of having our rights trampled on, so we decided to do what we can to fight back. We plan to do something every week until we win the repeal of UIGEA. I hope everyone here will join in to help with the fight. Here's our plan for the week of 2/26:

Let's target Nevada's senators (and NV's three representatives secondarily) this week. Sen. Harry Reid is a logical target. He has made anti-Internet gaming statements but is pro-B&M gaming, so he's anything but an anti-gambling zealot (I posted some additional information on the Internet page). As he's the Senate Majority Leader, we'll have to target him eventually. The reason I think I'm proposing the entire Nevada delegation is that our discussion points should be consistent for all of them, as they generally represent the same constituents.

Senate:
Reid, Harry (contact at http://reid.senate.gov/contact/email_form.cfm)
Ensign, John (contact at http://ensign.senate.gov/forms/email_form.cfm)

House:
Berkley, Shelley, Nevada, 1st (a big supporter of ours)
Heller, Dean, Nevada, 2nd
Porter, Jon, Nevada, 3rd

Actions:
From 2/26 though 3/4, let's each send one email to each NV senator each day, plus two phone calls and one handwritten letter.

A couple of discussion points off the top of my head:

- Banning of Internet gaming may help large casinos in the short term, but harms Nevadans long term by starting a process where American's acceptance of gaming drops. If middle America believes gaming to be a vice, they won't take their families (or their money) to Nevada. Don't sell out Nevadans for the short term profits of large corporations.

- The poker boom has been fueled by Internet poker. The advertising associated with it has funded the many poker television shows. This has all worked to draw record numbers of tourists to Nevada.

- Large casino companies are at risk of being completely shut out of the Internet gaming market. Existing Internet companies have already developed business models that don't rely on American players. Nevada is losing a lot of potential revenue.

- The U.S. should desire a regulated market. That way, the U.S. can set and enforce the age limits. Also, money laundering issues can be monitored.

- WTO compliance.

Thanks to everyone who participates. I'm looking forward to fighting for our rights. Please reply to this thread if you participate. Thanks!
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  #2  
Old 02-23-2007, 01:45 PM
TheEngineer TheEngineer is offline
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Default Contact Info

Senator Harry Reid
Lloyd D. George Building
333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 8016
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: 702-388-5020
Fax: 702-388-5030
Email: http://reid.senate.gov/contact/email_form.cfm (accepted from non-NV address)

or

528 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542
Fax: 202-224-7327
Toll Free for Nevadans:
1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343)

------------------------------------

Senator John Ensign
Lloyd George Federal Building
333 Las Vegas Boulevard South Suite 8203
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
Phone: (702) 388-6605
Fax: (702) 388-6501
Toll Free: (877) 894-7711
Email: http://ensign.senate.gov/forms/email_form.cfm (accepted from non-NV address)

or

119 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6244
Fax: (202) 228-2193

------------------------------------------

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley
2340 Paseo Del Prado, Suite D-106
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone702) 220-9823
Fax: (702) 220-9841
Email: http://berkley.house.gov/contact/email.html (accepted from non-NV address)

or

U.S. House of Representatives
405 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4708
Phone202) 225-5965
Fax: (202) 225-3119
Toll free: (877) 409-2488

-------------------------------------------

Congressman Dean Heller
1023 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6155 (Office)
202-225-5679 (Fax)
Email: http://heller.house.gov/zipauth.shtml (NV 2nd district residents only)

no LV address or phone listed on web site

--------------------------------------------

Congressman Jon Porter
Washington, D.C. office
218 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3252
Fax: 202-225-2185
Email: www.house.gov/writerep (NV 3rd residents only)

Henderson office
2470 St. Rose Pkwy. Suite 204
Henderson, NV 89074
Phone: 702-387-4941
Fax: 702-434-1378
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  #3  
Old 02-23-2007, 03:37 PM
Uglyowl Uglyowl is offline
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Default Re: Contact Info

I like the idea of setting agendas and it doesn't take to long to accomplish the "tasks".

It can't hurt, so I will be contacting these guys next week..anyone else in? How many from BJ21? Is this getting poker exemption or complete repeal?

BJ21= blackjack site I would assume right? (at work can't get there)
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  #4  
Old 02-23-2007, 06:37 PM
TheEngineer TheEngineer is offline
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Location: USA
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Default Re: Contact Info

[ QUOTE ]
I like the idea of setting agendas and it doesn't take to long to accomplish the "tasks".

It can't hurt, so I will be contacting these guys next week..anyone else in? How many from BJ21? Is this getting poker exemption or complete repeal?

BJ21= blackjack site I would assume right? (at work can't get there)

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for joining in. It seemed to be an easy way for us to magnify our efforts significantly. Also, Reid will be flooded with our correspondence ("flooded" may be optimistic, but he will hear from a lot of us all at once, rather than piecemeal).

Yes, BJ21 is an advantage player website with a primary focus on card counting. Great site as well.
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  #5  
Old 02-24-2007, 02:00 AM
TheEngineer TheEngineer is offline
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Default Harry Reid\'s response to wizardofodds.com\'s Michael Shackelford

Harry Reid's response to wizardofodds.com's Michael Shackelford (http://wizardofodds.com/general/hr4411.html ):

July 17, 2006

Mr. Michael Shackelford
(address removed)
Las Vegas, Nevada

Dear Mr. Shackelford:

Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to legislation that would restrict Internet gambling. I appreciate hearing from you.

As you may know, the House of Representatives passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (H.R. 4411) on July 11, 2006 by a 317-93 vote. Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and James Leach (R-IA) introduced this measure, which would make it illegal for financial institutions or intermediaries to process payments to offshore casinos through bettors' electronic funds, checks, debits and other e-wallet transactions. The bill also updates the Wire Act of 1961, which forbids the transmission of betting over telephone lines, to specifically outlaw online gambling through any communication network. Furthermore, the bill fosters U.S. cooperation with foreign governments to identify Internet gaming operations that are being used for money laundering and other criminal activities. Criminal penalties would increase from two to five years. It should be noted the House bill protects Nevada's right to regulate gambling on the state level.

As a former gaming regulator, I believe that the integrity of the gaming industry can only be maintained through strong regulation. I am very skeptical that current efforts to regulate Internet gaming would be successful due to the unique challenges posed by its elusive format. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind should the Senate consider similar legislation.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. For more information about my work for Nevada, my role in the United States Senate Leadership, or to subscribe to regular e-mail updates on the issues that interest you, please visit my Web site at http://reid.senate.gov. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

My best wishes to you.

Sincerely,

HARRY REID

United States Senator

HR:ss
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  #6  
Old 02-24-2007, 06:12 PM
TheEngineer TheEngineer is offline
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Default John Ensign\'s response to wizardofodds.com\'s Michael Shackelford

John Ensign's response to wizardofodds.com's Michael Shackelford (http://wizardofodds.com/general/hr4411.html ):

July 26, 2006

Mr. Michael Shackleford
(address removed)
Las Vegas, Nevada 89117

Dear Mr. Shackleford:

Thank you for contacting me about legislation to prohibit online gaming. I value the opinions of every Nevadan and am always grateful to those who take the time to inform me of their views.

For several years, Congress has been considering Internet gaming legislation which would modernize current law and expand the scope of prohibited activities for facilitating online gaming. Thus far, none of these bills have been signed into law. Most of the estimated 1,500 Internet gaming sites operate in offshore locations - likely beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement and the rules and regulations that apply to American casinos.

As legislation has come before the Senate in past years, I worked to ensure that the proposals did not unfairly discriminate against certain forms of gaming, such as the casinos located in our state, while favoring others, such as gaming on Indian reservations and race tracks. Furthermore, it is vital that individual states maintain the right to regulate gaming operations within their borders.

On July 11, 2006, the House of Representatives passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (H.R. 4411). This bill would attempt to prohibit financial transactions from taking place in connection with unlawful Internet gambling. If enacted into law, this bill may not stop illegal gambling because technology moves so fast and overseas operators have been very clever in devising alternate payment schemes to circumvent regulations. I am especially concerned about keeping illegal Internet gambling away from children, and I will be evaluating various proposals as they come before the Senate, including H.R. 4411.

Thank you again for contacting me. I will keep your thoughts, as well as those of all Nevadans, in mind as I serve our state in the Senate. Should you have any other questions or comments or would like to sign up for my monthly newsletter, please do not hesitated to either write or e-mail me via my website at http://ensign.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

JOHN ENSIGN
United States Senator
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  #7  
Old 02-24-2007, 06:47 PM
Uglyowl Uglyowl is offline
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Default Re: John Ensign\'s response to wizardofodds.com\'s Michael Shackelford

Anyone else.. the concept of "Action Plans" seems a good one to me.
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  #8  
Old 02-24-2007, 08:54 PM
kyleb kyleb is offline
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Default Re: John Ensign\'s response to wizardofodds.com\'s Michael Shackelford

This is a great idea. I should really read B21 as well.
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  #9  
Old 02-24-2007, 09:01 PM
TheEngineer TheEngineer is offline
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Default Re: John Ensign\'s response to wizardofodds.com\'s Michael Shackelford

[ QUOTE ]
This is a great idea. I should really read B21 as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for joining in. This seems like something we can do without much more effort than we're now using complaining to each other on this site.

There are a number of things we can do. Sometimes we can target politicians. Other times we can coordinate sending letters to the media (they don't seem to know we exist, so any letters will help, I think). We may or may not win, but at least we can fight back and give ourselves a chance, right?
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  #10  
Old 02-25-2007, 07:33 AM
kyleb kyleb is offline
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Default Re: Fight UIGEA!! -- Action plan for week of 2/26

I sent emails to the NV Senators and have already contacted my state representatives about the UIGEA and other state-specific gambling issues coming up in Washington.
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