More Online Gambling Legislation Introduced

[Coy_Roy]

http://www.gambling911.com/online-gambling-060707.html

[Coy_Roy]

With suddenly all the new bills being introduced, It's starting to look like a planned "shotgun" approach.

Even if not "planned', it certainly will have that effect.

[Coy_Roy]

For some reason the story has been removed, that link i gave above no longer points to the story i was posting about.

[Coy_Roy]

Here's the story from EOG:

Additional Online Gambling legislation Introduced Today

written June 7, 2007

Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative Supports Legislation to Remove Unnecessary Government Prohibition on Internet Gambling

Bill would generate billions of dollars for important government programs and protect freedom of individuals to gamble online.

June 7, 2007 – The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative announced its support for the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act, introduced today by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA). The bill would create a taxation regime for online gambling companies to be licensed under the recently introduced Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2046).

As Congress works to find funding for critical government programs, Congressman McDermott’s legislation is expected to generate between $6 billion and $25 billion in revenues for the U.S. Treasury in the first five years of enactment.

“The government should not be telling Americans what we can and can’t do on the Internet,” said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Initiative. ”By prohibiting a popular, recreational activity that many millions enjoy in the comfort of their own homes, the U.S. is also losing out on the opportunity to collect billions in revenue.”

Regulated Internet gambling would protect an individual’s freedom to use the Internet as they choose, generate funding for critical government programs and protect against underage gambling, compulsive gambling, money laundering, identity theft and fraud. Current efforts to prohibit Internet gambling are futile. Americans continue to gamble online, but without safeguards and protections.

Congressman McDermott’s legislation functions as a companion bill to the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, which would establish a licensing and enforcement framework for regulated Internet gambling in the U.S.

Under the licensing legislation, each Internet gambling operator licensed by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) would be required to pay a fee of two percent of all funds deposited by any person placing a bet. The license fee would be paid solely by the Internet gambling operator and would not be deducted from the deposit of the person placing a bet. Licensed operators would also be required to ensure the collection of applicable federal and state taxes from licensees and from individual gamblers.

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV), who is also a co-sponsor of the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, recently introduced another Internet gambling bill. This increasing activity in Congress further indicates the growing interest and support for reform that allows American’s the freedom to gamble online.

The Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative is mobilizing supporters across the country to support regulated Internet gambling. Founders of the Initiative are the UC Group and Baker Tilly. Additional endorsers are highlighted on the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative Web site. The UC Group provides integrated payment processing services and logistical support to online product and service providers. Baker Tilly is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, the 8th largest accountancy network in the world by fees.

For more information on the Initiative, please visit www.safeandsecureig.org. The website provides a means by which individuals can register support for regulated Internet gambling with their elected representatives.

http://www.eog.com/news/full-article.aspx?id=25380

[Coy_Roy]

The original link has now been fixed on 911.

Nobody cares about this? Hmm, interesting.

[Uglyowl]

Geez, with all these bills being introduced I feel like I am playing hold'em with 3 hole cards, hopefully I am not falsely optimistic. Bravo politicians who are doing the right thing.

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
The original link has now been fixed on 911.

Nobody cares about this? Hmm, interesting.

[/ QUOTE ]

I care. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I cross-posted the info to bj21.com as well, along with the following comment:

[ QUOTE ]
Last year, opposing us was motherhood and apple pie, or so it likely seemed to many politicians. They figured opposing us was risk-free. Now, they're finding out differently. First, Leach was kicked out of the House [tell me I can't click my mouse, lose your seat in the House! :-) ], and the Republicans were sent down to the minority in both houses. Next, we introduced IGREA. While not perfect, it served the purpose of putting us on the offensive. Many of us are writing and calling, and we're being heard. Then, Al D'Amato joined our effort via the PPA and started putting the bug in legislators' ears about our rights. Now, we have a few more bills in the House, plus a lawsuit, plus the WTO case brought by Antigua. Seems the shear magnitude of these should really help us stay on the offensive. Last year, Rep. Goodlatte vowed to come back this year with a ban on Internet gambling. He hasn't.

In other news, Party Poker and 888.com entered into settlement talks with the DOJ last week. Some have speculated that this is so they're clear to get licensed under future potential U.S. Internet gambling licencing.


[/ QUOTE ]

[Merkle]

using the link above I am preparing to send my first letter abot online gambling to my state rep. I also wanted to add my two-cents about the WTO in said letter. Would a few people more knowledgable than myself check the following paragraph before I include it to make sure my statements are accurate.

I am also appalled by the actions of the US Government in response to the recent World Trade Organization ruling as it pertains to online gambling. We have been the leading supporter of the WTO and used it’s authority to our benefit more than any other single country. Yet we refuse to honor our commitments under this treaty when we have lost a ruling? We legally allow gambling of various sorts throughout the U.S. ranging from lotteries to horse racing as well as casinos in several states, our denial of Antigua’s right to compete in our markets is nothing less than a blatant act of protectionism. Regulating our online gambling and allowing foreign competitors is the appropriate thing to do in light of the recent WTO ruling.

Thanks for any help on this.

BTW I really liked how the site had a form letter that allowed you to select paragraphs that you wished to include.

[whangarei]

[ QUOTE ]
I am also appalled by the actions of the US Government in response to the recent World Trade Organization ruling as it pertains to online gambling. We have been the leading supporter of the WTO and used it’s authority to our benefit more than any other single country. Yet we refuse to honor our commitments under this treaty when we have lost a ruling? We legally allow gambling of various sorts throughout the U.S. ranging from lotteries to horse racing as well as casinos in several states, our denial of Antigua’s right to compete in our markets is nothing less than a blatant act of protectionism. Regulating our online gambling and allowing foreign competitors is the appropriate thing to do in light of the recent WTO ruling.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunately accuracy of facts is overrated in politics. But I agree with the goal of being accurate. And I think your paragraph does a good job of describing the issue. Thanks for contacting your Congressmen!

[TheEngineer]

H.R. 2607, Internet Gambling Tax Act

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2607