House seen debating gambling bill next week

[iggs111]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060706/...ng_congress_dc

[dogpick]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The full U.S. House of Representatives is expected to debate next week legislation that would attempt to ban Internet gambling, a $12 billion-a-year industry that gets half its revenue from American gamblers, two Republican lawmakers said on Thursday.

The legislation to be debated blends two versions of bills that have been offered by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (news, bio, voting record) of Virginia and Rep. Jim Leach (news, bio, voting record) of Iowa, the two said in a statement.

Leach's bill has been approved by both the House Financial Services Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. It has broad support among conservative and religious activist groups, who want to keep gambling out of easy reach of minors.

The anti-gambling bill is expected to be debated by the full House as early as Wednesday, a legislative aide said.

However, it remains unclear whether the Senate will pass similar legislation as Congress scrambles to finish its work before the November general elections. Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record) has introduced a bill similar to Leach's House bill but it has languished in the Senate.

Investors in some British-based gaming companies such as Party Gaming Plc and 888 Holdings have closely monitored U.S. legislation.

Although the U.S. Justice Department says a 1961 law that forbids interstate telephone betting also applies to the Internet, the House lawmakers say their legislation would clarify that point for prosecutors. It would also prohibit gambling businesses from settling Internet wagers with credit cards, checks or fund transfers.

"Gambling on the Internet has become an extremely lucrative business," Goodlatte said. "These offshore, fly-by-night Internet gambling operators are unlicensed, untaxed and unregulated and are sucking billions of dollars out of the United States."

An estimated 2,300 gambling sites now exist on the Internet, the lawmakers said.

[iggs111]

double post

[dogpick]

Why don't they just legalize gambling? I guess Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson don't want you losing your money at an online casino because then you can't hand it over to them to further perpetuate the myth of the magic man in the sky. Nice job Republicans voters.

[Bobtheicon]

Originally Posted by iggs111

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060706/...ng_congress_dc

When the f*ckers start legislating morality its time to revolt!! What's next? - Are they gonna shut down the nudie bars and massage parlors?

Funny how they leave the lottery alone. I'm sure if they could get a cut they wuld sing a different tune. F*ck 'em!!

[Jimmy K]

Originally Posted by dogpick

Why don't they just legalize gambling? I guess Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson don't want you losing your money at an online casino because then you can't hand it over to them to further perpetuate the myth of the magic man in the sky. Nice job Republicans voters.

Do you have to insult people's religion to make another one of your useless posts? I don't agree with the couple republicans sponsoring this bill, but don't forget this thing has some dem support as well (u seem to always forget about that). However, your useless nonsense about attacking a religion and belief system that the majority of people in this forum believe in is vintage dogpick.

If it were up to me gambling would be totally legalized and the gov't could get tax money from the offshore guys as well as taxes from people who win, would be a greater benefit that way.

[domafia]

Legalized online gambling will be a reality, its just a question of when. With our wishy-washy lawmakers it will take a couple of years before they will agree how to tax Americans, distribute licenses, ensure security, and establish a good age verification system.

Sounds more and more like we will have to temporarily go back in hiding gambling through locals in the near future though...

[Romanowski]

Betfair is lining up...

[dcp]

Simple solution: Just let Vegas take internet betting. Offshores will start to disappear once bettors can bet through a big casino who can claim safety of bets and the money will stay in America.

[Henry09]

Originally Posted by Bobtheicon

When the f*ckers start legislating morality its time to revolt!! What's next? - Are they gonna shut down the nudie bars and massage parlors?

Funny how they leave the lottery alone. I'm sure if they could get a cut they wuld sing a different tune. F*ck 'em!!

They would make a shit load of $$$ thru taxes if they legalised it man.

Shit Loads.

[LockFinder]

Originally Posted by dcp

Simple solution: Just let Vegas take internet betting. Offshores will start to disappear once bettors can bet through a big casino who can claim safety of bets and the money will stay in America.

Now that's an absolutely brilliant idea.

[dogpick]

Originally Posted by Jimmy K

Do you have to insult people's religion to make another one of your useless posts? I don't agree with the couple republicans sponsoring this bill, but don't forget this thing has some dem support as well (u seem to always forget about that).

LOL!!! Of course there will always be a few dems from Red States that support social conservatism. They are dead wrong, and true social liberals like myself should rid them from the party in primaries if at all possible. It is not the majority of dems that pander to the evangelicals because the Republicans have that game covered. You seem to always forget that.

As for religion, that is what is driving these bills. If people lose money gambling then they can hardly hand it over to the church. Its sound business for both Republicans and evangelicals to scratch each others backs on this one. Too bad our freedoms get tossed by the party that claims to fight for those same freedoms.

[Romanowski]

^ if you think religion is driving theses bills, you are sadly mistaken

money son

[dogpick]

Originally Posted by Bobtheicon

When the f*ckers start legislating morality its time to revolt!! What's next? - Are they gonna shut down the nudie bars and massage parlors?

The puritans in the Republican party probably have no limits. The party has been hijacked by evangelicals. Remember that the next time you go to the ballot box.

[dogpick]

Originally Posted by Romanowski

^ if you think religion is driving theses bills, you are sadly mistaken

money son

Money of religion. That is what is driving these bills.

The bill "has broad support among conservative and religious activist groups, who want to keep gambling out of easy reach of minors."

You can't hand your money to them if you already paid the casino. Gambling has always been the enemy of the church for this reason. Gambling with the church is of course always acceptable. At least at the Catholic church I used to attend when I was a child.