Internet gambling bill

[underdog51]

Internet Gambling Bill Stalled and unlikely to Pass In Senate

written September 13, 2006

It appears that the Internet gambling bill won't make it through the Senate this year, thanks largely to the banking industry.

In July, the House of Representatives passed an anti-Internet gambling bill that would:

--clarify that the 1961 Wire Act prevents companies from accepting online wagers;

--bar credit-card companies from processing payments to online gaming sites; and

--ban banks from processing electronic funds transfers or e-checks for online gambling transactions.

A similar measure is pending in the Senate but faces significant opposition.

Of more importance, the banking sector has voiced strong opposition to provisions that require banks to block electronic funds transfers or e-check payments to online gambling sites. These provisions are essentially broad and unenforceable, the banks claim; moreover, even if it were possible to surmount technical obstacles, prospective gamblers could easily use alternative means to finance such transactions.

No bill is likely before the end of this legislative year, leaving the online gambling issue to the new Congress, which convenes in January 2007.

This is great news for those who enpoy Internet Gambling

[BigJohn]

No responses? You figure Romo would be creaming on himself with responses.

[The Judge]

The bill is toast and never really had a chance to begin with.

First of all, the Senate has bigger fish to fry.

Secondly, there are many lame duck Senators who simply don't give a shit about this issue.

Thirdly, this in an election year which is the only reason this bill got through the House with no opposition from the gambling lobby in the first place.

On top of the usual distractions, we have an election in Novemeber and none of the Senators up for re-election are not willing to take a stance on this controversial subject.

Then after the election, the Senate takes their Christmas break.

When they reconvene in January, we have a number of freshmen Senators who can't find their ass with both hands and are incredibly unproductive.

Oh yeah, did I fail to mention that we are "at war" and the Senate has bigger fish to fry?

[amhlilhaus]

here's an idea, how about instead of banning internet gambling, they LEGALIZE it in the us so nevada can get in on it, then they can collect their tax revenues and everybody's happy (except extreme moralists who claim gambling is wrong and terrible yet have church fundraisers using bingo, a gambling game). throw anything to make more money into the mix and I'm sure they can find a way to break down party divisions.

[DosBullets]

It's all a smoke screen anyway! Banning internet gambling is like banning the illegal books, back in the day. How much success did they have with that? ZERO!! The real reason is for the government to get their cut...TAXES......Another slice of your hard earned money. The bill and a few sportbook's CEO arrests, is just their way of getting the ball rolling. There will come a time when they will admit they cannot abolish internet gambling, but they will tax the crap out of all of us, as their compensation for failing to pass such a law. This is the fish they really want to fry!!!

[BigdaddyQH]

Originally Posted by amhlilhaus

here's an idea, how about instead of banning internet gambling, they LEGALIZE it in the us so nevada can get in on it, then they can collect their tax revenues and everybody's happy (except extreme moralists who claim gambling is wrong and terrible yet have church fundraisers using bingo, a gambling game). throw anything to make more money into the mix and I'm sure they can find a way to break down party divisions.

I have been arguing this for years now. No matter what happens to the current bill, the Feds can find a way to harrass and close off shore books if they choose to. By legalizing it in the U.S. the feds can get their share of taxes, which is what this game is really all about. All the House and Senate has to do is look at the trend in states where Casino gaming is legal, be it private industry or Indian controled. California just passed a bill that will allow many more slots into the existing casinos for a nice tax increase. It is the name of the game, and if the Senate and House can not see this, they are blind. But what else is new?