Fighting H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act

[dominique]

Why do people make the same mistakes over and over and over again?

Prohibition creates serious criminals.

[Simmo!]

There has never been any instance in history where gambling has done anyone more good than harm other than the few handfull of people that actually won money.

Sorry perhaps I didn't make myself very clear. What I meant was this. If a person is a problem gambler but doesn't realise it yet, then they will find a way to gamble even if you ban online gambling. It doesn't make their problem suddenly disappear.

So by "doing good", I mean that what they should do IMO is regulate online gambling, make some revenue from it and, if problem gambling is really a "major issue" as the representatives are stating and families are being "torn apart" as a result on a wide scale, use a proportion of that money to re-educate and assist those with problems.

This will help improve the life of that individual (and those around them if the politicians are to be believed) and do some good. Now that's politics for the good of the people.

Quite frankly, the fact we're sitting here in the 21st Century talking about Prohibition in the USA is actually funny. Worrying, but still funny.

[lots0]

Quite frankly, the fact we're sitting here in the 21st Century talking about Prohibition in the USA is actually funny. Worrying, but still funny.

Its only funny because you don't live here. I fail to see any humor at all in the fact my 'elected' officals are fools.

[dominique]

I don't think it's funny, I think it's downright scary.

Instead of helping addicts, they are being pushed into the hands of criminals.

Whenever you forbid something that people will do anyway, like alcohol or prostitution, it creates a dangerous criminal element.

People get addicted to many things, we can't just forbid them all.

Alcohol, chocolate, sugar, extreme sports, jogging, nicotine, all these things have detrimental consequences for addicts. And there are tons more.

Non addicts enjoy these things with impunity.

Gambling fits right in there.

Regulation is the answer. It allows you to help those who have addictive personalities.

If you take the gambling out of the mix, and the criminal element doesn't get a hold of the addict, the addictive personality will only turn elsewhere. Substitute one addiction with another. This helps no one.

[lots0]



Regulation is the answer.

Yes it is. And when the elected officials start putting the people ahead of the lobbyists money and free trips we will see regulation and not proabition.

There has never been any instance in history where gambling has done anyone more good than harm other than the few handfull of people that actually won money.

Well lotteries funded the start of the USA, of course some might say that was not a good thing.
Olde Lottery Handout Picture

[Pokerposter]

There's no panic about this.
Republicans had to do something to distance themselves from that douchebag Abramoff that was headfing the lobby for online gmaing. After he had been jailed due to the DeLay scandal, it came to light that he had spent time in Cheney's office! Both of these situations had nothing to dowith online gmaing.
They needed a good news story, so announced this.
It won't even get looked at by the Senate until AFTER the mid-terms, when the senate will have a whole different look. Even if it remains on the books until after the new regime passes all of it's 'good works' (A year at least), the only way they can attack it is by banning CC comapnies and banks from dealing with the industry. Unfortunalety, everything has become too global. Can you imagine a British bettor not being able to bet with William Hill in Briatin (A gambling freindly jurisdiction) because VISA won't accept the payment being a US company?

This is not going to fly, so vote Democrat!! Not a political pitch, this is the truth from somenone working inside the gaming indsutry.

[jetset]

One of the ironies of this issue is that some of the interests that Abramhoff represented are carve-outs in this hypocritcal legislative proposal.

[paul02085]

Democrats are on board to ban online gambling also. So dont pull that garbage. So vote Republican. Oh yeah, and this is not a political pitch either.

[sdaddy]

If you haven't already done so, it would be good for the US members here to get a message off to your Senators expressing your opposition to H.R. 4411.

Web forms for contacting Senators are found here:
U.S. Senate: Senators Home

[sdaddy]

Below is the reply I received from Sen. Santorum of Pennsylvania. He doesn't say where he stands on H.R. 4411. I'm not sure if that means he's undecided or if he doesn't want to disappoint a constituent whom he disagrees with, particularly when he's in a tough reelection fight right now.

Dear xx:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act. I appreciate hearing from you and having the benefit of your views.

On November 18, 2005 Representative James Leach of Indiana introduced H.R. 4411, The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2005. This bill addresses the issue of funding unlawful Internet gambling though credit cards, electronic fund transfers, and other forms of financial transactions.

On July 11, 2006, H.R. 4411 was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 317 - 93. H.R. 4411 has been referred to the Senate and placed on the Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Should this bill come before the full Senate I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Thank you again for contacting me. If I can be of further assistance with this or any other matter, please feel free to call on me again.

Sincerely,

Rick Santorum
United States Senate