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

**jetset** · 17th September 2006, 07:58 AM

I guess politicians most everywhere behave the same!

Cynthia, grateful if you would post as fast as possible if you see or hear anything more on the progress of this ridiculous attempted association of online gambling with military appropriations!

**paul02085** · 18th September 2006, 02:06 AM

Anybody just see the hatchet job 60 minutes did on online gambling? I thought that ugly woman interviewer (leslie stahl?) was gonna spit on the internet gambling guy.
Also, that hack politician made it sound like you would go insane if you gamble online and your kids too.
They even showed a 16 yr old kid who tried to use his fathers credit card (i didnt think any sites still took credit cards?) and after twice getting blocked good old Golden Palace accepted the card.

Really was a hatchet job. Very one sided.

**jetset** · 18th September 2006, 09:20 AM

Was this a re-run or a new 60 Minutes on Internet gambling, Paul?

Edited to add: (CBS) This story originally aired on Nov. 20, 2005.

Very convenient timing for a re-run in a highly viewed program wouldn't you say? Just when Frist is trying to get his proposal tacked on to a totally irrelevant military bill?!!!!

**Cynthia777** · 18th September 2006, 07:32 PM

I will be sure to be on the lookout for any info on the Frist proposal...but..

as far as H.R.4777 goes, the last action taken was:

7/10/2006:
Referred sequentially to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for a period ending not later than Sept. 15, 2006 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(f), rule X.

The Committee on Energy and Commerce last held a hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 13 relating to CyberSecurity. Full text of that hearing is not available as of yet, however, the two statements from two primary members summarize importance of Internet and protecting it from being infiltrated as a whole (major disruption/end to Internet access) as a whole, nothing specifically citing Internet gambling specifically. This hearing is the only one from that Subcommittee that even comes close to the topic of Internet applications, as far as I could see.

Is it possible this didn't make the deadline stated above, for consideration? Will keep you posted as more info becomes available...

**paul02085** · 19th September 2006, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by jetset

Was this a re-run or a new 60 Minutes on Internet gambling, Paul?

Edited to add: (CBS) This story originally aired on Nov. 20, 2005.

Very convenient timing for a re-run in a highly viewed program wouldn't you say? Just when Frist is trying to get his proposal tacked on to a totally irrelevant military bill?!!!!

I am not sure since i didnt see the first one, but i do know they talked about the guy (was it bet on sports?) who recently got arrested while traveling in the US so i think it may have been a new one.

**Cynthia777** · 19th September 2006, 03:41 AM

I saw the first one but didn't see the one that they showed this past Sunday. But if they were intervieweing Carruthers (BetonSports) himself, then I would say it was a rerun.

**paul02085** · 19th September 2006, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Cynthia777

I saw the first one but didn't see the one that they showed this past Sunday. But if they were intervieweing Carruthers (BetonSports) himself, then I would say it was a rerun.

They weren't talking to him. They were talking about him getting arrested. They didnt mention his name either.

**Cynthia777** · 19th September 2006, 05:50 PM

definitely must've been a new one then.. it doesn't surprise me though since this is still an ongoing and what seems like neverending issue..wish I would have tuned in..

**Westland Bowl** · 19th September 2006, 07:41 PM

Update from the Thomas thingy regarding the HR 4777:

Last Major action: 9/15/2006 House Committee on Energy and Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Sept. 22, 2006.

Still some Congressional paper-pushing on this bill.

**Rollo** · 19th September 2006, 09:23 PM

I'm thinking that the prospects for the near future aren't looking very good.

Even if the Democrats regain control of the House in 2006, there is too much bi-partisan support for a ban.

Whether this nefarious bill makes it through the Senate this session or after the election, at this point it looks like the legislation is not going to go away. The good news is that the DOJ hasn't set up a permanent anti-online gambling task force yet (as far as I know) but the principal actors behind the current push to ban online gambling in the US will remain largely in place as will the inertia for the ban leading to 2008. Also, with states obviously able to pass laws and issue warrants, the situation isn't looking good as now you have the federal government plus 51 additional potential sources of consternation. Just look what Elliot Spitzer has been able to do as New York's attorney general.

The only way the storm will abate is with a Democrat in the White House whose Department of Justice also assigns the issue a low priority which I think is not likely. Unfortunately, 2008 is two years away and a lot of damage can and I think will be done over the next two years.

The political tide has clearly shifted after the Abramoff fiasco and I’m sorry to say reality is that, outside of casinos and their affiliates, there will be no major response on the part of online gamblers. I think most US online gamblers probably have Republican leanings and, more importantly, support for online gambling among players while being a mile wide is really only an inch deep.

IMHO, none of this is really the scary part however. What worries me most is not the credit card issue which can be worked around, or prosecuting US players (they won't) or a handful of gambling execs, but if the DOJ interprets the new Wire Act to include servers, domain name hosts, advertisers, etc. (which they surely could) it could make it hard to simply keep your site online. Nearly all gambling sites have their domains registered with US companies and are totally within US jurisdiction. One threatening letter to say Network Solutions and the situation could become much worse.

At this point, I think only a major international event that would make any attention on the part of government to online gambling look ridiculously petty would stop the momentum.

I’d love to hear a more sunny analysis that can shoot me down on the merits… I’d love some good cheer.