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

[Darem1]

Well, that does it for me. Although I haven't been gaming recently, I had planned on going back to Intercasino in the future when finances would permit. I tried a variety of other casinos, and liked Intercasino the best.
In fact, it was the only casino where I really won. Unfortunately, since I live in the US, I can no longer deposit at Crypto casinos. Guess this is more important to my government than reining in the child molesters in their own midst up in D.C.

[Cynthia777]

I received this email.. text below:

"Cindy,

I'm not sure if you're aware of the recent developments in US online
gaming industry. In short, the US government has passed a law
that would prohibit banks, credit card companies, and other
financial institutions from processing gambling funds. This
controversial act was attached to a popular and completely
unrelated bill regarding Port Security (HR 4954) early Saturday morning.
In this way, the act was passed because representatives were more
concerned with the major bill being made law and knew only in the
final minutes of the attachment.

It does not make it illegal for US citizens to play online, however
drastically affects your ability to enjoy your favorite poker and
casino games by making it difficult to send and receive your
deposits and winnings.

In light of these events, our software and ECash provider for
Omni Casino: CryptoLogic and ECashDirect, have recently made
the decision to no longer service US registered accounts.

Consequently, all accounts with US based addresses will no longer
be able to play in the casino or poker room as of 12PM EST today
October 3rd.

Your account will however be available for you to log into and
request a withdrawal of your available balance.

All other accounts with non US based addresses will remain
unaffected.

Currently it is unclear as to the longer term ramifications of
these events at CryptoLogic and should the position change, we
will notify you.

Our sister casino 49er Casino (49erCasino - Come Git Yer Gold!) uses
a different provider, Real Time Gaming (RTG), has indicated their
commitment to continue before.

Persons from all geographical areas are still able to register
new accounts, collect the 100% new player and other bonuses,
and continue to enjoy their favorite casino games. The preferred
deposit method is with NETeller however other methods are available.

Thanks for your time.

Regards

Customer Service Team
Omni Casino
http://www.omnicasino.com"


Of course, Neteller is not available in Maryland, where I reside.

Most confusing part about this...I recently cashed out with Intercasino, which also uses ECash.. I received the check by courier yesterday, and was still out of town so it is at my leasing office. The question here, will I still be able to cash it?? If legality comes into play, technically it was won and the withdrawal request was made BEFORE this legislation was passed.. and the legislation is still not effective as it has not been signed by the President and the effective date therefore has not occurred..but will ECash see it this way? Any info/opinions are appreciated.

[Westland Bowl]

Cynthia777, you should be able to cash that check. I'll have to dig around amongst the various posting to find my posting where I answer another person's posting regarding checks. Damn, it's getting hard to remember which thread I posted what anymore on this internet ban thingy.

Ok here:

In Professor Rose's analysis:

§5363 “No person engaged in the business of betting or wagering may knowingly accept” any money transfers in any way from a person participating in unlawful Internet gambling. This includes credit cards, electronic fund transfers, and even paper checks. But it is limited to Internet gambling businesses, not mere players. It also would not cover payment processors, except under a theory of aiding and abetting............

The Act allows the federal regulators to exempt transactions where it would be impractical to require identifying and blocking. This obviously applies to paper checks. Banks have no way now of reading who the payee is on paper checks and cannot be expected to go into that business. Banks tried to defeat this bill, not because they cared about patrons’ privacy, but because they knew that it would cost them billions of dollars to set up systems to read paper checks.

[lots0]

Professor Rose's analysis is flawed and only partial, it is also geared toward operators of casinos and not the players.

The soon to be law, does require banks to identify and block ALL online casino transactions.

Westland Bowl is working on wishful thinking.

[Cynthia777]

we'll have to get down to the nitty gritty then and go to a check-cashing place and/or liquor store

Sorry, but I'm just as pissed off about this as anyone else..since I am a gambler at heart

[Westland Bowl]

Professor Rose's analysis is flawed, incorrect and only partial, it is also geared toward operators of casinos and not the players.

The soon to be law, does require banks to identify and block ALL online casino transactions.

Westland Bowl is working on wishful thinking.

Why are you using such strong language like you are mad at me or something? You can say "I disagree with that" or something instead of accusing me of wishful thinking.

Ok, in Section 5364 (b)(3), it states "The Secretary and Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall....exempt certain restricted transactions [checks is one of them] or designated payment systems from any requirement imposed under such regulations, if the Secretary and the Board jointly find that it is not reasonably practical to identify and block, or otherwise prevent or prohibit the acceptance of, such transactions..."

Professor Rose was saying that banks have fought in the past of having to do such things like this as it is very costly to try to do so. Can banks still try to do so? Of course. But based on history, not wishful thinking, it isn't likely to happen. BUUUT you can be right in the end, lotso. These are certainly different times.

[Casinomeister]

Hi Cynthia,

You should have no problem cashing that check. It's from eCash Direct and not from "Omnicasino.com". Who says they are from winnings anyway? You could have done a consulting job for them and this is your fee.

Go ahead and cash it and spend it well

[lots0]

Why are you using such strong language like you are mad at me or something

No I am not mad at you and yes I am mad at 'somthing', I am watching ten years of my work go down the drain, along with 90% of my income. Sorry if you think my wording is a little strong.

WB - just read the law for yourself or better yet hire a 'real' attorney, like I did, to give you the real info.

CM is right, cash the check, the new law won't go into effect until after the first of year at the soonest and it will even be longer before the Banks have created the ability to identify all types of payments to or from a casino.

[Cynthia777]

Wouldn't you know it? Friday the 13th is the deadline for the President to pass or veto the bill in which Frist's provision is attached.

The bill was presented to Bush on October 3rd..under the legislative process of enactment of a law the President has 10 days in which to sign or veto and/or move for reconsideration or ask for a postponement.

I will post this under similar threads so all can see.

Let's just hope it's a "Friday the 13th" for Frist and his supporters...not for us!

[sdaddy]

Let's just hope it's a "Friday the 13th" for Frist and his supporters...not for us!

I think the Republicans on Capitol Hill are already imploding because of this Foley scandal, Cynthia. That's karma doing it's work, I believe.