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

[Chatmaster]

If this bill gets passed. The internet industry as a whole will be affected. I believe branching this out to other webmaster forums should be a good idea. If the US government decide to pass this bill, what will be next? Another thing is,... how many countries will view this as an oppertunity to legalize the web.

The stand we make should be bigger than just casino and gambling industry. This is the first "GIANT" step into getting control over the internet. Religion is a paradox and through the entire existance of man been the cause for wars and many deaths. In today's so called modern society it is still the case. The US history is filled with examples of why wars were faught based on the believes of individuals convinced everyone must follow their believes, damn sounds like my 1st mariage,... lol

I think it is time this is made clear to the monkeys in the top seats. Everyone has a democratic right to freedom else there is no freedom!

[Cynthia777]

Here is the link to the official press release from the Financial Services Committee concerning the markup of H.R.4411:

http://financialservices.house.gov/n...772&NewsType=1


And just a note that I really do appreciate all of the thanks and complimentary remarks from my fellow forum members. I am glad to be a valuable resource, and make informative contributions to this forum. I guess I just happen to be at the right place at the right time

[jsp377]

The stand we make should be bigger than just casino and gambling industry. This is the first "GIANT" step into getting control over the internet. Religion is a paradox...

I agree up until the rant about war and religion. Part of the reason the Internet is so efficient and effective is that it focuses on reducing overhead, such as blocking certain IPs or, in the case of google v DoJ, monitoring and blocking web sites and searches. A bill was recently brought to the state legislature in NJ, though it has no prayer of passing (due to the fact that it's unenforceable and quite contrary to federal law), that would require posters on online forums to include verifiable names so that no one can flame anonymously.

Although we may not realize or intend it, we're part of a larger battle to keep the Internet free and effective. Monitoring web activity will destroy everything that the Internet has worked so hard to create. We're fighting the good fight on multiple sides.

And, of course...thanks, Cynthia.

[jetset]

888.COM SAYS U.S. BAN ATTEMPT WILL FAIL

But shares prices suffer from legislation blues

The CEO of major gambling group 888.com, John Anderson says he is confident that the current attempts by U.S. politicians to ban Internet gambling will fail.

Answering questions from the Reuters news agency, Anderson said that the Leach Bill, which seeks to curtail the use of financial instruments in online gambling and passed through the House Financial Services Committee earlier this week, was doomed to fail.

Nevertheless, jittery investors reacted to the news which caused a decline of some 5 percent in online gaming shares on Thursday after similar falls the day before.

Anderson told Reuters: "We feel confident it won't get through the next stages, and we'll be okay."

Ironically, the decline came as the group announced a 16 percent increase in annual profits and a slight reduction in its U.S. exposure.

Profit before tax rose to $50.2 million in 2005 from $43.1 million in 2004, and the company said current trading was in line with expectations.

Shares in sector leader PartyGaming were also affected, falling by 5.4 percent, while the second-biggest online gaming group, Sportingbet, fell 3.9 percent.

With about 8.5 million regular players in the U.S. and numerous routes for them to make payments, the bill would be difficult to enforce in the unlikely event it got through, analysts opined.

888 said it diversified away from the United States in 2005, reducing the share of revenues it gets from the U.S. to 55 percent from 58 percent in 2004.

"To rely on one country too much is not good, and without reducing volumes, I'd like to get the percentage we're taking from the U.S. down to 20 to 30 percent as soon as we can," said Anderson.

By making it illegal to accept payments from people who live where federal or state law prohibits wagering, the legislation would affect offshore gambling Web sites used by many Americans to place bets.

The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration.

888's Casino players increased 28 percent to 4.1 million in 2005, while poker players more than doubled to 1.5 million.

Group gaming revenues were up 52 percent in 2005 to $271 million.

[Cynthia777]

You're welcome, JSP...

I will be anxious to see the Committee Report from the markup session...(we work on A LOT of those ) Part of the reason is that it will list the numbers of how many voted "YEA" and "NAY" and the names of each... this will give us an edge on exactly who opposes this proposed Bill (good Members to write to), and Congress is not in session next week (Mar. 20-24, for St. Patrick's Day District Work Days) and I was told we may be working overtime this weekend (we usually get most of our work submitted by Congress when they are in their last days prior to "going out" of session), so I will be on the lookout for this. I know it is only a week, but perhaps some time to get in some email opinions to those in the Committee that opposed this, as it cannot reach the next step of going back to the House floor until they are in session again

[blackjackguide]

That is some interesting information from 888. It seems crazy to me that alot of the online casinos have not mentioned anything to affiliates at all. I guess not to scare anyone. It is still amazing to me that this regulation could occur when porn and other illegal activities are still going on! It's great to see everyone joining together to fight this thing!

[dominique]

888, who uses scrapersites to steal from it's own affiliates, informing them of things? Hardly.

I don't think this thing will pass this year either.

They keep looking for a version that will go through, but I doubt this one is it.

[Reef]

Just posting to express how much against this bill I am.

[Pirateofc21]

I meant this post of course. Hello everyone and greetings from the sea's. I have just returned from a long voyage to here and there and it looks like my timing is right on. All this talk about " To ban or Not to ban ". I say off the plank with the ban'rs. For those who remember, my situation of long past is one of the best arguements for legalization and Regulation. 'Nuff said. But I'll go on anyway. I read so much of the ill's of online gambling....OOHHH shivr me timbrs. The losses of money, destruction of family, so many other PRODUCTIVE things to do with ones time. Why is nobody talking about the possibilities for good when one wins? Yes it's rare to win alot but it doesn't have to be alot to do something positive. Ban online gambnling and you deny every online gambler the possibility to do good should one achieve the means to. Now I am not saying that one needs money to do good. Consider it a counterpoint to all this negative blah, blah, blah.

[Westland Bowl]

I meant this post of course. Hello everyone and greetings from the sea's. I have just returned from a long voyage to here and there and it looks like my timing is right on........

Welcome back, Pirateof21. I've read the archives some time back of your adventures on the rough seas. Recently there was/is another situation such as yours on another thread, though it is roughly half as much as what yours involved. And we got this attempts at banning online casinos. Glad you pulled into port! Ahoy!