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

[managra]

What can we do? Mount a campaign that we strongly disagree with this action. By "we" i mean the casinos, pokerrooms, Netellers, gambling forums, ISPs, and players.

Last week i sent an email to express my opposition to the Dubai Ports deal. The well-written email was drafted by a website and it allowed me to edit it, i.e. make additional comments. Then, all i had to do was click the "send" button. I did have to furnish some personal info (name and address) but i was assured that it would not result in any spam or used for telemarketing purposes. It was a risk i was happy to take as i wanted to speak out.The email automatically went to the White House and every congressman and senator in my State. CM, if you want a link to this website to get some ideas let me know. I'll be happy to PM you about it. You might want to consider canvassing for volunteers for a task force on this issue. I'll be happy to assist you with any endeavor in any way as well as i'm fed up by the Religious Right trying to take important rights away.

The reason why credit cards are no longer allowed for online gambling is a little more complex, if i'm not mistaken. There was a woman who had worked up $77K in gambling losses and all by using her credit cards. She then successfully sued the credit card companies to have these charges reversed to her account. CC companies not wanting to be burned again, stopped the use of cc for gambling. Since then you can use your own money for online gambling.

This is so hypocrytical!!! You can buy lottery and scratch tickets on every street corner. Now, these are products with horrible odds and purchased mainly by people who can least afford these gambles. This is all heavily promoted by State Gov't.

Frankly, it made me feel good to be able to speak out and voice my opinion without engaging in street protests. I suppose lots of people feel the same but don't know how to go about it and don't want to spend the time finding the appropriate email addresses. In frustration they decide to do nothing. So, doing all the groundwork for them is likely to result in a lot of email action.

[BubbleG]

Originally Posted by managra

The reason why credit cards are no longer allowed for online gambling is a little more complex, if i'm not mistaken. There was a woman who had worked up $77K in gambling losses and all by using her credit cards. She then successfully sued the credit card companies to have these charges reversed to her account. CC companies not wanting to be burned again, stopped the use of cc for gambling. Since then you can use your own money for online gambling.

This is so hypocrytical!!! You can buy lottery and scratch tickets on every street corner. Now, these are products with horrible odds and purchased mainly by people who can least afford these gambles. This is all heavily promoted by State Gov't.

The US Govt is only pissed cause its getting none of the action.... Just like the above eg, God dam nanny states.... How the few can fuk it up for the many... Its ok, its not your fault your a retard, who can we sue

Its bad here in the UK but as far as gambling goes, LOOL, its going nowhere!!Practically every event has major casino/poker/sportsbook sponorship....

[mattysgirl]

All I can say is, the USA government has other issues to worry about!!
OMG we have a war going on, the state of LA to fix, the FEMA situation to correct, child porn, the homless and the hungry, running out of social security, schools that dont have enough funds to run properly, teachers underpaid, drug smugglers that bring drugs into this country in animals or any other way for that matter, eldery people that cant afford medication to keep them alive.... this list could go on!!!

They need to get a clue and focus on some real issues, not the issue of what people choose to do in the privacy of there own home.

Funny that state lotterys use the funds to fund schools, is this not gambling??
talk about being hypocrites, use gambling funds for schools, yet gambling corupts kids "BTW little johnny your new books came from gambling" lol that should teach kids a nice leasson about gambling..lol

Another perfect example about this is I went into a riverboat and had to pay a $2 entrance fee (yeah i was thinking i am pretty sure i will give you at least $2 when i go in there) I was told the fee was mandated by the state and that it goes to schools.

This is all coming down to the all mighty dollar!

mattysgirl

[Cynthia777]

And, as far as the bill goes (H.R. 4777)

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...4777ih.txt.pdf

...just food for thought...along with Adelphia's policy and the speculation of "testing".. it does make one wonder.


One particular portion of H.R. 4777:

‘‘(A) be limited to the removal of, or disabling
of access to, an online site violating this section, or
a hypertext link to an online site violating this section,
that resides on a computer server that such service controls
or operates; except this limitation shall not apply if the service
is violating this section or is in active concert with a person
who is violating this section and receives actual notice of the relief;
‘‘(B) be available only after notice to the interactive computer service
and an opportunity for the service to appear are provided;
‘‘(C) not impose any obligation on an interactive computer service to
monitor its service or to affirmatively seek facts indicating activity
violating this section;
‘‘(D) specify the interactive computer service to
which it applies; and
‘‘(E) specifically identify the location of the online site or hypertext link
to be removed or access to which is to be disabled.’’.


It implies that notice/communication would be provided upfront, however, that is once (and if) it is actually in effect, (doesn't say anything about having to disclose any testing/preparation procedures, same goes for the ISP)..and it demonstrates that "filtering" measures are strongly being considered and outlined in this Bill.

The Bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for review, and thus far I have not seen any scheduled hearings in the Daily Digest, or on their weekly calendar for legislation topics, but they still have time for this. But we are at approximately step 5 of 18 as far as a bill actually being signed/vetoed by the President.. so we still have a ways to go.


If opponents of this bill really wanted to take a stand on this, the time would be now, while it is in the hands of the House Judiciary Committee. As this link http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade....trotocomm.html quotes:

"Perhaps the most important phase of the legislative process is the action by committees. The committees provide the most intensive consideration to a proposed measure as well as the forum where the public is given their opportunity to be heard."

[managra]

Originally Posted by winbig72

Has anyone else thought that the main force behind this may be the b&m casinos within the USA pressuring the gov't (money talks) into blocking online gambling sites? I'm sure it's got to hurt their bottom line, even by just a little bit.

According to a Dec 2005 article in Forbes the opposite is true. The article predicts OG will be legalized by 2007. Here is the link: http://www.forbes.com/2005/12/12/dig...r_digital.html

[cipher]

Here's the facts!!!

First off the attached decision is the law of the land here in the United States and since the original decision it has been upheld on appeal.

The fact of the matter is that until someone or a group of persons put their money where their mouths are there will be nothing accomplished but a bunch of kvetching and moaning.

The Attorney General is going to continue to put the heat on anyone that he can and will continue to intimidate until he's stopped in his tracks with an Order for Injuctive Relief (an injunction).

There are some damn good attorneys in this field and it's high time that we collectively (casino owner, webmaster and player) alike put together a fund to hire a top notch attorney to stop these suckers.

I'm willing to pony up a $1,000.00 to get this thing started. This is our Internet not the governments Internet and it's about time that all of us start accepting the ownership of it and for it.

Have a good one.

[Cynthia777]

Originally Posted by winbig72

Here you go...

http://judiciary.house.gov/CommitteeMembership.aspx

Seems that you can click on each member to go to their webpage. You can even email them if you're in their district. If not, you can always call.

Thank you, winbig72 (I missed a lot of postings between yesterday and today.. worked Sunday night)

Here is another link:

http://clerk.house.gov/committee/ind...?comcode=HJU00

And, you'll notice the link for "Write your representative", however, for those outside the U.S., you could use the main address listed for the Committee on the Judiciary, and could specify to the attention of: Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property Subcommittee, and be sure to reference H.R. 4777 - the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.

You will see that, yes, Goodlatte is a member of this subcommittee, but members of the House and subcommittees have to adhere to House rules and take all into consideration, and remember, his opinion may not necessarily reflect those of others, even his fellow Representatives.

[Westland Bowl]

The link to the online gambling bill is buried within this thread so I'll post it again here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04777:

You can check the status of this bill there. So far 118 co-sponsors have signed up, but only 2 joined since the bill's introduction on Feb 16th.

[Professor]

Guys here is WHY legislation didn't pass the last few times around and why it's far more likely to be approved this time.

Please read this article from today's Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/public/article...f_main_tff_top

Evein if YOU dont see legislation as a possibilty, we really DO need to work together to do everything we can to ensure this thing doesnt make it into law. Don't just assume everything will fall into place on it's own. Please be active.

[Westland Bowl]

Originally Posted by Professor

Guys here is WHY legislation didn't pass the last few times around and why it's far more likely to be approved this time......Evein if YOU dont see legislation as a possibilty, we really DO need to work together to do everything we can to ensure this thing doesnt make it into law. Don't just assume everything will fall into place on it's own. Please be active.

Well, Goodlatte is in Jerry Falwell country so it's no surprise he is for banning online betting sites. Most of the Virginian congressmen/women are on this bill including those in Pat Robertson country where I'm at. I'm a member of a heavily pro-Robertson church, in fact Pat Robertson's wife (though she's Catholic) goes there, but I'm against these efforts at censorship and discrimination of one form of betting over the others. So, here I am, lumped with the so-called Christian Right, who is NOT for banning online gambling sites. Falwell and Robertson do NOT speak for me though I'm active in their midst. It's time for me to write a letter to my congresswoman.