U.S. Congress passes anti-Internet gambling legislation

NIVEK · 10-03-2006, 11:03 AM

Just tell me this... what the hell are they going to do next? we can't do any form of gambling through online or phone now? we can't smoke a little god damn shit that grows into the earth? WE CAN'T TO SHIT that should be legal... seriously now.. The government is total shit... I am in serious consideration to moving to another country and possibly studying abroad because I am sick of our government....

The U.S. Congress passed an amended version of H.R. 4411, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, Sept. 30 after it was attached to an unrelated Homeland Security bill entitled the Port Security Improvement Act (H.R. 4954). The bill is expected to be signed into law by President George W. Bush by mid-October.

Despite expectations that the U.S. Senate would block the legislation due to a lack of parliamentary time , Senate Majority leader Bill Frist (R.-Tenn.) managed to negotiate the passage of the amended H.R. 4411 by attaching it to H.R. 4954, a bill intended to increase security at U.S. ports. Frist had first attempted to attach the bill to defense legislation in Sept., but failed.

The amended version doesn't criminalize the act of online gambling, rather it prohibits American poker players from using U.S. financial institutions and their banking tools, including credit cards, checks or funds transfers, when depositing or withdrawing funds at Internet gambling sites. If the law is enacted by President Bush, it will become illegal for online gambling companies to accept monies from U.S. financial institutions.

Transactions will be monitored by U.S. banking institutions according to regulations written by the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Department of Treasury. If President Bush signs the act into law, a 270 day period will be allotted for the Federal Reserve and Department of Treasury to create regulations and procedures for U.S. financial institutions to follow in identifying and blocking transactions related to unlawful Internet gambling.

Currently, it is expected that the U.S. banking industry will not be required to implement new technologies to monitor the transactions of clients, but will act in accordance with their own capabilities instead. The financial enforcement provisions are expected to be finalized in 3-9 months.

The original H.R. 4111 was amalgamated with another anti-Internet gambling act, H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, in July 2006.

Subsequently known as the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, the bill not only sought to prohibit Internet gambling transactions made through American financial institutions, but also to update the Wire Act of 1961, which prohibits gambling over telephone wires, to include placing wagers over the Internet on sports betting, casino games and poker (state-run lotteries, fantasy games and horse racing were exempt).

bikerman111 · 10-05-2006, 01:49 AM

I'd like to know why they don't consider lotteries and horse racing gambling. The government can control line poker just like they control their "approved" gambling if they wanted to.

The Mighty Boosh · 10-05-2006, 10:49 AM

They don't like it because at the minute it is untaxed and also because money is leaving the country due to the fact that most of the poker rooms are operated from abroad (and the europeans win all the americans money :-p)

JED47 · 10-05-2006, 10:51 AM

Why are the Poker Sites so afraid of this? All Americans have to do is open offshore accounts and funnel all transactions through the offshore account.

Deco · 10-05-2006, 02:30 PM

arrr no

no americans = less soft competition :P

Deco · 10-05-2006, 02:44 PM

Seriously do you think this will affect the softness of competition acorss the globe?

chitown662 · 10-05-2006, 04:19 PM

I don't think so in my opinon, I believe that the US players are still gonna play until the bill actually becomes a law and maybe even harder still trying to get as much $$ before it goes up in smoke(that was a good movie too) but as the competition grows so will the players on the sites. I mean look @ poker.com how big it's starting to get, and with bodog and other sites out there for us a lot of people have been tryin to be the next Moneymaker. But then again...who knows

bballstar101 · 10-05-2006, 05:24 PM

god, sometimes i just wan to go crazy! I no 1 thime chi, im with you, im not quiting till I have to!

leachenen · 10-06-2006, 06:52 AM

Well with this new problem their is not much we can do but talk about poker. I have to say it has been fun however, It is over. i want to give some news that will be good Mansion Poker FullTilt Poker have a little less that 270 days to play on here they are allowing americans one last ride so if you truly need poker like i don and hate government regulations and hate going to a land base or river casion have one last fun ride. Gl to all its been fun but this is probally going to be my last post. Nice playing with you all and meeting you. gl in life. deco dont you mean hard comp. Not all of are fish. their are many sharks swiming around. however, we have just gotten hooked on the gov. fish line because they dont know how good poker had on the land. Until they find out how much crime goes up because were not spending our free time playing now.

SuperObe · 10-06-2006, 07:01 AM

I'm not confessing to knowing all the facts, but normally with things like these, loopholes are found, and ways around the rules are there.

I'm sure in time, things will happen before this 270 days passes, and all the US people will be able to play as normal.