Democrat proposes lifting federal ban on Net gambling - GoFuckYourself.com

beta-tester · 04-26-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

ust six months after President Bush signed a law outlawing online gambling, a key Democratic politician has proposed lifting the ban.

Rep. Barney Frank, a Democrat from Massachusetts and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, on Thursday introduced a bill that would replace the current broad prohibition with strict regulations, including criminal background checks and financial disclosure, imposed on companies that seek to offer legal Internet gambling.

"The existing legislation is an inappropriate interference on the personal freedom of Americans and this interference should be undone," Frank said. His bill is called the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (PDF).

Last year's legislation tried to eliminate many forms of online gambling by targeting Internet service providers and financial intermediaries, namely banks and credit card companies that process payments to offshore Web sites.

Those sites included ones like BetBug of Toronto; BetWWTS.com of Antigua; Bodog Sportsbook, Casino and Poker of Costa Rica; and Betfair, which has offices in London. Estimates typically put Internet gambling revenue at more than $12 billion a year.

The bill never received a formal up-or-down vote in the entire Congress. Instead, Republican congressional leaders have been criticized for gluing it onto an unrelated port security bill. The Senate unanimously approved the port security measure and it cleared the House of Representatives with only two dissenting votes.

Frank argues that because nearly all states already permit some form of traditional gambling--including lotteries, betting on horse and greyhound racing, and sports wagering--the federal government should legalize and regulate the online equivalents. Instead of a blanket legalization, his legislation would require the Treasury Department to police the industry and ensure that it takes adequate steps to identify minors and compulsive gamblers.

The World Trade Organization ruled in March, for a second time, that the U.S. ban on gambling violates international trade rules and sided with the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. But the tiny nation has little leverage to force any changes to federal law.

There are signs that the 2006 Net gambling ban has had an impact on the industry. In November, the British site BetOnSports agreed to cease signing up U.S. customers. BetOnSports' founder, Gary Stephen Kaplan, was arrested earlier this month in the Dominican Republic and faces criminal charges in the United States. In addition, payment processor Neteller in February said it would cut about 250 jobs as a response to the gambling crackdown.

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6179525.html

Can this help epass and bank issues epass holders have had in USA?

IllTestYourGirls · 04-26-2007, 12:47 PM

yes very much so. Looking good.

directfiesta · 04-26-2007, 12:49 PM

Aren't democrats supposed to be bad for the internet ...

( Heard that from Splum, which has it DIRECTLY from BUSH ... )

Webby · 04-26-2007, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beta-tester

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6179525.html

Can this help epass and bank issues epass holders have had in USA?

Would think this would lift some weight off the epass scenario.

There are other cases, some mentioned in your post, where a compliance with the WTO ruling will probably be used as a defense. But, flip side is, some of the defendants in these cases are US citizens, who, it is alleged, have contravened a few US domestic laws such as the Wire Act etc, so doubt that will help them much. This may be of more use to "non US" citizens who were arrested within the US even while the US was not in compliance with the WTO treaty.

Time will tell

tenletters · 04-26-2007, 01:37 PM

welp, i'm a democrat now... sort of... I mean I don't want to vote for any of them but it's the thought that counts right?

sextoyking · 04-26-2007, 01:40 PM

Good going Rep. Frank......

tiger · 04-26-2007, 02:56 PM

Barney Frank is awesome.

tiger · 04-26-2007, 02:58 PM

Barney Frank is awesome.

04-26-2007, 12:47 PM	#2
IllTestYourGirls Ah My Balls Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Under the gold leaf ICQ 388-454-421 Posts: 14,311	yes very much so. Looking good. __________________

04-26-2007, 12:49 PM	#3
directfiesta Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 29,654	Aren't democrats supposed to be bad for the internet ... ( Heard that from Splum, which has it DIRECTLY from BUSH ... ) __________________ I know that Asspimple is stoopid ... As he says, it is a FACT ! But I can't figure out how he can breathe or type , at the same time ....

04-26-2007, 01:37 PM	#5
tenletters Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: the deep south Posts: 2,079	welp, i'm a democrat now... sort of... I mean I don't want to vote for any of them but it's the thought that counts right? __________________ Useless Without Pics

04-26-2007, 01:40 PM	#6
sextoyking Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Portland, OR. Posts: 6,034	Good going Rep. Frank...... __________________ ICQ: 52344098 -------------------------------------- 50% Commissions on all Product Sales. http://www.wishing.com/money

04-26-2007, 02:56 PM	#7
tiger Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,986	Barney Frank is awesome. __________________

04-26-2007, 02:58 PM	#8
tiger Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,986	Barney Frank is awesome. __________________