Posted on 10/02/2006 10:36:19 AM PDT by Kokojmudd
US President George W. Bush this week is expected to sign a bill making it harder to place bets on the Internet, a practice which already is illegal in the United States.
Bush was expected to act quickly after Congress approved the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act making it illegal for financial institutions and credit card companies to process payments to settle Internet bets. It also created stiff penalties for online wagers.
Billions of dollars are wagered online each year and the United States is considered the biggest market.
"It is extraordinary how many American families have been touched by large losses from Internet gambling," said US Representative Jim Leach, the bill's main sponsor in the House, in a statement after its passage early Saturday.
The bill's chief Senate sponsor was conservative Republican Jon Kyl, who, like Leach, has said he believed Internet gambling was a moral threat. He has called online betting as the Internet version of crack cocaine.
"Gambling can be highly addictive, especially when its done over an unregulated environment such as the Internet" he said this year.
"If Congress had not acted, gamblers would soon be able to place bets not just from home computers, but from their cell phones while they drive home from work or their Blackberries as they wait in line at the movies," Leach said.
The US Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Board will jointly develop implementing rules for the new law, while financial institutions have nine months to incorporate its provision.
Leach cited research which showed that young people who tend to spend hours of leisure time on the Internet, are particularly vulnerable.
A 2005 survey by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center found that 26 percent of male college students gamble in online card games at least once a month, while nearly 10 percent of all college students gambled online at some point last year.
"Never has it been so easy to lose so much money so quickly at such a young age. The casino is in effect brought to the home, office and college dorm.
"Children may play without verification, and betting with a credit card can undercut a players perception of the value of cash, which too easily leads to bankruptcy and crime," Leach said.
Experts said the vast majority of bettors are placing wagers on poker.
"Everyone loses if this industry continues its remarkable growth trends," Leach said.
Republicans tucked the measure into a bill aimed at enhancing port security, which passed early Saturday.
Bill Frist must have a major position in Harrahs. HET lol
Divided government and the resulting gridlock seems to be the best we can hope for.
I agree. I'll take 'gridlock' anyday--if a more intrusive, more controlling govt (along the lines of this bill) is the alternative.
The real crime here is how they tacked it on at the last moment.
Harrahs DID get a big 'buy-out bid' today.
The good thing is that this bill doesn't prohibit giving to Free Republic by credit card during FReepathons.
I'm not sure if you are serious, but I have talked to dozens of people over the weekend and today that said exactly that. Not just poker, but sports wagering... this is going to bite the GOP hard. They may not know it yet, but they have ticked off millions of people.
LOL! Not likely.
See the real problem. Both registered casinos and the taxman are taking losses from this. The question is which, casinos or the taxman, was the greater force behind getting this barrier to online gambling created. Ten to one it was the casinos.
The embryonic stem cell bill is the only one he's vetoed.
Sleazy politics. Is there any other kind? SOP.
The Constitution Party advocates execution for drug offenders. No thanks.
> This is actually pathetic. I vote Republican because I want a limited, smaller, govt.
Me too. How much money is going to be spent in enforcing this completely useless law, that could be going to the WOT?
I'm trying hard to muster the energy to go to the polls for Republicans, but they keep making it harder and harder. What's it going to take for them to actually become Republicans again? Geez.
''I'm not sure if you are serious,''
I'm deadly serious. The Republicans will never again get my vote. Take my freedom? Kiss my arse!
I agree with you about enthusiasm for voting republican.
My enthusiasm for voting Republican dwindles daily--as the government just gets BIGGER and BIGGER, more INTRUSIVE and more CONTROLLING by the day.
I just hope that I don't have something REALLY important to do on election day (like change the oil in my car)--that might preclude any extra time and effort to go vote.
Interesting case
A few things to consider
First this is in juridiction of the Federal Govt. If there ever was a proper use of the Interstate commerce clause to base jurisdiction this is it
2. There is much precedent for this. Look at the famous Louisiana Lottery situation and the later Hondourus Lottery situation in the 1800's
3. This form of activity has been viewed as a legitimate form of tax revenue, In which states and the Federal Govt are missing out on
4. This activity is hurting Casino based jobs in areas that have gambling
It is not all a moral question here
You may well be right and that is all the more reason Free Republic has to be supported by us with more than words.
When was the last time anyone has seen an article stating, "addicted gambler holds up and robs casino"? These people are such hypocrites. If they really meant to control gambling they would have gone after states gambling. Instead all they do is go after gambling, that when halted, benefits Indian casinos and state lottos and pull tabs.
Sounds like two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner.
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