Legislation focused on cracking down on the thriving business of online gambling was introduced in Congress this week to tighten existing laws that outlaw the practice in the U.S.
The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, sponsored by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Rick Boucher (D-VA), would update the U.S. Wire Act, which prohibits gambling over telephone wires, to cover use of the Internet to operate a gambling business.
The bill not only forbids a gambling business from accepting payments made by credit cards and electronic transfers, but also includes an enforcement mechanism to address gambling operations, located offshore, that use bank accounts in the U.S.
"For too long our children have been placed in harm's way as online gambling has been permitted to flourish into a $12 billion industry," Goodlatte said in a statement. "The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act brings the current ban against interstate gambling up to speed with the development of new technology."
Matching New Tech
The bill would allow federal, state, local, and tribal law-enforcement officials to seek help from Internet service providers to remove or disable access to Internet gambling sites that violate the act. In addition, the bill would boost the maximum prison term for a violation of the Wire Act to five years from two years.
Similar legislation has been introduced over the years, but has been thwarted consistently by notorious gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
The U.S. Department of Justice has contended that companies offering online gaming to U.S. residents are in violation of existing federal laws, including the Wire Act, the Illegal Gaming Business Act, the Paraphernalia Act, and the Travel Act.
Despite the claims made by the Justice Department that Internet gaming is unlawful in the U.S., the lack of clear legislation regarding the practice has meant that there have been few legal cases brought against gambling operators.
In the MasterCard International case in 2002, a federal appellate court concluded that the Wire Act does not prohibit nonsports Internet gambling.
Online gaming company PartyGaming, which operates PartyPoker.com and StarluckCasino.com, has said that state and locals laws that prohibit or restrict online gaming and related services are a violation of the "dormant commerce clause" of the U.S. Constitution, which provides that state and local regulation of interstate activities is an impermissible restriction on interstate commerce.
The BBC has reported that the new legislation could run afoul of a World Trade Organization ruling last August that the U.S. cannot block offshore online gambling sites.
Place Your Bets
It is no secret that online wagering is a multibillion-dollar business, and that most of the illegal activity originates in the U.S. PartyGaming, which reported revenues in excess of $600 million in 2004, said 88 percent of that money came from the pockets of U.S. customers.
"Gambling is illegal in the U.S., and there are many different state laws regulating it, but all of the online gaming businesses are located overseas, where the government has no jurisdiction," said Yankee Group analyst Michael Goodman. "How will this new law be enforced? Will the government track the online activities of the millions of people involved in online gambling?"
Still, Rep. Goodlatte said that illegal online gambling adversely impacts the economy by draining dollars from the United States and serves as a vehicle for money laundering.
The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
Antigua renews protests
The Caribbean state of Antigua and Barbuda, which in 2003 filed a complaint against the United States with the World Trade Organization over Internet gambling, renewed its protest of U.S. gambling laws on Friday after the act was re-introduced.
In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Bob Portman, an Antigua official said that he is concerned about efforts to outlaw the Internet gambling industry and complained the U.S. has made no attempt to comply with a WTO appellate ruling last year that the U.S. end discrimination against foreign online betting companies, Reuters reports. The WTO issued an April 3, 2006, deadline for the U.S. to comply with its ruling.
The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act carries an exemption for horse racing. The WTO ruling came in response to Antigua's complaint regarding an amendment to the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, which allows wagering on horse racing via phone or other electronic media. The law is limited to states where such wagering is allowed and excludes foreign operators. A WTO appeals panel ruled the U.S. has not shown its laws on horse racing are equally applied to domestic and foreign Internet wagering companies, which is contrary to global trade regulations.
"The U.S. is exploring a number of different avenues to clarify there is no discrimination-even outside of legislation, Neena Moorjani, a spokeswoman for Portman's office, told Reuters. "The issue is a very narrow one...the time period for compliance has not yet expired."
Antigua and Baruda wants to bolster its online gambling industry to counter declining tourism.
Well I don't play on line but I think this could come to pass. And one of the reasons I think so is not really mentioned here in this article. The state lotteries have a vested interested in this. From their perspective they are losing money on line bets. They of course don't make any money from on line bets and they can't regulate or control on line bets. If they can put an end to on line betting then the people who play will either have to stop playing or play in state. If they play in state that means more money for the state lottery.
Something like this is going on in Indiana right now with the campaign against so-called illegal lottery machines in taverns, VFW Halls and even football pools. In fact it recently it came to light here in Northwest Indiana that the Excise Department was going around to various bars trying to determine if they had a Superball Pool. If they were able to determine the bar had a football pool then they would shut down the pool and seize the money.
State legislators in Indiana are concerned because they cannot regulate and therefore tax or otherwise from profit from these types of gambling activities and the Executive Director has said words to the effect that the lottery is "losing money" because of this stuff. She feels that the money wagered in bars would be wagered on the Hoosier Lottery if these games were shut down.
So...even though this legislation is at the federal level I think you can look for the states to support it and it may very well come to pass.
Always some do-gooder knowing what is best for you. Will there ever be a day when some one can do what they want without be critized for it? Guns are bad. Tobacco is bad. Cellphones are bad. Nuclear power is bad. SUV's are bad. Sex is bad. Gambling is bad. Football teams insult indians. They never quit!
Please let me win the lottery Tuesday and let me get away from all these people who's life is based on interfering with some one elses life!
I hope they are unsuccessful but once again the politicians realize (or at least they think) there is money to be made here and they will (as always) make a serious effort to snatch up every penny they can. Some of the unscrouplous nitwits we put in office would dig up a corpse and tax the pennies on a dead man's eyes if they thought it would add more revenue to their coffers.
More like the politicians want to try and stop it so they can take charge of it or be a part of it. That way they regulate it and profit from it just like they did in the old days when people played with the local bookies. One way or another the government will find a way to make money from anyone who makes money.
I hope they are unsuccessful but once again the politicians realize (or at least they think) there is money to be made here and they will (as always) make a serious effort to snatch up every penny they can. Some of the unscrouplous nitwits we put in office would dig up a corpse and tax the pennies on a dead man's eyes if they thought it would add more revenue to their coffers.
Closing down football pools!
Jim
Remember guys, it is election year. The rats will be coming out of the wood work trying to convince their base they are the best thing since flavored Jello. Democrats will be lying to their voting bases and trying to convice everyone they know best. Republicans will be lying to their base and trying to convice everyone they know best. Independants will be trying to find where their base is hidinig.
No one wants to give up the lucrative position they have. Just think, not only having the ability to vote your own pay raises, and expenses, but to be able to hide it under cover as an automatic pay raise no matter what happens to the average American. The ability to write laws for everyone, then insert exceptions for yourself. Wouldn't you be corrupt too?
I hope they are unsuccessful but once again the politicians realize (or at least they think) there is money to be made here and they will (as always) make a serious effort to snatch up every penny they can. Some of the unscrouplous nitwits we put in office would dig up a corpse and tax the pennies on a dead man's eyes if they thought it would add more revenue to their coffers.
Closing down football pools!
Jim
Remember guys, it is election year. The rats will be coming out of the wood work trying to convince their base they are the best thing since flavored Jello. Democrats will be lying to their voting bases and trying to convice everyone they know best. Republicans will be lying to their base and trying to convice everyone they know best. Independants will be trying to find where their base is hidinig.
No one wants to give up the lucrative position they have. Just think, not only having the ability to vote your own pay raises, and expenses, but to be able to hide it under cover as an automatic pay raise no matter what happens to the average American. The ability to write laws for everyone, then insert exceptions for yourself. Wouldn't you be corrupt too?
, It is an election year! And this quote from the above article appears to suggest the likelihood is unlikely; "Similar legislation has been introduced over the years, but has been thwarted consistently by notorious gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff". Lobbyist are powerful people not to be overlooked.
My memory fails me, but there was some scandal unraveling in "P" (politics) city and one of the culprits involved in the rock throwing had some of his 'dirty laundry' exposed! Needless to say, the heat got colder... politicians were BORN in glass houses!
<< Similar legislation has been introduced over the years, but has been thwarted consistently by notorious gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff. >>
I see I'm not the only one who singled out that line. Abramoff is notorious for his bribery, not his lobbying, and he didn't thwart anything. He can hand out money and lobby until the end of the world, and the laws will still be the result of what our legisators do. It isn't lobbying that's the problem. It's legislators who do what's in their best interest instead of what they really believe is in our best interests. Of course a lot of them really do believe that preventing you from gambling is in your best interests.
Laws against bribery may be helpful, but what would really be useful would be an enforcebale law against legislators working for their benefit instead of ours.
Won't someone think of the children?After all,it's the children who are going online to spend their hard earned money at off-shore gambling sights.We have to protect them.Can't you people see that?It's all about he children!Hey Timmy,can I borrow your credit card?
<< Similar legislation has been introduced over the years, but has been thwarted consistently by notorious gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff. >>
I see I'm not the only one who singled out that line. Abramoff is notorious for his bribery, not his lobbying, and he didn't thwart anything. He can hand out money and lobby until the end of the world, and the laws will still be the result of what our legisators do. It isn't lobbying that's the problem. It's legislators who do what's in their best interest instead of what they really believe is in our best interests. Of course a lot of them really do believe that preventing you from gambling is in your best interests.
Laws against bribery may be helpful, but what would really be useful would be an enforcebale law against legislators working for their benefit instead of ours.
Isn't it strange that legislatures always have to write laws protecting them from bribes? Why can't they just say NO? Then on the otherside, the laws they write always manage to have a loophole big enough to drive a Brinks Truck through. Amazing how they always over look something like that. I have NO problem with Jack Abramoff, I have a problem with the rich politicians accepting the bribes. In the commercial business world, the company executive go to jail, not the briber. Obviously, there is an advantage to be the law writer!
<< Similar legislation has been introduced over the years, but has been thwarted consistently by notorious gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff. >>
I see I'm not the only one who singled out that line. Abramoff is notorious for his bribery, not his lobbying, and he didn't thwart anything. He can hand out money and lobby until the end of the world, and the laws will still be the result of what our legisators do. It isn't lobbying that's the problem. It's legislators who do what's in their best interest instead of what they really believe is in our best interests. Of course a lot of them really do believe that preventing you from gambling is in your best interests.
Laws against bribery may be helpful, but what would really be useful would be an enforcebale law against legislators working for their benefit instead of ours.
Isn't it strange that legislatures always have to write laws protecting them from bribes? Why can't they just say NO? Then on the otherside, the laws they write always manage to have a loophole big enough to drive a Brinks Truck through. Amazing how they always over look something like that. I have NO problem with Jack Abramoff, I have a problem with the rich politicians accepting the bribes. In the commercial business world, the company executive go to jail, not the briber. Obviously, there is an advantage to be the law writer!
Ya'll, I've gotta go. I am just cracking up over these stories and posts this a.m. Why can't they just say NO?Good question! So simple! They have not found anyone they can get kickbacks from making a profits from an all out media blitz. When they do!....
There is MM, ya'll...And on to the next big jackpot. In time...what is due will come forth! Believe it...NOTHING can or will stop it. AMEN!
Won't someone think of the children?After all,it's the children who are going online to spend their hard earned money at off-shore gambling sights.We have to protect them.Can't you people see that?It's all about he children!Hey Timmy,can I borrow your credit card?
Slap their little butts until they can't take it any more. Amazing how fast the little brats learn. Nice equals reward. Bad equals slapped butt. More parental control would lead to less crime. Little Timmy is only precious to you. While screaming in a supermarket line, he is a spoiled little brat and a sign of lousy parenting!
I think that even if they do write laws to stop online gambling, it will start back up again in another manifestation, like the laws governing pay day lending.
I don't think it will fly. The banks, credit card companies, Western Union and the like are making too much money.
I think what ever my habbits and hobbies are, I am entitled to them. I think whatever I decide to purchase from gaming, subscription services, to buying fine wine on my birthday is my business.
Our Government Gotta have their hand in everything with the acception of taking care of things like, homelessness and hunger in America, just to name a couple, instead, they'd rather bother the gamblers.
Slap their little butts until they can't take it any more.
...But there come those laws again! Government wants to blame parents and then doesn't let parents discipline. They throw the parents in jail if they try! The Government should stay the heck out of families. Domestic violence is nothing but a moneymaker. If a kid has so much as a tiny "paper cut" but it came from discipline...guess where you end up.
And it doesn't matter who you vote for, they will all screw you. You can't even control the price of a postage stamp! Much less important laws.
(Chewie, don't know how you ever managed to accomplish what you did. Showing up everyday doesn't guarantee a win - think you just got lucky. But I applaud you.).
I think that even if they do write laws to stop online gambling, it will start back up again in another manifestation, like the laws governing pay day lending.
I don't think it will fly. The banks, credit card companies, Western Union and the like are making too much money.
EXACTLY
You can't stop what people want, you can just make it more expensive and less healthy. Prostitution. On-line Porn. Drugs. Alcohal. It never works, and they never stop pushing their agenda. All it does is make the do-gooders feel better, and the underground richer. Plus, it makes criminals out of normal every day Americans.
Too stringent laws would be over ruled by the WTO. Many caribean countries have gambling as the only real revenue left. I don't know how much voting even helps. We have a plutocracy going on now. In seattle some tried to remove a very incompetent Ron Sims but dead people and other illegal/nonexant voters kept him in office. If the local press and people don't care that their vote means anything than what other choices do you have.
Slap their little butts until they can't take it any more.
...But there come those laws again! Government wants to blame parents and then doesn't let parents discipline. They throw the parents in jail if they try! The Government should stay the heck out of families. Domestic violence is nothing but a moneymaker. If a kid has so much as a tiny "paper cut" but it came from discipline...guess where you end up.
And it doesn't matter who you vote for, they will all screw you. You can't even control the price of a postage stamp! Much less important laws.
(Chewie, don't know how you ever managed to accomplish what you did. Showing up everyday doesn't guarantee a win - think you just got lucky. But I applaud you.).
My dad slapped my butt, I slapped my daughters butt, and she slaps her kids butt. The familiy tradition is to never strike in anger, never to strike any where other then the butt, and control the slap. Three slaps, to a kid, cause as much heartache as fifty. Walk away, then discipline. Sometimes I sat in the middle of the dining room floor for an hour while he calmed down. But he never hit me in anger. I am not talking about beatings, I am talking about slaps on the rear. After the first few slaps on the butt, all I needed was the "look" from my dad. It scared me more then Frankenstien! Once I got older, there was no need to it. I knew the options. I taught my daughter the same principle.
Too stringent laws would be over ruled by the WTO. Many caribean countries have gambling as the only real revenue left. I don't know how much voting even helps. We have a plutocracy going on now. In seattle some tried to remove a very incompetent Ron Sims but dead people and other illegal/nonexant voters kept him in office. If the local press and people don't care that their vote means anything than what other choices do you have.
US laws cannot be overruled by the WTO. No body in the whole world can create US laws, except for the US legislature.
I slapped my daughters butt, and she slaps her kids butt.
The only reason that works...is because the kids didn't call the cops. The net is full of examples.
Here is one quote from someone that should know: With "Zero Tolerance" arrest policies and "No Drop" prosecutions, the number of arrests for petty family arguments has skyrocketed. A former prosecuting attorney explains the phenomena:
"Christopher Pagan, who was until recently a prosecutor in Hamilton County, Ohio, estimates that due to a 1994 state law requiring police on a domestic call either to make an arrest or to file a report explaining why a no arrest was made, "domestics " went from 10 percent to 40 percent of his docket. But, he suggests, that doesn't mean actual abusers were coming to his attention more often. "We started getting a lot of push-and-shoves," says Pagan, "or even yelling matches. " In the past, police officers would intervene and separate the parties to let them cool off. Now those cases end up in criminal courts. It's exacerbating tensions between the parties, and it's turning law-abiding middle class citizens into criminals."
The only reason that works...is because the kids didn't call the cops. The net is full of examples.
Me? Call the cops on my parents? Better I should chop off my toes with a dull knife. My earliest memory was my parents proving that the family was all that mattered. Support the family, and it will support you. Neighbors, they move away, the family doesn't. Churches will close down and move to where the money is better. The family will feed you when you are hungry. Without the family, there is no security. You always sleep better at home. I read an article where two guys turned their father in for robbing banks. I would never to that. He is (was) my father. He sacrificed everything to feed me. Nothing was too proud for him to make sure I had clothes. He skipped lunches so I could go to the movies on Saturdays. He worked a 12 hour day, then studied math, so he could help me graduate from grade school. I should forget that for a gold star on my personnel file?
Again, please let me win Tuesday, and get me away from all these liberal doo-gooders!
Too stringent laws would be over ruled by the WTO. Many caribean countries have gambling as the only real revenue left. I don't know how much voting even helps. We have a plutocracy going on now. In seattle some tried to remove a very incompetent Ron Sims but dead people and other illegal/nonexant voters kept him in office. If the local press and people don't care that their vote means anything than what other choices do you have.
US laws cannot be overruled by the WTO. No body in the whole world can create US laws, except for the US legislature.
Hate to say it but the WTO overrules national laws all the time. At least any law related to international trade. That was part of signing on to the WTO. They can't stop the law but can impose tariffs and other sanctions if the laws aren't changed. That's why Bush had to end the steel tariffs in place to try to protect US steel companies. The WTO ruled them illegal and was about to impose sanctions against other US goods.
Please, by all means, quote me the law that the WTO "overruled". A tarriff (fee) is not a law, if that's what you're implying.
Wait until Hillary-Ann or John-Boy become President. The U.N. will approve all of our laws. The WTO will have the power to shut down our newspapers, and guns will be banned. Suddan killed fewer people then the U.S. Military did, thus banning the military will save lives and save money. We won't need a military any way, every citizen will be equal worldwide, so there will be no need for protection. Dictators will go off the tropical islands, and peace will dominate the world. Now all we have to do is convince the Arabs to follow the rules of humanity.
Call the cops on my parents? Better I should chop off my toes with a dull knife. My earliest memory was my parents proving that the family was all that mattered.
I'm in 100% agreement with that. I never call the police for any argument.
Unfortunately, too many people today do. Get the Government out of family issues! That's what I am saying, let families be in charge.
That's my last statement in regards to children and gambling/lottery/other "evils."
There are 4 things that you can do, keep on playing online, quit playing offline, only vote for REAL pro-gamblers and complain here there and every-where.
Way to go! Shhhhhhhh! There are so many loopholes in "the law". I could argue in court (AND WIN) that the law did not specify transmission via satelitte w/o wires, etc. Internet service is provided via satellite too. Just don't think that it will be an issue; nothing will change. The war on drugs will never be won until non pre-prescription drug use is legalized . If it is legal, the profit margin goes way down! Criminals made a profit in the USA when alcohol production was "illegal". If online lotteries are made legal, criminals will make a profit by finding a way to keep it going. The legislators need another cause. How about taking heed to what the meteorologist are telling us about the next ten years. How about preparing ahead for the natural disasters to come. And they are acoming, at a swift rate. Hurricanes: 4 in the state of FL, the sunami in 2004. 2005 Katrina and Rita, The earth quake, thousands dead. The torrential rains that moved the mountain in the Phillipines---hundreds feared dead in 2006, hurrucane season 2006 is expected to be as bad as 2005. Enought said!
Your and my Congress is composed of people YOU and I elected to represent us.Have you communicated with your congressman enough so that he/she has an idea of who you are? You just didn't vote, you voted and you are making sure your vote was cast for the right candidate. Is your person elected to office aware that YOU are keeping up with how they vote on issues and if they want to continue to enjoy their cushy jobs with all the perks????? If they do, they had better listen to the constituents. Talk to your fellow community members, who talk to their neighbors, etc. If you have not, then complain not! It took a 911 for prayer to get back in public forums. People who wanted prayer in public forums kept quiet...Madeline did not---she got her way. Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!Squeak!Squeak!Squeak! The squeakiest wheel gets oiled first!
It's like a black fly in your Chardonnay.. the same people (?) who are staunchly against computerized drawings for Lotteries (and I agree with them!) are they supporting online casinos? Those are the Grand Kahunas of computerized gaming! Worse, the site knows who's playing and how much they won/lost and their betting habits.. how hard would it be to rig so that the person is tempted to keep playing even though overall losing money? Know anyone who's made a profit on it other than the site owners? I can understand online poker tournaments vs. other actual players but when the "house" is a computer program - controlling and tracking everything - BEWARE!!!!
Let's hope they are unsuccessful Jim, like they have been in the past.
They're a bunch of hypocrites ! They okay OTB on horses. Why? Because some states have OTB parlors, and the govt gets it'scut of the winnings.
This isn't about "protecting" the people from themselves (which is a ludicrous concept anyway) but it's al about the govt behind really ticked-off that it isn't able to get its hands on the winnings so it can steal it's share.
According to Webster's: "Steal: to take without permission or right". The govt has never asked any of us for permission to take any gambling winnings. They claim they have the "right", of course, but such a claim is relative. The risk is all on the player and none on the govt. So why should the govt benefit from something where they incur zero risk?
America; it's all about the money. I think it's ridiculous when you think about it....Just in Powerball...every dollar spent has already been taxed. The taxed dollars are part of the pool from which the jackpot is paid....and before its paid, its' taxedagain !
It's like a black fly in your Chardonnay.. the same people (?) who are staunchly against computerized drawings for Lotteries (and I agree with them!) are they supporting online casinos? Those are the Grand Kahunas of computerized gaming! Worse, the site knows who's playing and how much they won/lost and their betting habits.. how hard would it be to rig so that the person is tempted to keep playing even though overall losing money? Know anyone who's made a profit on it other than the site owners? I can understand online poker tournaments vs. other actual players but when the "house" is a computer program - controlling and tracking everything - BEWARE!!!!
You're making a good arguement against on-line gambling - including the lottery.
in other words since they can't get some kind of cut for themselves then they are against it.but i guarantee if they could make a dollar off of it they wouldn't have a problem with it existing........
in other words since they can't get some kind of cut for themselves then they are against it.but i guarantee if they could make a dollar off of it they wouldn't have a problem with it existing........
does anyone think this thing will come to pass?
i just opened an account with betslips.hopefully these moron lawmakers don't pass this stupid bill..........
Nothing new here. Same concept as you can not walk into a lottery retailer and use your credit card to purchase tickets... cash only.
Will that stop me from playing online? Heck no... I win more online that I could EVER in my life win playing here in Hoosier land.
Well I don't play on line but I think this could come to pass. And one of the reasons I think so is not really mentioned here in this article. The state lotteries have a vested interested in this. From their perspective they are losing money on line bets. They of course don't make any money from on line bets and they can't regulate or control on line bets. If they can put an end to on line betting then the people who play will either have to stop playing or play in state. If they play in state that means more money for the state lottery.
Something like this is going on in Indiana right now with the campaign against so-called illegal lottery machines in taverns, VFW Halls and even football pools. In fact it recently it came to light here in Northwest Indiana that the Excise Department was going around to various bars trying to determine if they had a Superball Pool. If they were able to determine the bar had a football pool then they would shut down the pool and seize the money.
State legislators in Indiana are concerned because they cannot regulate and therefore tax or otherwise from profit from these types of gambling activities and the Executive Director has said words to the effect that the lottery is "losing money" because of this stuff. She feels that the money wagered in bars would be wagered on the Hoosier Lottery if these games were shut down.
So...even though this legislation is at the federal level I think you can look for the states to support it and it may very well come to pass.
Jim
Let's hope they are unsuccessful Jim, like they have been in the past.
Always some do-gooder knowing what is best for you. Will there ever be a day when some one can do what they want without be critized for it? Guns are bad. Tobacco is bad. Cellphones are bad. Nuclear power is bad. SUV's are bad. Sex is bad. Gambling is bad. Football teams insult indians. They never quit!
Please let me win the lottery Tuesday and let me get away from all these people who's life is based on interfering with some one elses life!
@Chewie:
Preach on Brother Chewie! Preach on!
@Todd:
I hope they are unsuccessful but once again the politicians realize (or at least they think) there is money to be made here and they will (as always) make a serious effort to snatch up every penny they can. Some of the unscrouplous nitwits we put in office would dig up a corpse and tax the pennies on a dead man's eyes if they thought it would add more revenue to their coffers.
Closing down football pools!
Jim
I really don't think we need a baby sitter why don't they just get a life of their own
More like the politicians want to try and stop it so they can take charge of it or be a part of it. That way they regulate it and profit from it just like they did in the old days when people played with the local bookies. One way or another the government will find a way to make money from anyone who makes money.
@Chewie:
Preach on Brother Chewie! Preach on!
@Todd:
I hope they are unsuccessful but once again the politicians realize (or at least they think) there is money to be made here and they will (as always) make a serious effort to snatch up every penny they can. Some of the unscrouplous nitwits we put in office would dig up a corpse and tax the pennies on a dead man's eyes if they thought it would add more revenue to their coffers.
Closing down football pools!
Jim
Remember guys, it is election year. The rats will be coming out of the wood work trying to convince their base they are the best thing since flavored Jello. Democrats will be lying to their voting bases and trying to convice everyone they know best. Republicans will be lying to their base and trying to convice everyone they know best. Independants will be trying to find where their base is hidinig.
No one wants to give up the lucrative position they have. Just think, not only having the ability to vote your own pay raises, and expenses, but to be able to hide it under cover as an automatic pay raise no matter what happens to the average American. The ability to write laws for everyone, then insert exceptions for yourself. Wouldn't you be corrupt too?
@Chewie:
Preach on Brother Chewie! Preach on!
@Todd:
I hope they are unsuccessful but once again the politicians realize (or at least they think) there is money to be made here and they will (as always) make a serious effort to snatch up every penny they can. Some of the unscrouplous nitwits we put in office would dig up a corpse and tax the pennies on a dead man's eyes if they thought it would add more revenue to their coffers.
Closing down football pools!
Jim
Remember guys, it is election year. The rats will be coming out of the wood work trying to convince their base they are the best thing since flavored Jello. Democrats will be lying to their voting bases and trying to convice everyone they know best. Republicans will be lying to their base and trying to convice everyone they know best. Independants will be trying to find where their base is hidinig.
No one wants to give up the lucrative position they have. Just think, not only having the ability to vote your own pay raises, and expenses, but to be able to hide it under cover as an automatic pay raise no matter what happens to the average American. The ability to write laws for everyone, then insert exceptions for yourself. Wouldn't you be corrupt too?
My memory fails me, but there was some scandal unraveling in "P" (politics) city and one of the culprits involved in the rock throwing had some of his 'dirty laundry' exposed! Needless to say, the heat got colder... politicians were BORN in glass houses!
<< Similar legislation has been introduced over the years, but has been thwarted consistently by notorious gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff. >>
I see I'm not the only one who singled out that line. Abramoff is notorious for his bribery, not his lobbying, and he didn't thwart anything. He can hand out money and lobby until the end of the world, and the laws will still be the result of what our legisators do. It isn't lobbying that's the problem. It's legislators who do what's in their best interest instead of what they really believe is in our best interests. Of course a lot of them really do believe that preventing you from gambling is in your best interests.
Laws against bribery may be helpful, but what would really be useful would be an enforcebale law against legislators working for their benefit instead of ours.
Won't someone think of the children?After all,it's the children who are going online to spend their hard earned money at off-shore gambling sights.We have to protect them.Can't you people see that?It's all about he children!Hey Timmy,can I borrow your credit card?
Parents!
Parental Authority always worked in our household. LOL
<< Similar legislation has been introduced over the years, but has been thwarted consistently by notorious gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff. >>
I see I'm not the only one who singled out that line. Abramoff is notorious for his bribery, not his lobbying, and he didn't thwart anything. He can hand out money and lobby until the end of the world, and the laws will still be the result of what our legisators do. It isn't lobbying that's the problem. It's legislators who do what's in their best interest instead of what they really believe is in our best interests. Of course a lot of them really do believe that preventing you from gambling is in your best interests.
Laws against bribery may be helpful, but what would really be useful would be an enforcebale law against legislators working for their benefit instead of ours.
Isn't it strange that legislatures always have to write laws protecting them from bribes? Why can't they just say NO? Then on the otherside, the laws they write always manage to have a loophole big enough to drive a Brinks Truck through. Amazing how they always over look something like that. I have NO problem with Jack Abramoff, I have a problem with the rich politicians accepting the bribes. In the commercial business world, the company executive go to jail, not the briber. Obviously, there is an advantage to be the law writer!
<< Similar legislation has been introduced over the years, but has been thwarted consistently by notorious gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff. >>
I see I'm not the only one who singled out that line. Abramoff is notorious for his bribery, not his lobbying, and he didn't thwart anything. He can hand out money and lobby until the end of the world, and the laws will still be the result of what our legisators do. It isn't lobbying that's the problem. It's legislators who do what's in their best interest instead of what they really believe is in our best interests. Of course a lot of them really do believe that preventing you from gambling is in your best interests.
Laws against bribery may be helpful, but what would really be useful would be an enforcebale law against legislators working for their benefit instead of ours.
Isn't it strange that legislatures always have to write laws protecting them from bribes? Why can't they just say NO? Then on the otherside, the laws they write always manage to have a loophole big enough to drive a Brinks Truck through. Amazing how they always over look something like that. I have NO problem with Jack Abramoff, I have a problem with the rich politicians accepting the bribes. In the commercial business world, the company executive go to jail, not the briber. Obviously, there is an advantage to be the law writer!
Ya'll, I've gotta go. I am just cracking up over these stories and posts this a.m. Why can't they just say NO?
Good question! So simple! They have not found anyone they can get kickbacks from making a profits from an all out media blitz. When they do!....
There is MM, ya'll...And on to the next big jackpot. In time...what is due will come forth! Believe it...NOTHING can or will stop it. AMEN!
Won't someone think of the children?After all,it's the children who are going online to spend their hard earned money at off-shore gambling sights.We have to protect them.Can't you people see that?It's all about he children!Hey Timmy,can I borrow your credit card?
Slap their little butts until they can't take it any more. Amazing how fast the little brats learn. Nice equals reward. Bad equals slapped butt. More parental control would lead to less crime. Little Timmy is only precious to you. While screaming in a supermarket line, he is a spoiled little brat and a sign of lousy parenting!
I don't think it will fly. The banks, credit card companies, Western Union and the like are making too much money.
I think what ever my habbits and hobbies are, I am entitled to them. I think whatever I decide to purchase from gaming, subscription services, to buying fine wine on my birthday is my business.
Our Government Gotta have their hand in everything with the acception of taking care of things like, homelessness and hunger in America, just to name a couple, instead, they'd rather bother the gamblers.
Slap their little butts until they can't take it any more.
...But there come those laws again! Government wants to blame parents and then doesn't let parents discipline. They throw the parents in jail if they try! The Government should stay the heck out of families. Domestic violence is nothing but a moneymaker. If a kid has so much as a tiny "paper cut" but it came from discipline...guess where you end up.
And it doesn't matter who you vote for, they will all screw you. You can't even control the price of a postage stamp! Much less important laws.
(Chewie, don't know how you ever managed to accomplish what you did. Showing up everyday doesn't guarantee a win - think you just got lucky. But I applaud you.).
I don't think it will fly. The banks, credit card companies, Western Union and the like are making too much money.
You can't stop what people want, you can just make it more expensive and less healthy. Prostitution. On-line Porn. Drugs. Alcohal. It never works, and they never stop pushing their agenda. All it does is make the do-gooders feel better, and the underground richer. Plus, it makes criminals out of normal every day Americans.
Too stringent laws would be over ruled by the WTO. Many caribean countries have gambling as the only real revenue left. I don't know how much voting even helps. We have a plutocracy going on now. In seattle some tried to remove a very incompetent Ron Sims but dead people and other illegal/nonexant voters kept him in office. If the local press and people don't care that their vote means anything than what other choices do you have.
Slap their little butts until they can't take it any more.
...But there come those laws again! Government wants to blame parents and then doesn't let parents discipline. They throw the parents in jail if they try! The Government should stay the heck out of families. Domestic violence is nothing but a moneymaker. If a kid has so much as a tiny "paper cut" but it came from discipline...guess where you end up.
And it doesn't matter who you vote for, they will all screw you. You can't even control the price of a postage stamp! Much less important laws.
(Chewie, don't know how you ever managed to accomplish what you did. Showing up everyday doesn't guarantee a win - think you just got lucky. But I applaud you.).
My dad slapped my butt, I slapped my daughters butt, and she slaps her kids butt. The familiy tradition is to never strike in anger, never to strike any where other then the butt, and control the slap. Three slaps, to a kid, cause as much heartache as fifty. Walk away, then discipline. Sometimes I sat in the middle of the dining room floor for an hour while he calmed down. But he never hit me in anger. I am not talking about beatings, I am talking about slaps on the rear. After the first few slaps on the butt, all I needed was the "look" from my dad. It scared me more then Frankenstien! Once I got older, there was no need to it. I knew the options. I taught my daughter the same principle.
Too stringent laws would be over ruled by the WTO. Many caribean countries have gambling as the only real revenue left. I don't know how much voting even helps. We have a plutocracy going on now. In seattle some tried to remove a very incompetent Ron Sims but dead people and other illegal/nonexant voters kept him in office. If the local press and people don't care that their vote means anything than what other choices do you have.
US laws cannot be overruled by the WTO. No body in the whole world can create US laws, except for the US legislature.
Chewie
I slapped my daughters butt, and she slaps her kids butt.
The only reason that works...is because the kids didn't call the cops. The net is full of examples.
Here is one quote from someone that should know:
With "Zero Tolerance" arrest policies and "No Drop" prosecutions, the number of arrests for petty family arguments has skyrocketed. A former prosecuting attorney explains the phenomena:
"Christopher Pagan, who was until recently a prosecutor in Hamilton County, Ohio, estimates that due to a 1994 state law requiring police on a domestic call either to make an arrest or to file a report explaining why a no arrest was made, "domestics " went from 10 percent to 40 percent of his docket. But, he suggests, that doesn't mean actual abusers were coming to his attention more often. "We started getting a lot of push-and-shoves," says Pagan, "or even yelling matches. " In the past, police officers would intervene and separate the parties to let them cool off. Now those cases end up in criminal courts. It's exacerbating tensions between the parties, and it's turning law-abiding middle class citizens into criminals."
The only reason that works...is because the kids didn't call the cops. The net is full of examples.
Me? Call the cops on my parents? Better I should chop off my toes with a dull knife. My earliest memory was my parents proving that the family was all that mattered. Support the family, and it will support you. Neighbors, they move away, the family doesn't. Churches will close down and move to where the money is better. The family will feed you when you are hungry. Without the family, there is no security. You always sleep better at home. I read an article where two guys turned their father in for robbing banks. I would never to that. He is (was) my father. He sacrificed everything to feed me. Nothing was too proud for him to make sure I had clothes. He skipped lunches so I could go to the movies on Saturdays. He worked a 12 hour day, then studied math, so he could help me graduate from grade school. I should forget that for a gold star on my personnel file?
Again, please let me win Tuesday, and get me away from all these liberal doo-gooders!
Too stringent laws would be over ruled by the WTO. Many caribean countries have gambling as the only real revenue left. I don't know how much voting even helps. We have a plutocracy going on now. In seattle some tried to remove a very incompetent Ron Sims but dead people and other illegal/nonexant voters kept him in office. If the local press and people don't care that their vote means anything than what other choices do you have.
US laws cannot be overruled by the WTO. No body in the whole world can create US laws, except for the US legislature.
Hate to say it but the WTO overrules national laws all the time. At least any law related to international trade. That was part of signing on to the WTO. They can't stop the law but can impose tariffs and other sanctions if the laws aren't changed. That's why Bush had to end the steel tariffs in place to try to protect US steel companies. The WTO ruled them illegal and was about to impose sanctions against other US goods.
Please, by all means, quote me the law that the WTO "overruled". A tarriff (fee) is not a law, if that's what you're implying.
Please, by all means, quote me the law that the WTO "overruled". A tarriff (fee) is not a law, if that's what you're implying.
Wait until Hillary-Ann or John-Boy become President. The U.N. will approve all of our laws. The WTO will have the power to shut down our newspapers, and guns will be banned. Suddan killed fewer people then the U.S. Military did, thus banning the military will save lives and save money. We won't need a military any way, every citizen will be equal worldwide, so there will be no need for protection. Dictators will go off the tropical islands, and peace will dominate the world. Now all we have to do is convince the Arabs to follow the rules of humanity.
Call the cops on my parents? Better I should chop off my toes with a dull knife. My earliest memory was my parents proving that the family was all that mattered.
I'm in 100% agreement with that. I never call the police for any argument.
Unfortunately, too many people today do. Get the Government out of family issues! That's what I am saying, let families be in charge.
That's my last statement in regards to children and gambling/lottery/other "evils."
There are 4 things that you can do, keep on playing online, quit playing offline, only vote for REAL pro-gamblers and complain here there and every-where.
U.S. Wire Act, which prohibits gambling over telephone wires, to cover use of the Internet to operate a gambling business.
What if you connect to the internet via cable??
What if you connect to the internet via cable??
You are making too much sense.
The government does not deal in rational thoughts.
U.S. Wire Act, which prohibits gambling over telephone wires, to cover use of the Internet to operate a gambling business.
What if you connect to the internet via cable??
Last time I looked, cable was wire.
But it's not a TELEPHONE wire.
How about a wire-LESS laptop?
How about a wire-LESS laptop?
Way to go! Shhhhhhhh! There are so many loopholes in "the law". I could argue in court (AND WIN) that the law did not specify transmission via satelitte w/o wires, etc. Internet service is provided via satellite too. Just don't think that it will be an issue; nothing will change. The war on drugs will never be won until non pre-prescription drug use is legalized . If it is legal, the profit margin goes way down! Criminals made a profit in the USA when alcohol production was "illegal". If online lotteries are made legal, criminals will make a profit by finding a way to keep it going. The legislators need another cause. How about taking heed to what the meteorologist are telling us about the next ten years. How about preparing ahead for the natural disasters to come. And they are acoming, at a swift rate. Hurricanes: 4 in the state of FL, the sunami in 2004. 2005 Katrina and Rita, The earth quake, thousands dead. The torrential rains that moved the mountain in the Phillipines---hundreds feared dead in 2006, hurrucane season 2006 is expected to be as bad as 2005. Enought said!
Your and my Congress is composed of people YOU and I elected to represent us.
Have you communicated with your congressman enough so that he/she has an idea of who you are? You just didn't vote, you voted and you are making sure your vote was cast for the right candidate. Is your person elected to office aware that YOU are keeping up with how they vote on issues and if they want to continue to enjoy their cushy jobs with all the perks????? If they do, they had better listen to the constituents. Talk to your fellow community members, who talk to their neighbors, etc. If you have not, then complain not! It took a 911 for prayer to get back in public forums. People who wanted prayer in public forums kept quiet...Madeline did not---she got her way. Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!Squeak!Squeak!Squeak! The squeakiest wheel gets oiled first!
Boy, oh boy, do I love the freedom to squeak!It's like a black fly in your Chardonnay.. the same people (?) who are staunchly against computerized drawings for Lotteries (and I agree with them!) are they supporting online casinos? Those are the Grand Kahunas of computerized gaming! Worse, the site knows who's playing and how much they won/lost and their betting habits.. how hard would it be to rig so that the person is tempted to keep playing even though overall losing money? Know anyone who's made a profit on it other than the site owners? I can understand online poker tournaments vs. other actual players but when the "house" is a computer program - controlling and tracking everything - BEWARE!!!!
Please, by all means, quote me the law that the WTO "overruled". A tarriff (fee) is not a law, if that's what you're implying.
but they can impose tariffis that hurt us
Let's hope they are unsuccessful Jim, like they have been in the past.
They're a bunch of hypocrites ! They okay OTB on horses. Why? Because some states have OTB parlors, and the govt gets it's cut of the winnings.
This isn't about "protecting" the people from themselves (which is a ludicrous concept anyway) but it's al about the govt behind really ticked-off that it isn't able to get its hands on the winnings so it can steal it's share.
According to Webster's: "Steal: to take without permission or right". The govt has never asked any of us for permission to take any gambling winnings. They claim they have the "right", of course, but such a claim is relative. The risk is all on the player and none on the govt. So why should the govt benefit from something where they incur zero risk?
America; it's all about the money. I think it's ridiculous when you think about it....Just in Powerball...every dollar spent has already been taxed. The taxed dollars are part of the pool from which the jackpot is paid....and before its paid, its' taxed again !
It's like a black fly in your Chardonnay.. the same people (?) who are staunchly against computerized drawings for Lotteries (and I agree with them!) are they supporting online casinos? Those are the Grand Kahunas of computerized gaming! Worse, the site knows who's playing and how much they won/lost and their betting habits.. how hard would it be to rig so that the person is tempted to keep playing even though overall losing money? Know anyone who's made a profit on it other than the site owners? I can understand online poker tournaments vs. other actual players but when the "house" is a computer program - controlling and tracking everything - BEWARE!!!!
You're making a good arguement against on-line gambling - including the lottery.
i hear those stupid commercials late at night at work.these ignorant politicians need to worry about more important issues.
in other words since they can't get some kind of cut for themselves then they are against it.but i guarantee if they could make a dollar off of it they wouldn't have a problem with it existing........
in other words since they can't get some kind of cut for themselves then they are against it.but i guarantee if they could make a dollar off of it they wouldn't have a problem with it existing........
Politicians have so many other things to work on besides this....They need to get a life.......