Poker
lobby protests proposed ban on online casinos
As the congressional field
hearing in Iowa designed to ramp up support for federal
legislation restricting online casinos approaches, the poker
lobby renewed its assault on the ban on online casinos approach
taken by the politicians in the United States.
Poker Players Alliance
President Michael Bolcerek decried the Unlawful Internet
Gambling Enforcement Act , which passed the U.S. House of
Representatives in early July, as "short-sighted" and said it
would only breed "unregulated online 'speak easys'" that do
nothing to curb the underage and problem gambling targeted by
the bill's sponsors. The bill will target online casinos and the
profitable online casinos industry is reeling from the news. The
future of online casinos is up in the air, and the lobby efforts
aim to protect online casinos from this legislation are
underway.
"A more sensible approach is
to license, regulate and tax this skill game here in the United
States, much like we already do with 'brick and mortar' casinos
and card rooms," Bolcerek said in a statement released Wednesday
by the pro online casinos group, which describes itself as a
grassroots organization representing 100,000 online casinos
players and online casinos enthusiasts.
A PPA-commissioned study
(click for PDF) estimates that Uncle Sam could rake in at least
$3.3 billion per year from income taxes and fees tied to a
regulated online casinos regime. 23 million Americans already
play poker on the Internet at online casinos, according to the
lobby group.
Various incarnations of online casinos gambling restrictions
have been bouncing around Congress for years amid international
skepticism about the online casinos subject.
The House-approved bill would
clarify that federal law prohibits processing financial
transactions related to "unlawful" online casinos and would in
some cases force Internet service providers to block access to
offshore gambling sites. Democrats, a large number of whom voted
against the measure, have criticized the approach as riddled
with loopholes because it exempts wagers on horse races and
lotteries.
The field hearing--a favorite
practice of politicians during lengthy recesses away from the
nation's capital--is scheduled to take place Thursday afternoon
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the home state of Rep. Jim Leach, a
Republican congressman who co-sponsored the bill with Republican
Bob Goodlatte of Virginia. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist,
who has endorsed the bill and exercises much control over when
it would go before the Senate, is also on the planned attendance
list.
It's unclear when the Senate will begin debating Unlawful
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, labeled part of the
Republicans' election-year "American Values" agenda, as it's
just one of many proposals potentially on the agenda before the
politicians return to campaigning. Congress is scheduled to
return to Washington D.C. on Sept. 5 and is expected to break
again by early October
Whatever the final outcome of all of these talks and bills in
the United States, it remains clear that the net gambling
industry is very profitable and the business side is booming,
despite political reservations.
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