[sensei24]

Originally Posted by elon05

This is absolutely ridiculous. I don't see how Congress can think they can do this. I mean what is the problem with people gambling online. I really hope Bush does not approve this or I will be pissed.

LONDON (Reuters) - Online gambling firms faced their biggest-ever crisis on Monday after U.S. Congress passed legislation to end Internet gaming there, threatening jobs and wiping 3.5 billion pounds ($6.5 billion) off company values.

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Britain's PartyGaming Plc, operator of leading Internet poker site PartyPoker.com, and rivals Sportingbet and 888 Plc said they would likely pull out of the United States, their biggest source of revenue.

"This development is a significant setback for our company, our shareholders, our players and our industry," PartyGaming Chief Executive Mitch Garber said.

The House of Representatives and Senate unexpectedly approved a bill early on Saturday that would make it illegal for banks and credit-card companies to make payments to online gambling sites.

The measure was sent to President George W. Bush to sign into law, which most analysts see as a certainty.

I will tell you what is the problem. You win money but you don't pay taxes for you winnigs. So they want to stop this. They can't stop the players but they can stop the poker sites to allow the americans accounts. It's true that you can make an account with another country name and adress and withdraw with moneybookers , click2pay and others, if they will not restrict them too, but you will not be able to play online qualifications for the WSOP or other poker live events.
I thing this measure is very wrong and there are big interests here. Maybe the casino's miss players, because more of them are playing online now. I think that the all poker world will have to lose from this law and will affect the europeans players too.
Also this measure will affect the american forums. I thought America is the country of freedom. I see i was wrong, Netherland is.

[Lytspeed]

Originally Posted by sensei24

I thought America is the country of freedom. I see i was wrong, Netherland is.

You know there are those of us who are more than a bit upset about our disappearing freedoms here in the U.S.A. But this is not the proper forum for me to rant about that ...

[godlikev]

i think the main reason for this is that casinos have lees and less palyers cuz they are playng online(so i agree with sensei) and yeah netherlands is starting to be the freedom land

[123Law]

i think the main reason for this is that casinos have lees and less palyers cuz they are playng online

wonderful point. I would venture to guess the casinos and vegas have better lobbyists then the online poker sites.

[ssmooth8]

I'd have to disagree on that. Casinos are not losing players as there are still the many who prefer live play than playing behind a screen. They feel that it is a more real chance of playing legit poker to get the most out of yourself and another. Also how many times does a person go to the casino and have to end up writing their name on the boards to reserve a seat for the holdem tables? Basically everytime so the casinos are not losing out on active live players. It is definitely because the government does not want to see citizens making a lot of money and not paying taxes for it. Either way if they were to ban online poker or make poker players pay taxes for large sums of winnings. The poker world would definitely be upset either way.

[ad1129]

Originally Posted by ssmooth8

I'd have to disagree on that. Casinos are not losing players as there are still the many who prefer live play than playing behind a screen. They feel that it is a more real chance of playing legit poker to get the most out of yourself and another. Also how many times does a person go to the casino and have to end up writing their name on the boards to reserve a seat for the holdem tables? Basically everytime so the casinos are not losing out on active live players. It is definitely because the government does not want to see citizens making a lot of money and not paying taxes for it. Either way if they were to ban online poker or make poker players pay taxes for large sums of winnings. The poker world would definitely be upset either way.

professional players pay taxes on poker winnings.

[doflovespoker]

I think we all have it wrong (lol). Here is why the law was passed. No one seems to mind that the senate floor didn't discuss this at all and that it was attached to a bill that had to pass.
Of course this is all smoke and mirrors as the law itself ban anything really.


Press Releases

FRIST STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF INTERNET GAMBLING LEGISLATION


US Senator William H. Frist, M.D.
September 29th, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D., (R-Tenn.) made the following statement after the Senate passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act:


“Gambling is a serious addiction that undermines the family, dashes dreams, and frays the fabric of society. Congress has grappled with this issue for 10 years, and during that time we’ve watched this shadow industry explode. For me as majority leader, the bottom line is simple: Internet gambling is illegal. Although we can’t monitor every online gambler or regulate offshore gambling, we can police the financial institutions that disregard our laws.”

[gilbert921]

Let's get a couple of things straight. The brick and mortar casinos and there lobbyist are on the side of online gambling. yes they were against online gambling at first, but there tune changed when onling gambling just wetted the american publics appetites to gamble, so these gamblers flocked to vegas and other casinos across the nation. So brick and mortar casinos are not against online gaming. The biggest reason has to be that the government can not tax these multibillion dollar industry.

Second, the bill is very loose, if passed it will be illegal for a bank to fund a online gaming site for an american resident. For many years credit cards have already done this very thing. The biggest statement I want to hear, is from NETELLER. There legislation comes from the Isle of Mann, which in turn means that U.S. legislation has no bearing on there laws. So to me if NETELLER stands up and says If an american resident wants to fund there NETELLER account we will support that, and in turn we will NOT monitor where this money goes. This of course, would only happen in a perfect world, lets just hope this happens.

I'm highly dissapointed that Party Gaming and 888 gaming have decided to pull the plug on American players as soon as Bush signs the bill. Even though they are publicly traded they should stand strong, accept U.S players and go to the WTO and complain that the U.S. law is affecting there economy.

I am very dissapointed that this bill was snuck through, but I along with many other poker players will not quit.

In closing the biggest problem this faces for me, is my day to day living. I have a regular job like most players, but I use my poker income to pay for bills, sort of a part time job. This will affect my livelyhood, also in turn the CASUAL player may not be informed on new law, and think online poker is ILLEGAL to play. Which we all no is not true. So there goes the fish and the loose action.

We will all stay strong, join the Poker Players Alliance if you believe in the fight. Let's get active.