Gambling Regulations Win Out but Game Not Over
- Nov 25, 2008 - 8
Congressional deliberations on the sinking economy and corporate bailouts have overshadowed some recent positive financial news. The Bush administration has gained the upper hand in a drawn out battle with Capitol Hill critics by finalizing regulations to crack down on illegal Internet gambling, a welcomed action by most but one that’s already under attack.
Financial institutions have been given until December 2009 to comply with a directive to put in place mechanisms to block credit card payments to Internet gambling operations. As banks utilize existing technology to intercept these transactions, the monetary channels to Internet gambling operations will quickly slow to a trickle of American dollars. In fact, Internet gambling in our nation has already come to a near stop as a result of passage of the illegal Internet gambling ban. When the banks put the regulations in place, countless individuals, young and old, who remain entrapped by online gambling addictions will have little choice but to abandon their habits.
The regulations, issued Nov. 12 by the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve, had been the missing component to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which passed by wide margins as part of a broader bill in the waning hours of Congress in 2006—409 to 2 in the House and with no objections in the Senate. Many of you deserve much credit for helping to move this bill through Congress.
While this achievement is celebrated, it must also be safeguarded. One of the men in the middle of the nation’s economic negotiations, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), is also at the center of efforts to torpedo these regulations. The House Financial Services Committee chairman has taken strides from the beginning to scuttle any meaningful regulations on Internet gambling, a lucrative industry that has always been illegal in the U.S. Just last June, Rep. Frank and other reliable cohorts for the online gambling industry, Reps. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Peter King (R-NY), tried to assail the regulations before they were even finalized and given a chance at success. Fortunately, their efforts were pushed back.
But the game is not over for these determined few. We can expect Rep. Frank and his allies to play their cards again—sooner rather than later. In all frankness, they will likely have a reasonable shot at their agenda with an incoming Congress more sympathetic to their views.
The $13 billion online gambling business has entrapped Americans of every stripe and socio-economic background with the ease of one-click credit card entries and the hopes of quick riches. Yet the only ones profiting are the business operators, located mainly outside the United States. Its losers are left with insurmountable debt and families in ruins. It would be a tragedy to allow this destructive force to continue by permitting the new regulations to be swept away.
If you agree, please contact your congressman and senators and tell them to support the new anti-gambling regulations and to oppose any efforts to undermine them.
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission works to educate Americans about the growing crisis of gambling addiction and supports legislation that would help protect citizens from falling into this dangerous trap. To learn more about this important issue, additional resources are available here. If your church is interested in purchasing bulletin inserts or other materials on gambling, please visit our online bookstore and erlc.com.
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comments
1 On Nov 26th, 2008, at 8:35am, Eric wrote:
Why are you anti-gambling?
You seem to be more “anti people making a living in a way I don’t agree with”.
2 On Nov 26th, 2008, at 10:26am, Rich M. wrote:
I am deeply troubled with the concept of the federal government deputizing our banking industry and forcing it to enforce ambiguous gaming laws. Other conservatives concur. Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform and Bruce Josten of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have written about this. George Will, Walter Williams, and other conservative columnists have come out in opposition as well.
We don’t need the federal government to protect of from ourselves. Rather, we need to protect ourselves and our freedoms from the federal government. The power we give them today is the power they’ll use against us tomorrow, as we’ve seen time and time again.
Many pro-poker voters who’d typically vote Republican didn’t this year, preferring instead to vote Democrat, Libertarian, or to just stay home. As the Poker Players Alliance has over one million members, this is not trivial. If you cede their votes, how many other priorities will you lose as a result? Is it worth it?
3 On Nov 26th, 2008, at 11:09am, Mike wrote:
This is a very bad way to look at things. I disagree completely with everything that was written in the original Post/story. Many people make there living of of poker which is a game of skill. Poker and Internet Gambling are 2 different things. The Comment above mine is very well written and I agree with everything he said
4 On Nov 26th, 2008, at 1:11pm, Trevor wrote:
Wow, what an interesting and overdramatic take on the issue. I notice that part of your mission statement is to “support legislation that would help protect citizens from falling into this dangerous trap”.
Here’s and idea: Education. Go ahead and let your view be known, educate people on the dangers that you feel exist. Then, allow grown adults, FREE citizens of the United States to make decisions for themselves.
Personal freedom AND responsibility is a vital cornerstone to our society and the Constitution. I’d be frightened to see the complete list of personal freedoms, products, and activities you’d like to legislate out of existence.
5 On Nov 26th, 2008, at 9:40pm, Neto wrote:
“the only ones profiting are the business operators. Its losers are left with insurmountable debt”
These statements are false. Many Americans provide for their families through the hard and dedicated work that is professional poker. It’s important to note that regulation would bring those businesses to the U.S. They would pay taxes, create jobs, and provide revenue to help and prevent problem gambling.
The majority of players only deposit money they already have. Some players use credit cards. In this case they only borrow from established credit lines. Joe Schmoe can not fall into insurmountable debt.
The UIGEA puts more pressure on fragile financial institutions and drives real “addicts” into more expensive venues(you can play penny poker on the internet). It is negative on several fronts.
Regulation would bring millions in revenue, provide resources for the RARE problem gambler, and allow citizens to participate in an exciting and entertaining American pass time.
6 On Nov 28th, 2008, at 3:35pm, Richard Stadter wrote:
The argument above are hollow. Pick pockets exercise skill too. So do flim-flam artists. Gambling is not acceptable because it is addictive, preys on other peoples’ losses and promotes the spirit of coveteousness. It is unacceptable for any Christian because it is contrary to the law of love. Gambling destroys families and lives. It is not a matter of political justification. It is a moral matter. It IS governments role to promote good, which excludes gambling, which it already does in areas like good health promotion, safety promotion and crime prevention and prosecution. This is an area where far too many Christians have compromised.
7 On Dec 1st, 2008, at 11:41am, Nick Hughes wrote:
America is a secular society. A government that tries to force it’s moral views on to it’s populace is more amoral than the gambling itself.
If people have a religious or moral issue with poker then it’s up to them to take actions to not do it. How would you respond if a muslim president gained power and forced you to take Ramhadan?
If we let governments keep taking away our civil liberties how long before one is taken away that you enjoy?
Banning online poker wont prevent the problem it will simply push it underground. The ‘addicts’ will still find places to gamble, but now they will have to deal with crooks and loan sharks and be far more vulnerable than they ever were on-line. If we are worried about addiction we need to support the system and make sure people with a problem have immediate access to free support.
In future please be more carefull before supporting acts that will remove pleasure from millions, you lost 1 million votes you know of, how many more next time?
8 On Dec 1st, 2008, at 2:51pm, Eric wrote:
Don’t forget about all the seats lost in the last mid-term election, as well. Both that and this past one were absolutely devastating to the Republicans.
If you people want to espouse religious views upon the rest of the country, then you’d better form your own political party, but leave the “religious” aspect out of it.
Add to that, that “gambling” or “games of chance” are totally fine with the Vatican, which last I knew was the leadership of the strictest of the Christian religions.