Citing concerns about organized crime, the addictive nature of online gambling and a mandate to protect America's children from the evils of betting, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelming voted Tuesday evening to support legislation that bans credit card and other electronic payments to offshore casinos. The bill exempts state-sanctioned sites that endorse betting on horse and dog racing. . Other forms of gambling, including lotteries, have also seemingly made the cut.
If they?re so concerned about the addictive nature of gambling. Why is online horse and dog racing allowed, as well as legal state lotteries and casinos? Hypocrites
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at preventing offshore internet gambling companies from accepting wagers from US-based punters, "to prevent terrorists from laundering money". Those supporting the bill talked about the need to prevent money laundering and mentioned Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups that profit from such activities.
Where is the proof and/or documentation of a connection of any significance between offshore companies and terrorists? Using a disaster such as 9/11 to further your own cause is despicable.
One Republican urged his colleagues to pass the bill for the sake of America's children, with the rather intense claim that offshore gambling sites "specifically target pre-teenage children, who become addicted to gambling and turn to crime".
Pre-teenage children specifically targeted and gambling and turn into criminals as a result? Where is his proof? I had no idea that all those young crack dealers were dealing to support a gambling habit. This is ludicrous ? maybe the good congressman should check out some inner city street corners to see something that needs to be fixed to protect America?s children.
The "Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act" is empty and contains no practical method of implementation and/or enforcement. It seems intended to appease America's moral hardliners and politicians with their own agendas.
It contains no civil or criminal penalties. "This bill only requires financial institutions to establish procedures to identify and block payments to offshore sites," said Artur Davis (D.-Ala.). Rep. Michael Oxley (R.-Ohio), chairman of the Financial Services Committee, has privately said he hopes to put in civil and criminal penalties to the bill if and when the Senate the passes its own version of an Internet anti-gambling bill sponsored by Sen. John Kyl (R.-Ariz.).
The bill fails to prevent companies from accepting bets if they operate lawfully in a 'properly regulated environment', since the US government has no powers to prosecute companies outside their jurisdiction. The concern for bookmakers currently accepting bets from the U.S. is that they may have a license application turned down in the future, in the event that the U.S. ever regulates internet gambling.
Federal regulators now have six months to implement legislation that would restrict financial transactions from being processed to offshore betting sites.
If they?re so concerned about the addictive nature of gambling. Why is online horse and dog racing allowed, as well as legal state lotteries and casinos? Hypocrites
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at preventing offshore internet gambling companies from accepting wagers from US-based punters, "to prevent terrorists from laundering money". Those supporting the bill talked about the need to prevent money laundering and mentioned Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups that profit from such activities.
Where is the proof and/or documentation of a connection of any significance between offshore companies and terrorists? Using a disaster such as 9/11 to further your own cause is despicable.
One Republican urged his colleagues to pass the bill for the sake of America's children, with the rather intense claim that offshore gambling sites "specifically target pre-teenage children, who become addicted to gambling and turn to crime".
Pre-teenage children specifically targeted and gambling and turn into criminals as a result? Where is his proof? I had no idea that all those young crack dealers were dealing to support a gambling habit. This is ludicrous ? maybe the good congressman should check out some inner city street corners to see something that needs to be fixed to protect America?s children.
The "Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act" is empty and contains no practical method of implementation and/or enforcement. It seems intended to appease America's moral hardliners and politicians with their own agendas.
It contains no civil or criminal penalties. "This bill only requires financial institutions to establish procedures to identify and block payments to offshore sites," said Artur Davis (D.-Ala.). Rep. Michael Oxley (R.-Ohio), chairman of the Financial Services Committee, has privately said he hopes to put in civil and criminal penalties to the bill if and when the Senate the passes its own version of an Internet anti-gambling bill sponsored by Sen. John Kyl (R.-Ariz.).
The bill fails to prevent companies from accepting bets if they operate lawfully in a 'properly regulated environment', since the US government has no powers to prosecute companies outside their jurisdiction. The concern for bookmakers currently accepting bets from the U.S. is that they may have a license application turned down in the future, in the event that the U.S. ever regulates internet gambling.
Federal regulators now have six months to implement legislation that would restrict financial transactions from being processed to offshore betting sites.
