Internet Gambling Ban?

Question

Bush will sign a bill prohibiting, and making it harder for people to gamble over the internet.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/02/061002132728.nt5b8tr6.html

Do you think Bush is taking away another freedoms?
OR, is he making the right move?

Answer 1

States have historically had the right to govern the legalization of gambling, but since the Internet is involved, it falls under the Commerce Clause and Congress' purview.

The issue is taxation, and I say tax it.

Answer 2

It is another example of hypocrisy. On one hand, Conservative ideology stresses less goverment intervention and focus on personal responsibility. On the other hand, in practice, they want to tell you how to live your life.

Instead of being smart about it, they're once again being stupid on this topic. Nobody forces anybody to gamble-- online or otherwise and it certainly is NOT a necessity in life. People will find a way to gamble if they want to. The smart way would have been to open up onshore USA based gambling, regulate it (like casinos are today) and tax it. It is ludicrious that we can have brick-and-mortal casinos, bingo halls and even state run gambling (e.g. lotteries). But online gambling is not allowed.

Answer 3

The Bill will prohibit the Poker (only poker) Sites from accepting electronic transfers of money from citizens of the US of America... into their Poker Site accounts. The Bill was not passed on it's own, but only when it was attached to another Bill that had to be passed,... was Frisk able to make his parting blow.

It is still unclear as to how that will be enforced, but it will be considered a felony with jail time. Also unclear at this point is whether or not poker players from the USA will still be able to play with the money that they previously had in their Poker accounts through companies like Net teller.

Personally, I do feel that another piece of our Freedom has been taken away. As I do with the veto of the Stem Cell Research Bill.
This happens because WE THE PEOPLE DO NOTHING.

I have 'cashed out' all my winnings from various Poker Sites that I played on and recommend that any other US players do the same.

Answer 4

There just miffed that British OTB houses are making over 4 billion dollars a day tricking American idiots into playing card with a open credit card.

That's money Bush could be taxing and spending on Iraq.

But what do you expect. When Government works to make people complacent they end up with zombies playing card with their mortgage.

Go big Red Go

Answer 5

Did you even read the article you referenced?

"...a bill making it harder to place bets on the Internet, a practice which already is illegal in the United States."

"...making it illegal for financial institutions and credit card companies to process payments to settle Internet bets."

This bill is designed to do is make an existing law more enforceable. It has always been illegal in the U.S. to gamble on the Internet, but it was difficult to enforce because the sites were outside of U.S. jurisdiction. This bill makes it harder for them to collect their money.

Answer 6

It was a horrible act of cowardice. You can voice your discontent at http://www.petitiononline.com/LOGNOW/petition.html

Answer 7

i don't gamble so it doesn't affect me.

Answer 8

Rare Right move.Bravo!!!!!!!!!