Today, Barney Frank (D-MA) revealed the details of his bill designed to regulate internet gambling, thus overturning UIGEA.  Some of the highlights:

“Internet gambling in the United States should be controlled by a strict Federal licensing and  regulatory framework to protect underage and other6 wise vulnerable individuals, to ensure the games are fair, to address the concerns of law enforcement,  and to enforce any limitations on the activity established by the States and Indian tribes.

LICENSING QUALIFICATIONS

An effective Federal licensing system would ensure that licenses are issued only to Intenet gambling operators which meet strict criteria to protect consumers, and which—

(A) are in good financial and legal standing, and of good character, honesty, and integrity;

‘‘(B) utilize appropriate technology to determine the age and location of users;

(C) adopt and implement systems to protect minors and problem gamblers;

(D) adopt and implement systems to enforce any applicable Federal, State, and Indian tribe limitations on Internet gambling; and

(E) have in place risk-based methods to identify and combat money laundering fraud relating to Internet gambling, and to protect the privacy and security of users.”

Agreed Jurisdiction of internet gambling sites

“Certification that the applicant agrees to submit to United States jurisdiction and all applicable United States laws relating to acceptance by the applicant of bets or wagers over the Internet from persons located in the United States and all associated activities.”

LIMITATIONS ON GAMBLING IMPOSED BY STATES

(A) IN GENERAL.—No licensee may engage, under any license issued under this subchapter, in the operation of an Internet gambling facility that knowingly accepts bets or wagers initiated by persons who reside in any State which provides notice that it will limit such bets or wagers, if the Governor or other chief executive officer of such State informs the Director of such limitation, in a manner which clearly identifies the nature and extent of such limitation, before the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, or in accordance with paragraph (2), until such time as any notice of any amendment or repeal of such specific limitation becomes effective under paragraph (2).

Comments to follow…

Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) is set to introduce legislation designed to allow online gambling in America today.

According to Bloomsberg, Frank’s legislation would revise the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, and “allow licensed gambling operators to accept online wagers from people in the U.S.”

Passed in 2006, UIGEA makes it potentially criminal for banks or other institutions to process financial transactions used to place “illegal bets” online.

This is sure to be great news for the American citizens who play poker on the web.

Details of Frank’s bill will be available on the Online Poker Circuit website once they become known.

Minnesota Representative Pat Garofalo introduced legislation on Monday that would prevent the Minnesota Department of Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division from blocking access to 200 “illegal gambling websites“.

In a press release from Garafolo’s MN House webpage, he believes “The Department of Public Safety has to have better things to do with their time than to go after a college kid in his dorm room or some guy sitting in his basement spending a couple of hours playing online poker. Demanding that a private-sector Internet service provider block access to websites is not a proper function of our state government.”

Congressman Garofalo goes on to state “I am certainly not condoning online gambling,” Garofalo said. “But I have serious concerns about government banning access to websites. This is the kind of thing they do in communist China, not the United States of America.”

The list of banned gambling sites, interestingly enough, includes many sites such 32 Red Casino, Hollywood Poker, William Hill Casino, Mansion Poker, Noble Poker, and PartyCasino who have previously shut their virtual doors to online gamblers and poker players residing in the USA.

Also appearing on the list of 200 banned gambling websites were:

• PlayersOnly
• Full Tilt Poker
• Titan Poker
• Virgin Games

The complete list of banned online gambling websites cam be found via the Online Poker Circuit.  Ironically, online poker rooms such as PokerStars, many online poker rooms belonging to the Cake Poker Network of online poker rooms, as well as members of the Merge Gaming Network such as Carbon Poker were absent from the list.  It should be noted that these online poker rooms are open to us citizens, and yet failed to appear on the “Minnesota ban list.”

Click to view the Minnesota online gambling banned gambling websites list via the Online Poker Circuit (obtained from IMEGA).

Mr. Werden goes on to say the Poker Player’s Alliance will take any action necessary to protect the game of poker – in all forms in the State of Minnesota.

The full statement from the Poker Player’s Alliance, as well as the memo from Minnesota banning online gambling may be found in the Minnesota Poker Resources section of the Online Poker Circuit.

The Online Poker Circuit Poker Pub and the State of Poker News will keep you updated on the Minnesota online gambling ban attempts.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety and Gambling Enforcement Division – released a 2 page memo demanding internet service providers prohibit access between state residents and “illegal gambling websites.”

In the memo, John Williams – director of AGED says:

“We are putting site operators and Minnesota online gamblers on notice and in advance.  Disruption of these sites’ cash flow will negatively impact their business model.  State residents with online escrow accounts should be aware that access to their accounts may be jeopardized and their funds in peril.”

You can view the complete Minnesota Online Gambling memo, along with the Poker Player’s Alliance response here at the Online Poker Circuit.  We will continue to follow the happenings of Minnesota’s Gambling Ban here at the Online Poker Circuit Poker Pub and via the State of Poker News.

First off, thanks to Haley’s post, I had come across this last night and was able to digest the news and give it some additional thought.

News broke that the “great” (eyes now rolling) state of Washington has enacted laws banning “interaction with any device or terminal involving…any game of chance including…poker or other cards.” Of course, this goes on to say that there is no governing body to enforce this law, nor does it address how they plan to monitor one’s online endeavors. Furthermore, the sponsors of the bill are well known to have taken several campaign contributions from several of the brick and mortar casinos located within the state of Washington on reservation land.

Additional reports cite that the federal government has starting moving on the bogus Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, sponsored by the idiot rep from Virginia Bob Goodlatte. The judiciary sub-committee voted on Wednesday to endorse the act. Next stop is the entire judiciary committee, who I might remind that there was a survey conducted on whether or not the people believed online gambling should be outlawed.

This Internet Gambling Prohibition Act is not a good thing at all…

For starters, (listen up Washington)… Poker is an American Pastime. People from all walks of life, from members of congress, to chief justices justices, to the “common American” have played poker. Poker is not a “bad thing.” We “permit” it in casinos. Yet, we try to make it “bad” by throwing the gut wrenching “I-word” in front of it, referring to it as “internet poker” and suddenly, its saturated with negative bias. Gotta love the art of spin.

Poker is not a game of chance, it is a game of skill. Poker players must grasp the concept of money management, strategy, psychology, and math. By way of comparison, the state run lottery is not as demanding (yet, the act wishes to establish and maintain the legallity of playing the state run lottery online, go figure).

Next, these tools are walking all over our individual freedoms, as in order to enforce this hostile act, they will need to increase the level of surveillance of our private affairs without having sufficient cause. As Americans, is this not an infringement of our personal freedoms and civil liberties?

This “act” requires our financial institutions (the banks we trust with our money) to babysit us. Its requiring “Joe Banker” to monitor our activities, review our checks and debit card transactions to ensure we’re not “gambling online.” With this act’s approval, the government will be telling us how we are permitted to use the money in which we’ve earned. This is sending a clear message that we may not play poker in our homes, but instead, we should get out there, spend the money on the inflated gasoline, drive to the casino where the rules all change… we can go there and play, but not in the comfort of our own home.

Additionally, Rep. Idiot of VA wishes to force the internet service providers to remove gambling related links upon court order. Said another way, they’re moving to censor us – blocking access to content they do not “approve of.” This would be the same thing we “shamed” China for doing. Our citizens, last I checked, have a right to the free flow of information via the newspapers and internet.

Finally, this legislation is hypocritical at best. Online poker is illegal under the act, yet betting on horse racing, playing the state run lottery, and fantasy football leagues played for money are permitted. It should be noted, by the way that this is nearly the EXACT SAME BILL that the evil Jack Abramoff was pushing for. We all remember Jack, don’t we? He was the guy making all kinds of “illegal donations” to politician trying desperately to get a bill passed for his “client,” who ironically was… a company called eLottery. His goal was not to legalize online gambling… it was in fact to try to gain special legal protections for his client and online lotteries. Go figure, the people now fighting his battle are attempting to confuse the population into believing that passing these laws will show Jack that we won’t be corrupted. Last I checked, you “show” someone something of this nature by not passing the similar bill that he was trying to bribe a brotha into passing?

I encourage each and every person who comes across this entry of mine to do the following:

1. Write or call your local or state representative and alert him/her of your position on this matter.

2. Write or call your congressman.

3. Send a letter to the editor of your newspaper.

4. Join the Poker Players Alliance and help us fight to keep poker legal.

No mailbag tonight, as I wish to just focus on this issue.

Prohibition of Alcohol

Prohibition of alcohol in the United States lasted from roughly 1920-1933. Prohibition was brought to you by the US Government via the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Prior to the 18th amendment, several states had drafted and implemented legislation prohibiting and banning use of alcohol within their states.

During WWI, paranoia began settling in, as many of the “concerned groups” (read: lobbyist for the “anti-saloon league) urged our government to look into several breweries, citing they were owned by “alien enemies” (read: “All germans are enemies and aliens, even Americans with German ancestry,” according to this mindset). President Wilson signed an order allowing for a partial prohibition on Grain Alcohol in early 1918, to conserve it for supporting the war effort. This posture was declared and defended as a measure of war. Of course, anyone who disagreed was unpatriotic (read: distillers, saloon owners were OBVIOUSLY unpatriotic, as they were against measures that negatively impacted their bottom line).

You know what “they” say…

Some of the things that “they” say… or said, regarding alcohol, and encouraging prohibition.

Salvation Army General Evangeline Booth:”Drink has drained more blood, Hung more crepe, Sold more houses, Plunged more people into bankruptcy, Armed more villains, Slain more children, Snapped more wedding rings, Defiled more innocence, Blinded more eyes, Twisted more limbs, Dethroned more reason, Wrecked more manhood, Dishonored more womanhood, Broken more hearts, Blasted more lives, Driven more to suicide, and dug more graves than any other poisoned scourge that ever swept its death-dealing waves across the world. (Seldes, 1960, p. 106).

evangelist Billy Sunday:

“The rein of tears is over. The slums will soon be only a memory. We will turn our prisons into factories and our jails into storehouses and comcribs” (Asbury, 1968, pp. 144-145).

From “helping the war” to “moral guardianship

When straight up prohibition came about (the evil step-child of this “war act”), the 18th amendment banned the manufacturing of and sale of “intoxicating liquors,” stopping short of possession, consumption, and transportation. Keep in mind, this only impacted liquor (the “hard stuff”) and didn’t yet focus on beer. Of course, our congress and their infinite wisdom decided to include beer and wine, as they pulled a Meriam Webster and “defined” “intoxicating liquors” to include any beverages containing more than .5% alcohol. Soon beer, wine, whiskey, gin, et al were no longer permitted to be “legally sold.” This thing was snowballing.

As this “big bastard” was “growing legs,” some “states were banning the sale of flasks, shakers, and other random “things” used to make drinks and/or consume alcohol. The original Congressional appropriation for enforcement was $5 million.” A few years later, this number too snowballed, whereas “the government estimated enforcement would cost $300 million.” (source: digitalhistory.uh.edu).

During this prohibition period, which started as a means to support war, and digressed into a moral battle, many a bootlegger and rum runner, speakeasy, and backyard “moonshiners” were created. “In 1927, there were twice the number of illegal speakeasies as there were legal bards before prohibition.” (source: digitalhistory.uh.edu). Organized crime was on the rise during this timeframe, as one can see, and was clearly profiting from said prohibition, when in fact the “evolution” of this “moral legislation” was meant to reduce crime.

Bring on the Repeal of Prohibition

In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the constitution was ratified, repealing prohibition and the 18th amendment. Reputable, tax paying, law abiding establishments were replaced by “criminal” organizations, who were now well to do fully thanks to our nanny state. And of course, our government saw the tax revenues as a great way to help fight the depression this country was in. So, of course, repealing and regulating was the OBVIOUS way to go.

The 21st amendment contained two important statements.

1. “The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.” — making it once again “legal” to consume, manufature, sell, and transport alcohol.

2. “The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.”

Number two transferred power to regulate to the states, where it rightfully belonged, in my ever so humble opinion. The feds, of course, retained the rights to tax the hell out of it as it saw fit (no surprise here, but I won’t complain).

How the hell does this relate to poker, specifically online poker?

“How does the ramblings on prohibition and alcohol relate to online poker,” you ask? “You claim this is a poker blog, but yet, looking at your blogger name (imjusthere4thebeer) are you simply looking to talk “shop” as it relates to one of your hobbies?” There indeed is a huge parallel between the alcohol prohibiting writings above and the state of online poker today, as seen from a poker playing American’s point of view.

Well, for starters, if you recall… prohibition of alcohol was spawned from both “concerned citizens” (the anti-saloon league, among others…) and “efforts to support the war” (WWI). It later “evolved” from supporting the war to “we don’t want to give the “enemy” any profit (German breweries) and went from a potentially legitimate concern to a morally dictating political ploy (banning alcohol will reduce crime, reinforce family values, eliminate a good portion of corruption in our society, insert bullshit reasoning here, etc).

We have a similar “bullshit movement” being mustered up in the house of representatives right now regarding online poker. H.R. 4411 is trying to make a push to prohibit online gambling. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R- VA) has pushed forth with the “”Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.” In the senate, distinguished morons Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Mark Pryor (R-Ark.) are also pushing forth with a similar move. In a shocking move, a Democrat from Mass. comes forth and says what it perhaps the first thing a Mass. Rep has EVER said that makes sense on national/international policy, when the senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, came out against the House legislation saying “Adults are entitled to do with their money what they want to do,” according to the Reuters news service.

First “these people” are saying that internet gambling plagues our society, citing it serves as a venue for laundering money, supports terrorism, and could be run out of the back of the van in some third world country, therefore it must be stopped! So, obviously this is a “war issue,” right guys? Then they go on to say that internet gambling is too easy for our nation’s young to get into, its not regulated, credit card debt massing into the tens of thousands of dollars can be run up (underagers are legally entitled to credit cards?), risks bankrupting our society (you mean we cannot run up debt like the government does?), and that “the only people who win are the casinos and bookmakers,” (you should know, controlling the lottery and all).

Strangely enough, this bill aims to outlaw our citizen’s rights to gamble online, yet it still allows us to gamble in places such as Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City, the riverboats, reservations, slot parlors, via the lottery, at racetracks, and via fantasy games.

Help me understand this, I’m kinda confused… gambling through technology (the internet) is wrong… brick and mortar poker rooms, however is ok. How is this now? Oh yes, it must be because the casino operators have gone through an extensive background check… right? Oh wait a minute, can they not go through background checks for online poker rooms as well? hmmm… that can’t be it. Could it be… that one can illegally fund other “things” through the online portal, but cannot happen live and in color? I guess they don’t have high stakes heads up games capable of shifting money from one person to another in brick and mortar casinos. My bad, what was I thinking.

Is it because the “real” casinos have guards at all entrances dilligantly checking identifications both visually and through those thurrr technological card readers, which mind you are indeed connected to some sort of central databases, aren’t they? Hmmm… that can’t be it, as I am required to produce some sort of identification online as well in order to establish my identity and right to collect. Is it because “no one ever wins?” Geez… Chris Moneymaker didn’t go from screen name to household name via pokerstars and the WSOP (thanks to the coverage from ESPN)? Doyle Brunson didn’t make his millions playing poker for a living? Wow, what a reality check.

Could it be… that the government is once again using “wartime efforts” to pass moral policy on the citizens of the United States? We could be on to something here… We’ve heard the propaganda regarding money laundering, funding terrorism, underagers, blah blah blah. The reality is, however, that the group of idiots proposing this bill are really trying to tell us how we can and cannot spend our money. Its crystal clear to me that this is a state issue, not a federal issue.

If my state wishes to tell me that I cannot gamble online, it may be their right. If the feds wish to regulate it and tax it, that may be their right. The feds, however, may not rightfully tell me that I cannot four table in my boxers in the comfort of my own home. While Al Gore may have “taken the initiative in inventing the internet,” the WTO has ruled that the US Government does not govern the internet. They lack the legal basis to enact a prohibition on me from gambling online. If they cannot legally prevent me from traveling to Atlantic City, or the card room across the state line, they cannot prevent me legally from playing online. If they block me from accessing gambling related sites, they’re not only violating the right to free press, they’re also no better than China, who regulates what kind of political information can be accessed by their citizens (how’s that for propaganda, Bob… you support this prohibition, you’re as communist as China).

If they attempt to outlaw online gambling, they’re forcing their population “underground” to play in poker rooms which will be certain to be run by organized criminal outfits, rigged, and unbeatable – speakeasies of the 21st century, perhaps?

Here’s an idea for my closing. How about taking measures to regulate it? Run background checks on the online casino operators, assist in having a system in place to ensure that underagers aren’t getting involved here. Audit the books to ensure the card rooms are fair to all. Tax them, tax us even. Do the right thing and embrace that which is. Put the choice to the states, to the people. Don’t make the mistake of recreating the Prohibition Era of the 21st century.

Tonight, CheckRayz will be putting on their first ever Heads-up poker challenge at Celeb Poker. We did try this once before, however an oversight on my part prevented the heads up tourney from being such (it was configured incorrectly and I never caught it). So, tonight’s event should be exciting. $50 added to the prize pool with a $5+.50 entry and leaderboard points on the line. First hands are dealt at 9pm EST.

With that out of the way, we move on to “off-topic Thursday,” which is going to only be semi-off topic as we’re gonna talk politics and poker.

Politics and Poker

Before I even get into this, which I can see myself being very long winded about, I’d like to call to arms all of my readers, and fellow poker players to arms immediately. There’s a ridiculous bill being pushed through congress trying to outlaw online poker play. That being said, sign up with Poker Player’s Alliance today and stand up against this ridiculous bill trying to be forced upon us.

In mid February of this year, Congressman Bob Goodlatte, the idiot representative from Virginia, introduced legislation, which if passed, may ban online poker play.

The idiot representative from Virginia, in his proposal, groups poker in with other “games of chance.” As we all know, poker is a game of skill… the state lottery – game of chance, poker – game of skill. We all know he won’t propose banning the lottery, which is nothing more than chance. Go figure, keep the games of chance with worse odds that line the pockets of government, while banning that which requires skill.

To you, Mr. idiot representative from Virginia and anyone else mindlessly following, I say this to thee:

1. Gambling, like horse racing, slot machines, lotteries, prostitution (see Nevada), abortion, and gay marriage is a STATE ISSUE, not a federal issue. If our citizens of the United States are permitted to go to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Reno, and to Riverboat Casinos, casinos located on Indian Reservations, or the local dog/horse track just across the state borders to play the slots (once again, game of chance — no skill involved), it is obvious that this is a state issue, not a federal issue.

2. Are you concerned with minors having access to gambling? Or people running up credit card bills? Spend your time and efforts to help support positive parenting and debt management, pal.

3. Is this a way for you to infringe upon our constitutionally given right to free speech by banning online gaming? We were all up on China’s jock when they were “forcing” their citizens to not be “allowed” to view and access certain things on the world wide web. Are you next planning to seek restrictions of the natural growth of the internet? Planning on sticking a virtual flagpole somewhere in cyberspace claiming it as your own? What then? Ban anyone’s site or content who speaks out against your narrow minded views on the world? Hell, why not go one step further and ban anyone who “might” vote against the idiot representative from Virginia when you next run for re-election? That would be a great idea, wouldn’t it, Bob?

4. I have a better idea. Why not work to regulate it? Do you remember US History 101 from your more youthful college days? Sure ya do. Think about Prohibition? You do remember hearing about prohibition, don’t you? I’m not quite sure, but wasn’t this the amendment to the constitution that banned the manufacturing, sale, and transport of alcohol? Didn’t this make “moonshining,” and “bootlegging” the fashionable thing to do until the amendment was repealed? Did this prohibition of alcohol not also ensure that the quality of alcohol was not regulated? And also, did this not push the money, and business to the hands of organized criminal organizations who could freely put out an inferior product to its client base who were clearly there, without giving uncle sam a slice of the pie? Rumor has it that Papa Joe made his millions due to this hostile federal act, later paving the way for Ted to drive off the bridge and leave his mistress for dead.

I recall seeing the sixty minutes episode a while back where the former Party Gaming CEO called out for the United State’s assistance in regulating online gaming, to help ensure that fly by night organizations will not be cheating the world out of their bankroll. He is an expert in the field, but surely… just like you, he’s in this for his own good, protecting his own self interests, right? I mean he couldn’t POSSIBLY be speaking as an expert when he is so obviously tied to the industry now could he be?

5. Is it because online gaming could be “rigged?” Or because people could “cheat?” Don’t people “count cards” in the b&m casinos too? Isn’t there a chance that two people sitting at a table could work out a system to communicate in the “real world” as well? Remember here… we’re looking for consistency, which you are receiving very low scores in. I suggest you click on that word to first see what it means. Pay careful attention to definitions 3a and 3b.

6. Could it be that you’re really looking to help ensure that brick and mortar casinos keep the money flowing both to them and to you? If that is not the case, Mr idiot rep from Virginia, you’d be looking to ban all types of games of chance, which would include those held on “real property” and in cyberspace. Face it, this is at best a state issue with federal oversight required. Tax it, regulate it, don’t even think about banning it. Nuff said…

Mike

*** Feel free to link to and/or comment on this post as you see fit. The above are my thoughts and my thoughts alone. I welcome commentary on all sides of this issue and will respond to each and every one, as appropriate. Republishing of the above editorial without my written permission is forbidden.