ITH Poker Forum

[mchilger]

I thought I would start a thread where people could post responses from their Congressman about online poker. If you haven't written your congressman yet, do it now! It only takes a few minutes using the PPA site. tx, Matthew

This is from my sister who lives in Alaska
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Dear Ms. Hilger:

Thank you for contacting me regarding online gambling. I understand your concerns regarding the recent actions by the Department of Justice relating to various online gaming sites. However, I also recognize importance of stopping money laundering and illicit online activities by the owners of these companies.

As someone who enjoys playing charity poker, I agree we need sensible regulation of online gambling. If we police recreational Internet poker sites, potential steps could be taken to help prevent fraud and money laundering, halt potential terrorist financing, and aid in the prevention of compulsive or excessive gambling. It is my understanding the companies that have been the subjects of the indictments are beginning the process to repay their American players.

Various pieces of legislation have been introduced in Congress to address the issue of online gaming. Currently, H.R. 1174, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, has been introduced in the House of Representatives. There is no Senate companion legislation yet, but if H.R. 1174, or any legislation regarding the regulation of online gambling is considered in the Senate, I will keep your comments in mind. I will continue to monitor the legal parameters of online gaming.

Again, thank you for your comments. Please feel free to contact me again regarding this or any other issue.

Sincerely,
Mark Begich
U.S. Senator
(Alaska)

[kinnipak]

Here is one of Two I have received:

July 12, 2011

Mr. Kinnipak
US POKER HOSTAGE, IL 90210

Dear Mr. Kinnipak:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me to share your concerns regarding the regulation of online gambling. By hearing your thoughts and concerns on the issues, I am better able to represent you in Congress.

In 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed to cut off the revenue flow to unlawful internet gambling businesses. It prohibits such businesses from receiving checks, credit card charges, electronic funds transfers, and similar monetary transactions. To that end, it authorizes the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System, in consultation with the Justice Department, to enforce these regulations.

Congressman John Campbell (CA) introduced H.R. 1174, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, on March 17, 2011 to provide for the licensing of Internet gambling activities by the Secretary of the Treasury, provide for consumer protections on the Internet, and enforce the tax code. This bill has been referred to the House Financial Services, Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce Committees where it awaits further review.

More recently, Congressman Joe Barton (TX) introduced H.R. 2366, the Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2011, on June 24, 2011 to establish a program for state licensing of internet poker. This bill was also referred to Financial Services, Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce.

As your representative, I care deeply about the creation of jobs and well-being of Americans. A strong economy requires the cultivation of an open market that protects consumers. Thus, I am greatly concerned about the risks associated with online gambling, specifically gambling addiction and underage gambling. These are serious problems that Congress should not overlook.

However, I am concerned that UIGEA has failed in its original intent and, instead, has created an underground black market for online gambling. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as my committee reviews H.R. 1174, H.R. 2366, and similar legislation. In the meantime, the regulations prescribed under the UIGEA should be enforced.

Again, thank you for contacting me. It is an honor to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Please do not hesitate to contact me if my office can be of assistance to you on any issue of importance.

Sincerely,
Adam Kinzinger
Member of Congress

P.S. For more information about my work in Congress, please visit http://www.kinzinger.house.gov and feel free to sign up to receive updates through my email newsletters.

The line "A strong economy requires the cultivation of an open market that protects consumers."..Yeah...Bang up Job so Far. Please tell me what I can and cant do in my home to protect myself. Glad I am paying you for those pearls of wisdom.
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Number 2:

July 11, 2011



Mr. Kinnipak

Dear Mr. K:

Thank you for your message regarding the legalization of online poker. I appreciate hearing from you about this issue.

The debate over Internet gambling has generated strong public interest. While most types of Internet gambling are prohibited under federal law, many sites are based in foreign countries and have fallen outside the jurisdiction of American law enforcement. Their sites often fail to block access to children and lack effective safeguards against fraud.
On April 15, 2011, the Department of Justice (DOJ) took action against eleven individuals allegedly engaged in the operation of illegal gambling businesses. This is an active investigation by the DOJ and, as a U.S. Senator, I do not play a role.

Prior to the adjournment of the 111th Congress, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada proposed draft legislation that would loosen current restrictions on online gaming put forth in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. Current federal law prohibits the flow of revenue, including checks, credit card charges, and electronic transfers to Internet gambling businesses. Senator Reid's proposed legislation, however, would allow such transactions to online poker sites that are operated by existing casinos, horseracing tracks, and slot-machine makers. Senator Reid's bill was not voted on prior to adjournment of the 111th Congress.


Another bill, the Internet Gambling Rgulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (H.R. 1174), was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year. The bill would permit states to regulate Internet gambling as guided by the federal law. There is no similar bill in the Senate, as yet. I will keep your thoughts in mind as similar legislation is considered this year.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please feel free to keep in touch.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

RJD/cl

An excellent summation of events and no real message given. Go Figure.

I have yet to reply to both as of yet but do intend to do so. I wonder if I respond in the same form letter manner what response I would get, if any.

[mchilger]

By the way, the one I posted above is from my sister who lives in Alaska. I deleted the one I received from Georgia.

Matthew

[Piscivorous]

I haven't received a reply from my Congressman, but my father, who lives in the same district got this today:

Dear Mr. ----------:

Thank you for contacting me to share your support for H.R. 1174, the Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act. I am a cosponsor of this legislation.

In 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was enacted, which restricted the use of the payments system for Americans who sought to gamble online. This Act overreached in its effort to protect American consumers and has become an inappropriate interference on personal freedom. H.R. 1174, the Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, would allow Americans to bet online by creating an exemption to the UIGEA for operators that are licensed and regulated. One argument raised against internet gambling is that it acts as a cover for other illegal activities. This legislation contains strict regulatory measures to prevent this.

The Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection & Enforcement Act would establish a federal regulatory and enforcement framework under which Internet gambling operators could obtain licenses authorizing them to accept bets and wagers from individuals in the U.S., on the condition that they maintain effective protections against underage gambling, compulsive gambling, money laundering and fraud, and enforce prohibitions or restrictions on types of gambling prohibited by states, and Indian Tribes.

This bill would provide the Department of the Treasury with the exclusive authority to establish regulations and license Internet gambling operators. The bill would also provide Treasury the authority to revoke or terminate the license of any operator who fails to comply with the bill’s provisions. Any Internet gambling operator receiving a license would be required to have the appropriate safeguards in place to: Ensure an individual placing a bet or wager is of legal age and is physically located in a jurisdiction that permits Internet gambling at the time a bet or wager is placed; Protect the privacy and security of individuals engaged in internet gambling; Combat fraud and money laundering; and Combat compulsive internet gambling.

No matter what one’s feelings about the issue of gambling, it is important that government not interfere with an individual’s right unless there is a good reason. This legislation would establish a regulatory procedure to enable American consumers to engage in legal online gambling. I appreciate knowing of your support for this legislation.

Sincerely,

GEORGE MILLER

Member Of Congress, 7th District

[PauliF]

I deleted the one I received from Georgia.

why?