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Legalize Internet Poker? But Nothing Else?

Posted By: Stanley E. Richards
Date: Monday, 6 December 2010, at 10:51 p.m.

In Response To: Legalize Internet Poker? But Nothing Else? (Bill Riles)

At least part of this report is inaccurate. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 does not "...indirectly outlawed online gambling in the U.S. by making it illegal to use a credit card or checking account to place electronic bets..." This act simply makes it illegal to use credit cards and checking accounts for illegal gambling.

The U. S. federal appellate court has found that only sports betting, lotteries, and horse race gambling are illegal. Poker gaming and most other internet gaming are legal in the United States. There is no federal law against internet gambling in general. Nine states have banned all internet gaming.

A copy of said order is at this URL address:

http://www.playwinningpoker.com/online/poker/legal/mastercard.html.

If you read the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act, it admits that it does not make gambling illegal where it is currently legal. Below is the relevant paragraph of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act which verifies that credit cards for internet poker is not illegal:

(A) IN GENERAL- The term `unlawful Internet gambling' means to place, receive, or otherwise knowingly transmit a bet or wager by any means which involves the use, at least in part, of the Internet where such bet or wager is unlawful under any applicable Federal or State law in the State or Tribal lands in which the bet or wager is initiated, received, or otherwise made.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h109-4954&version=enr&nid=t0%3Aenr%3A1192

However, credit card companies have responded to the act by prohibiting transactions with known gambling sites with American customers. Credit card companies have wisely refused the responsibility of verifying the American customer is from a state where internet gaming is legal.

With respect to those who do not wish a political rant, I shall keep my next comments brief. I agree that political opinions should occur at BGO at a minimum. However, we are all friends. From time to time I may state a political opinion. Heck, if Stick can question the intelligence in believing in God, we should infrequently be able to speak about politics. I emphasize that this should be infrequent because this is primarily a backgammon site.

Nevertheless as a Conservative Republican, it has always embarrassed me that my party favors big obtrusive, individual privacy restrictive government in the area of internet gaming.

Stanley

Messages In This Thread

• Legalize Internet Poker? But Nothing Else?
  Bill Riles -- Monday, 6 December 2010, at 6:54 p.m.
  • Legalize Internet Poker? But Nothing Else?
    Stanley E. Richards -- Monday, 6 December 2010, at 10:51 p.m.