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twitterPoker players swarm site seeking input on big issues
On the Web, they urge Obama: Overturn ban on Internet gambling
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., has introduced legislation to repeal the 2006 ban on Internet gambling.
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Sun Archives
- Bush administration moves on Internet gaming ban (11-12-2008)
- Congressman seeks delay in online gaming regulations (11-10-2008)
- Web poker banned, they play politics (8-29-2008)
- Loyalists, until it comes to Internet gambling (8-21-2008)
- D.C. party lets politicos, online poker players scratch backs (10-25-2007)
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Washington — Those merry pranksters of the legislative process are at it again.
During his transition to the White House, President Barack Obama asked Americans to send him their policy priorities, the makings of a Citizens Briefing Book for his new administration.
Poker players flooded the Web site, suggesting online gambling should be made legal. Poker playing made the top 10 list of subjects sent to the White House, and the No. 1 issue in the technology category.
The timing couldn’t have been better. The briefing book was unveiled last week, just days after legislation was introduced in Congress to repeal the 2006 ban on Internet gambling.
John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, said the onslaught is a reminder that “the poker community is strong, growing, active and paying attention to what Washington is doing on this issue.”
This isn’t the first time the 1 million-strong Poker Players Alliance has rallied its community of gamblers to the cause.
Last year, in advance of the Republican National Convention, poker players flooded a Web site soliciting comments on the Republican Party platform. Since 2004 the platform had a flank opposing Internet gambling, a social issue that played to conservatives but annoyed moderate Republican poker players. The e-mail assault was an organizational coup for the loosely affiliated gamers on the national stage.
With the Obama Web site, the poker players “saw a great opportunity to get our issue in front of the new president, who is a self-proclaimed poker player,” Pappas said by e-mail. “Clearly, the citizens are talking and Congress needs to start listening.”
In all, more than 125,000 users suggested 44,000 ideas to the White House. They cast 1.4 million votes for their favorite ideas. Each supportive vote earned 10 points.
Legalizing poker was suggested by an online player from Washington, D.C., under the heading: “Boost America’s Economy with Legal Online Poker.” It earned 46,890 points.
Poker players beat out a suggestion for increasing automotive fuel efficiency standards (46,120) but didn’t outscore “the permanent closure of all torture facilities” (61,250).
Then-President George W. Bush signed the online gambling ban into law in 2006 after legislation was tacked on to a port security bill as one of the final acts of a Republican-controlled Congress. Poker players ever since have steadily mobilized for its repeal.
An American Gaming Association study released Monday shows that 2 percent of adult respondents gamble online. The Poker Players group estimates between 10 million and 15 million Americans regularly gamble on the Internet.
This month, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., introduced legislation that would essentially repeal the ban by instituting a framework for licensing and regulating online games.
Religious groups have vowed to maintain the online gambling ban, saying Internet gaming is a threat to home life and family finances. They compare online gambling with positioning a casino in the living room. Yet the bill appears to have growing support, particularly as lawmakers eye the money-making potential. The Poker Players estimate $3 billion annually could be generated from legitimizing the business.
This year casino giant Harrah’s Entertainment became the first major bricks-and-mortar operation to back the legislation. Nevada Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley signed on as a co-sponsor.
Frank spokesman Steve Adamske said support for the bill depends on the extent to which backers contact their lawmakers. Actions like the briefing book onslaught are “hugely helpful,” he said.
Poker players weren’t the only ones making their voices heard.
In some ways Obama’s briefing book reads like a to-do list he has already started — closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, developing clean energy sources, supporting investment in high-speed rail.
In others it is purely the voice of the people.
The top 10 issues include: “Revoke the George W. Bush tax cuts on the top 1 percent,” “Commit to becoming the ‘greenest’ country in the world,” “No more wars on abstract concepts” and “Ending marijuana prohibition.”
Discussion: 10 comments so far…
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This is just a joke. Right? Please tell me a nation in economic peril is only kidding while listing Internet Gambling as a "Policy Priority"?
Right. Then there's states like Washington that have made online gambling a felony along with padding one's resume.
A lesson, Nevada -- that's what you get when you elect the AG governor.
Repeal everthing thing bush and lets pretend he never existed....worst pres ever...
"The Poker Players group estimates between 10 million and 15 million Americans regularly gamble on the Internet."
"Overturn ban on Internet gambling"?
LOL
What ban, the one that millions of Americans ignore daily?
LOL
The "ban" is what is protecting America's online poker pots from being skimmed by those Stonewall Democrats in Washington.
LOL
VOTE NO!
Keep the Ban as well as Barney's gooey fingers out of OUR poker pots!
LOL
Once again I have to wonder why Government is sticking their noses into peoples private business - if a person wants to spend their money online gambling who is the government to forbid it - I thought we lived in a Democracy - this sure doesn't seem like it when the government is forever trying to dictate something as simple as online gambling - it's up to people to choose how they want to spend their money - as long as they realize they can't expect the government to bail them out when they go broke (that is unless they own a bank).
No more wars on abstract concepts? No way! I declare war on red.
Do you not understand that this needs to be legalized and regulated with taxes? It should be a priority to instantly bring a ton of tax revenue home rather than keep letting people gamble online illegally with no profit. Think about how much money this would generate, and it doesn't sound so stupid...
"Those merry pranksters of the legislative process are at it again."
"Merry pranksters"?????? I'm sorry, I missed the "prank." This is a serious issue to those of us that play poker online. There are 50+ million poker players in this country, 1+ million of which belong to the Poker Players Alliance. To have our issue minimized with that dismissive opening line is very disappointing.
In reply to Harley: Do a little research? The UIGEA is not a ban on internet gambling. It prohibits financial institutions from transfering funds to offshore internet gambling sites. The act of playing poker online is not illegal per federal law in the US. Second it does not "protect" our poker pots from the fingers of the government because if it starts being enforced liked scheduled at the end of the year, there will not be any poker pots to protect for American players. No financial institution in the US will allow transfers of money, so you can play to your hearts content, but never get it to your US Bank account. Regulation by the US Government will reopen the American market and sites will return to the US. Taxation is a small price to keep the game we all love.
Legalizing gambling in US is a long process but i believe that everything will be talked in a diplomatic way. I haven't seen Press. Obama Web site though i sense that what poker players believe in with this issue will be a great to watch out for. Actually <a href="http://www.betterbettingonline.com/">us casino</a> sites will be helpful in the government because they will pay tax for sure.