Legalized Internet Gambling bill reaches 50 co-sponsors!

This morning, Barney Frank’s Legalized Internet Gambling bill reached 50 Co-sponsors; a huge milestone which illustrates that momentum is growing for a shift in U.S. policy and a rewrite of U.S. Internet gambling laws.

With the help of concerned gamblers like you, the list of supporters will continue to grow as more representatives are educated on the subject and increasingly hear from their constituents that Internet gambling regulation presents the only viable way to protect consumers, since attempts to prohibit the activity have completely failed.

We have made it easy for you to contact your representative on our website http://www.safeandsecureig.com . We have a list of Co-sponsors so check and see if your Rep. has signed on. If not you should get on them to do so!

Thanks,
Jeff Sandman
Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative

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For those of you who don’t know what this is about: This past May, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced a bill in the House called the “Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act” which seeks to reverse UIGEA restrictions on internet gambling in the US. The bill would allow for regulated and taxed internet gambling, which will allow individuals to gamble online with the proper safeguards and to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of financial transactions.

Check to see if your Rep. has signed on.

The following is a complete list of Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267) co-sponsors:

Alaska
• Don Young (R At-Large)

Arizona
• Raul Grijalva (D 7th)

California
• Mike Thompson (D 1st)
• George Miller (D 7th)
• Michael Honda (D 15th)
• Linda Sanchez (D 39th)
• Bob Filner (D 51st)

Colorado
• Jared Polis (D 2nd)
• Ed Perlmutter (D 7th)

Connecticut
• Joe Courtney (D 2nd)

Florida
• Robert Wexler (D 19th)
• Alcee Hastings (D 23rd)

Hawaii
• Neil Abercrombie (D 1st)

Idaho
• Walt Minnick (D 1st)

Illinois
• Luis Gutierrez (D 4th)
• Bill Foster (D 14th)

Indiana
• Andre Carson (D 7th)

Massachusetts
• James McGovern (D 3rd)
• Barney Frank (D 4th)
• Michael Capuano (D 8th)
• William Delahunt (D 10th)

Michigan
• John Conyers (D 14th)

Nevada
• Shelley Berkley (D 1st)

New Hampshire
• Paul Hodes (D 2nd)

New Jersey
• Robert Andrews (D 1st)
• Frank LoBiondo (R 2nd)
• John Adler (D 3rd)
• Steven Rothman (D 9th)

New York
• Tim Bishop (D 1st)
• Steve Israel (D 2nd)
• Peter King (R 3rd)
• Carolyn McCarthy (D 4th)
• Gary Ackerman (D 5th)
• Joseph Crowley (D 7th)
• Jerrold Nadler (D 8th)
• Edolphus Towns (D 10th)
• Mike McMahon (D 13th)
• Charles Rangel (D 15th)
• Paul Tonko (D 21st)

North Carolina
• Melvin Watt (D 12th)

Ohio
• Steve Driehaus (D 1st)
• Tim Ryan (D 17th)

Oregon
• Earl Blumenauer (D 3rd)

Tennessee
• Steve Cohen (D 9th)

Texas
• Ron Paul (R 14th)
• Ciro Rodriguez (D 23rd)

Virginia
• Bobby Scott (D 3rd)
• Tom Perriello (D 5th)
• James Moran (D 8th)

Washington
• Jim McDermott (D 7th)


Jeff Sandman
Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative

Not a shocker to see that nobody from Georgia is on the list.

Nice to see abercrombie on that list.

mines on there, after all, he sponsored it, B. Frank,, ,,,, buck

I hate this. If it passes the government is going to start taxing our poker withdrawls up the ass! Something like 15-25% as their excuse for changing the law because it helps raise funds.

Right now we have Full Tilt, Stars, Bodog, Carbon, that we can play on. Is it worth having your winnings taxed to open a few more small crappy sites?

Obviously I dont want the laws to be any tighter, but I also dont want the government involved and taxing our winnings. Imagine trying to beat the rake and the government tax.

we need more from tennessee!!!!!!!!!!

None from Alabama either....which wouldn't be much of a shocker from anyone that lives here! They try to keep Alabamians from all types of gambling...thus, we go to other states...hooray for online poker! May it always be available!

You should already be paying tax on your earnings.....

The passing of these laws wouldn't affect taxes on poker winnings unless some sort of additional tax is levied against them. Your current poker winnings are already considered income and should be reported by you on your tax return.

If you are disappointed not to find your Rep on this list, we have made it easy for you to contact them and ask them to Co-sponsor this legislation via our website's Action Center.

It takes something like 2 minutes to do, so why not?

Jeffrey Sandman
Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative

Not from the US but surprised to see a couple people on that list... McGovern, Perlmutter and Israel to name a few.

sen. driehaus is on the list which is fortunate, because he beat out incumbent steve chabot last year to get the seat. not suprised that voinovich and brown didnt sign up

Had already done that through your site.

Wow the whole list is all democrat. This is a good thing since they control the house and senate, we need something to break, this horse nazi bush shit that our gov. is telling adults how to spend their money is way out of line. My god the damage those asshole bush idiots and his ilk caused us.

I live in MICHIGAN and we need to get more on board.......everyone from MICHIGAN lets get together and write some letters lets meet on the steps in LANSING.......WE ARE THE FUTURE OF THIS FAILING ECONOMY IN MICHIGAN....lets build it

I am shocked to see no one from PA

I'm also surprised to see no one from PA. WIth the new slot's casino's and other gambling inititatives being proposed I would have thought some PA lawmakers would have signed or do they think online poker is a competitor
for the gambling $$$

No it's not a surprise to me. They will not support this unless the get a kickback-plain and simple. Remember when the slots law was passed the casinos were required to buy the slots from only PA dealers who happen to all be related to a law maker. Public outcry changed this.

Everyone-if you have not already done so write/email your reps and let them know how you feel. Write to them more then once. I've already sent over a dozen letters to each senator (Casey- Arlen Specter) and my House reps.


And Gr3atness- your poker winnings are already taxed. If you don't report them you may get caught someday and will pay hugh penalties and fines.

There does seem momentum building to get online gambling "legal" again. Last night on Americas Nightly Scoreboard (Fox), Annie Duke was on as she was in town testifying before Congress for the poker initiative.

Here's a link to another post with responses from e-mails sent to law makers.

RESPONSE TO PPA EMAILS

I am glad to see the list of lawmakers getting on board growing. Im sure it will be growing more since this latest round of PPA letters being sent to a lot more of them. I have been contacting my reps in Mich for the last year or so on a pretty regular basis. The more they are bothered by us the more action will be taken. Funny how no one from Kentucky was on that list either

Tell me about it, lets write them. But if we get our winnings taxed thats going to be a MAJOR Bummer.

Im glad lots from NY is on it.

My bible thumping, republican lackey, hypocrite, Henry Brown, isn't on the list. Surprise Surprise.

Sweet, my Rep Paul Hodes co sponsored it, his letter back to me seemed rather vague, he didn't really say whether he supported it or not, but of course that letter was probably a form letter written by an aide.

only 2 reps from Ohio on list mines not one Ive sent another letter to both of them Ive received reply from only one, so i will keep sending, my senator also replied to the letter,more of acknowledgment on getting one from me, dissapointed in Rep.M Kaptor no reply!

Doesn't surprise me not to see any reps from Kansas or Missouri on that list. I'm glad I'm moving to Florida.

I am from Michigan. Below is the letter I sent to: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Senator Carl Levin (D), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) & Representative Dave Camp (R)

I've added a couple of personal touches, I've written many letters, have received a few responses (mostly about school funding, busing and second amendment rights) and I usually received responses on the letters that I added some personal touches to.

Hello, my name is ........ and I reside in Grand Traverse County. I am writing to you today to encourage you to support H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act. Legislation is clearly needed to create a practical and enforceable framework to license and regulate Internet poker in the U.S.

As a person with physical disabilities, I enjoy the freedom to play poker online, in the safety and security of my home, as is my right. Rather than legislate an individual's leisure activities, contradictory to our country's concept of personal freedoms, Congress should regulate internet poker and implement controls to protect consumers and ensure safe internet transactions. I also enjoy the freedom of playing poker live at my local casino (Turtle Creek Casino) and for some charity events as well as contributing to some wonderful charities through my online poker playing.

I understand that there are some fears of a few becoming addicted and developing a gambling problem. These fears should not be argument enough to revoke the personal freedoms of millions of Americans due to a small percentage of those who are unable to demonstrate good judgment or self control. This argument is as weak as suggesting all alcohol should be banned due to a small percentage of the population who become alcoholics.

As Congress works to find funding for critical government programs; and as Michigan struggles with the highest unemployment rate in the country, the regulation of Internet poker is expected to generate for the U.S. Treasury from $48.6 billion (excluding online sports gambling) to $62.7 billion (including online sports gambling) in new revenue.

I implore you to support H.R. 2267. As an avid poker player (mainly Texas Hold 'Em) who has played over a million hands of poker and has countless hours of studies into its intricacies and strategies, I can attest that poker is indeed a game of skill. Luck is only a small factor as it is in most other sporting activities. Current efforts to prohibit internet poker are futile. Americans are still playing poker and gambling via other avenues online: right now they are doing so in an unregulated and potentially unsafe environment. We should be afforded the highest standard of consumer protection while helping our state and country to generate millions to billions of dollars in revenue. This is an easy win - win scenario for all.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
............


*OKay fellow Michiganders - I want to hear from you that you to have written a letter!

**If I receive a response from any of the above I will share it in this thread.

I just returned from the Blackhat Security conference in Vegas where one of the keynote speakers was the Assistant Secretary of Defense in charge of cybersecurity. I also attended lectures from members of the NSA, NCIS, and Homeland Security, among others.

Why do I point that out in this thread? Because one of them pointed out that if you are writing a physical letter to any member of the Congress or White House, it goes to a special post office where it is put through a chemical process to destroy Anthrax. You guessed it, any writing you had on any paper is gone forever. Seriously. I'm not kidding.

The presenter said that the best way to get in touch with your Congressman is by e-mail. They DO read it (constantly). All of the Congressional people read their email on their Blackberry's. Some even twitter, but I wouldn't count on it.

Bottom line - stop killing trees and having your voice not be heard.
Go electronic.

I was not aware of this, I did send my letters via e-mail and thank you for posting this valuable info!

You guys are great, we have already seen a surge in the number of people contacting their reps through our website!

Keep up the good work! and tell your friends.

Again, you can take action here: https://ssl.capwiz.com/safeandsecure/issues/bills/

Hope this turns out to be great news for the USA poker world....

Take care

It really irks me that Barney Frank is the one behind this (I personally can't stand him or his buddy Nancy Pelosi), but in this one instance I have to be on his side. I have sent emails to Congress, as well as signed petitions through the PPA site, but will now also contact my Congressman Dan Lungren. Hopefully we'll see his name on the list above soon.

Below is the response from the letter I posted above that I received from Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. She isn't saying she will support the bill, but she doesn't say she won't either.



Thank you . . .



. . . for contacting me about online poker. I understand your concerns.



As you may know, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (H.R.2267) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Washington). This bill would make skill games including poker, mah-jongg, bridge, and chess exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) passed in 2006. There has not been similar legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate. Should this bill come before me in the Senate, I will keep your views in mind.



Thank you for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.



Sincerely,

Debbie Stabenow

United States Senator



DS:SM