Wire Act 'fix' being floated

curtinsea

curtinsea

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Total posts
495
Awards
1
Chips
2
As reported by Marco Valerio, there is a new push from Adelson's camp for legislation to clarify the wire act to include all gambling, including language that is clearly specifically aimed at internet poker.

Personally I think "pushing through Congress" is a misnomer, as it has no named sponsor as of yet, and has not been introduced in Congress. But it does represent a clear threat to the current state level advancement of internet poker, and makes clear the need for us to remain vigilant in the fight at all levels.

The key language that is aimed at internet poker reads:

including games in which players compete against each other, and not against any person, entity, or fellow player hosting the game, the outcome of which, over any significant interval, is predominantly determined by the skill of the players,

Full story and link to the actual document - http://agentmarco.com/sheldon-adelson-wire-act-fix/
 
curtinsea

curtinsea

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Total posts
495
Awards
1
Chips
2
It looks like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) might drop a bill before the primary election. He is up for re-election and faces challenges from the right, so pushing an anti gambling bill should help bolster his standing with the base
 
ccocco

ccocco

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Total posts
460
Chips
0
point comes to online gambling that politicians, businessmen, tycoons, etc.. are under discussion whether or not approved in Congress, there are few economic interests? who benefits and harms whom? which is the question.?
 
1luckysob

1luckysob

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 29, 2012
Total posts
681
Awards
1
Chips
5
Im still unclear on why there is this push back of online gambling? What is the argument against allowing online gambling across the board? And why would that be supported by conservatives? You would think anything that produces as much revenue as gambling does would be a good thing in the eyes of conservatives, usually they are for anything that will bring in more money.
 
curtinsea

curtinsea

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Total posts
495
Awards
1
Chips
2
Im still unclear on why there is this push back of online gambling? What is the argument against allowing online gambling across the board? And why would that be supported by conservatives? You would think anything that produces as much revenue as gambling does would be a good thing in the eyes of conservatives, usually they are for anything that will bring in more money.

There are conflicting views on the issue within the GOP. On the one hand, it's commerce, and pro-business Republicans like myself are in favor of capturing that market away from the offshore business operating outside of the law today.

But there is also the evangelical base of the GOP that is against most every vice you can think of, and gambling is no exception. So they will fight tooth and nail to prevent what they see as an expansion of gambling.

Sadly, Democrats seemed to be united in their complete silence on the issue. The lone exception seems to be Sen. Reid, but he is doing little more than paying lip service to the industry that paid to get him re-elected. With him being a member of the LDS, I don't believe he is all that interested in expanding gambling either.
 
curtinsea

curtinsea

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Total posts
495
Awards
1
Chips
2
Tax revenues are not going to be an argument made by Republicans on this issue. Those with a moral objection to gambling will not be swayed by potential tax revenues. Also, new taxes are not the calling card of the GOP.

You would think that Democrats would be all over the issue, precisely for the potential revenue 'tax and spend' Dems salivate over. But, the potential revenue to be gained by government with the regulation of internet poker is largely overstated.

Further, onerous taxes will make it hard for online games to thrive, rake will be high and beating that rake will be difficult.
 
dj11

dj11

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2006
Total posts
23,189
Awards
9
Chips
0
Our counter to this might be something like classifying all business's as competitive games. After all, the things that yahoo and google do to prevent MS, or Oracle from gaining any advantage are seriously gamesmanship. Add in the risk reward notion and the stock markets and these businesses are clearly gaming in nature.
 
Top