[OnTheButton]

Originally Posted by 99%evil

There's a very good reason. They're not getting a cut/taxes.

DING! DING! DING!

We have a winner...

But I think there is a longer story behind it.

By banning US players, the financial impact on the on-line gambling industry will be greatly noticed.

Then the US government will step in and be the "Good Guy" by saying, "Well, if you want your customers back, we'll have to regulate what you are doing, because we don't want our citizens to be hurt by you."

To which the gaming companies will say, "What do we need to do to regulate it?"

And Uncle Sam will respond, "FIrst off, we'll need to hire people on our end for auditing purposes, at your expense of course. Then you will need to let us see all of your financial records that relate to any US citizens when we say so, because we need to know if they are being treated fairly *cough*income tax*cough*. And of course we'll also need to tax some of your profits so that we can create an administration team to protect our people from the dangers of gambling."

Basically they want their piece of the 13 BILLION dollar a year industry, and in order to get the foreign companies to listen, the first step is to "take away their toys" by keeping US citizens from giving them their money to gamble with.

Once that is accomplished, they can strong arm the companies into doing things "their way" and by "their rules" and get a cut of the action.

[Q10 soooted]

In my humble opinion this isn't a tax issue. I see it as:
1. highly religous congress-people thinking they can 'stop evil gambling'
2. People that think this will get them more votes.
3. credit card companies (which feast on interest rates and late fees but hate people that are truly delinquent and claim bankruptcy/don't pay/etc) realizing that internet gambling is starting to cost them a lot of money from people charging up credit cards and not paying them & lobbying congress to do something about it so we can get back to paying high interest on general consumer debt/cars/etc.

Of course the government would also like money from internet gambling but this strikes me as a nutjob paperclip amendment like so many others. It's just unfortunate because it's hitting 'our' group this time instead of single mothers, low income people, minorities, etc.

[MacGrad]

Originally Posted by Q10 soooted

Of course the government would also like money from internet gambling but this strikes me as a nutjob paperclip amendment like so many others. It's just unfortunate because it's hitting 'our' group this time instead of single mothers, low income people, minorities, etc.

Ya, I agree -- quit messing with the poor poker players: it's time for those single mothers and low income people to pay their own way!

[99%evil]

Originally Posted by Q10 soooted

In my humble opinion this isn't a tax issue. I see it as:
1. highly religous congress-people thinking they can 'stop evil gambling'
2. People that think this will get them more votes.
3. credit card companies (which feast on interest rates and late fees but hate people that are truly delinquent and claim bankruptcy/don't pay/etc) realizing that internet gambling is starting to cost them a lot of money from people charging up credit cards and not paying them & lobbying congress to do something about it so we can get back to paying high interest on general consumer debt/cars/etc.

Of course the government would also like money from internet gambling but this strikes me as a nutjob paperclip amendment like so many others. It's just unfortunate because it's hitting 'our' group this time instead of single mothers, low income people, minorities, etc.

No offense, but it's all money. Give a senator a donation then it'll change. these guys are off shore raking in billions, they can't tax it, that's a main underlying reason. The religious thing is not relevent as most of the religious a-holes are the worst people in gov't---I'm looking at you Mr. Foley.

[shadesofgrey]

Maybe if we all get arrested we can play poker together in prison

[OnTheButton]

Originally Posted by 99%evil

No offense, but it's all money. Give a senator a donation then it'll change. these guys are off shore raking in billions, they can't tax it, that's a main underlying reason. The religious thing is not relevent as most of the religious a-holes are the worst people in gov't---I'm looking at you Mr. Foley.

Correctamundo!

It is always about money, and it always will be.

You have it, you are spending it, they want some of it, and they are constantly scheming how can they take it, and how they can make you think you are following the propper path by giving some of it to them.

They just want you to THINK it is about self protection and moral standards, but the bottom line is, it is always, and always will be, about the money.

[Mok]

Originally Posted by OnTheButton

They just want you to THINK it is about self protection and moral standards, but the bottom line is, it is always, and always will be, about the money.

Hey joey, we need you to give us some "protection money"...... The Boss says dat you needs protecting.

[RTBrandy]

Originally Posted by OnTheButton

Correctamundo!

It is always about money, and it always will be.

You have it, you are spending it, they want some of it, and they are constantly scheming how can they take it, and how they can make you think you are following the propper path by giving some of it to them.

They just want you to THINK it is about self protection and moral standards, but the bottom line is, it is always, and always will be, about the money.

Money, yes, but first it's about getting/keeping votes....and the religious Lemmings will vote for anyone who says they're with the 'Moral Majority'....Priests, senators, michael Jackson, etc...

and to appease the masses, you need fight evil..you can't be a crusader without having a crusade........yes, they can be bought off, but first they need to become powerful..

[MadeInDetroit]

I got an e-mail from CelebPoker this morning, stating US players should withdrawl any funds that they may have, due to current legislation.

Absolute Poker states that it will be "business as usual".

[Poboy]

Originally Posted by kirthew

... we do need a 'Line Item Veto' in this country...

A line item veto would give the President legislative powers, which he should not have.

Originally Posted by OnTheButton

DING! DING! DING!

We have a winner...

But I think there is a longer story behind it.

By banning US players, the financial impact on the on-line gambling industry will be greatly noticed.

Then the US government will step in and be the "Good Guy" by saying, "Well, if you want your customers back, we'll have to regulate what you are doing, because we don't want our citizens to be hurt by you."

To which the gaming companies will say, "What do we need to do to regulate it?"

And Uncle Sam will respond, "FIrst off, we'll need to hire people on our end for auditing purposes, at your expense of course. Then you will need to let us see all of your financial records that relate to any US citizens when we say so, because we need to know if they are being treated fairly *cough*income tax*cough*. And of course we'll also need to tax some of your profits so that we can create an administration team to protect our people from the dangers of gambling."

Basically they want their piece of the 13 BILLION dollar a year industry, and in order to get the foreign companies to listen, the first step is to "take away their toys" by keeping US citizens from giving them their money to gamble with.

Once that is accomplished, they can strong arm the companies into doing things "their way" and by "their rules" and get a cut of the action.

Online sites already want the gov. to regulate and tax internet gambling. Congress could easily have passed regulation instead.
It is possible this was done of the behalf of B&M casinos, with a possible goal of creating online rooms by those casinos in the future. Until such time as you can gamble online in one of their rooms, they want you to have to come to the casino where you may drink too much and decide to/tilt money off playing roulette and other -EV games. That is in addition to credit card companies lobbying for this bill.

It is also possible that this bill is intended to appease the base of the Republican party and after midterm elections, the bill may be altered or go away quietly.