Ultimate bad beat for online players?
Before now, I've not addressed the efforts in Congress to outlaw online gambling, including poker, primarily because I never thought it would get this far.
Now, however, I'm starting to get scared, and the 23 million Americans who enjoy online poker should be, too.
The bill -- HR 4411 -- is truly a shameful piece of legislation that is a perfect example of everything that is wrong with government in this country. This bill is not about online gambling. It is about erasing the legacy of Jack Abramoff before elections in November.
What can be done? Well, for starters, people who enjoy playing poker online but who have been lulled into silence by believing that the bill would never pass or that, even if it did, it would be too difficult to enforce -- people like myself, in other words -- need to speak up. We need to let Congress know that we exist, we care and we are watching. Most importantly, we need to let them know that we will remember how they vote on Election Day.
First things first, if you are not registered to vote, DO IT NOW! If you are not a registered voter, no one is going to take your concerns about this issue seriously. After all, if you can't vote, what leverage do you have? What are you going to do, whine?
So, if you need to register to vote, the simplest way for most people to do so is by using this form. Just click the link to download the form (792K), print it out and follow the instructions for your state. Please note the following exceptions:
Next, you need to make you opinions on this matter known. Now that the bill has passed the House of Representatives, it moves on to the Senate. Although it is a little early, it wouldn't hurt to email your senators (you have two) and let them know your opposition to this bill. In the event you don't know who your senators are, much less how to contact them, you can go to this page and find them by entering your state. It is simple to find both of your senators and send them an email stating your opposition to this measure. It will only take you 10 minutes, so do it now!
If you need ideas on what to write, here is the letter I've sent to my senators:
Granted, it's not along the lines of "Give me liberty or give me death," but I think it gets the point across.
Finally, after you've registered to vote and have expressed your opinions to your elected representatives, you might want to consider helping out an organization that is at the forefront in the fight against this bill. The Poker Players Alliance is lobbying against this measure and other threats to both live and online poker. By signing up as a member, you join 25,000 others who are seeking to keep poker legal. They do ask for a contribution to join, with the minimum suggested contribution being $20, but that money is being put to good use to protect a game we love, plus you get a t-shirt out of it. Find out more by visiting their website, www.pokerplayersalliance.org.
But enough reading -- get moving! We all need to act in order to stop this travesty from going one step further.
Now, however, I'm starting to get scared, and the 23 million Americans who enjoy online poker should be, too.
The bill -- HR 4411 -- is truly a shameful piece of legislation that is a perfect example of everything that is wrong with government in this country. This bill is not about online gambling. It is about erasing the legacy of Jack Abramoff before elections in November.
What can be done? Well, for starters, people who enjoy playing poker online but who have been lulled into silence by believing that the bill would never pass or that, even if it did, it would be too difficult to enforce -- people like myself, in other words -- need to speak up. We need to let Congress know that we exist, we care and we are watching. Most importantly, we need to let them know that we will remember how they vote on Election Day.
First things first, if you are not registered to vote, DO IT NOW! If you are not a registered voter, no one is going to take your concerns about this issue seriously. After all, if you can't vote, what leverage do you have? What are you going to do, whine?
So, if you need to register to vote, the simplest way for most people to do so is by using this form. Just click the link to download the form (792K), print it out and follow the instructions for your state. Please note the following exceptions:
New Hampshire town and city clerks will accept this application only as a request for their own mail-in absentee voter registration form. North Dakota does not have voter registration. Wyoming cannot accept this form under State law.
Next, you need to make you opinions on this matter known. Now that the bill has passed the House of Representatives, it moves on to the Senate. Although it is a little early, it wouldn't hurt to email your senators (you have two) and let them know your opposition to this bill. In the event you don't know who your senators are, much less how to contact them, you can go to this page and find them by entering your state. It is simple to find both of your senators and send them an email stating your opposition to this measure. It will only take you 10 minutes, so do it now!
If you need ideas on what to write, here is the letter I've sent to my senators:
I am writing to express my opposition to HR 4411, otherwise known as the "Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act," which passed the House on Tuesday, July 12, specifically as the act relates to online poker.
Online poker is a pastime enjoyed by 23 million Americans. It is a game that, unlike other forms of gambling, involves a degree of skill that enables some like myself to supplement their income and others to make a living solely from online poker. It is illogical and hypocritical that a skill game such as poker should be outlawed, yet pure gambling pursuits such as horse betting and online lotteries are given special exemptions under the bill.
The online poker industry currently generates $12 billion a year, with half of that coming from the United States, and the industry continues to grow. If online poker were regulated by the U.S., rather than outlawed, the Poker Players Alliance estimates that the federal government could realize over $3 billion a year in new tax revenue, while states could see another $1 billion.
It is my sincere hope that you will keep these facts in mind when considering HR 4411 and make the correct decision to vote against this unfair, irresponsible legislation. I will look forward to hearing your thoughts on this issue, and I will be paying close attention to how this issue is resolved in order to make informed decisions in upcoming elections.
Thank you for your time.
Granted, it's not along the lines of "Give me liberty or give me death," but I think it gets the point across.
Finally, after you've registered to vote and have expressed your opinions to your elected representatives, you might want to consider helping out an organization that is at the forefront in the fight against this bill. The Poker Players Alliance is lobbying against this measure and other threats to both live and online poker. By signing up as a member, you join 25,000 others who are seeking to keep poker legal. They do ask for a contribution to join, with the minimum suggested contribution being $20, but that money is being put to good use to protect a game we love, plus you get a t-shirt out of it. Find out more by visiting their website, www.pokerplayersalliance.org.
But enough reading -- get moving! We all need to act in order to stop this travesty from going one step further.
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