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Congress and online gambling.. someone explain something to me please

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  1. mesaplayeraz mesaplayeraz is offline

    Posts: 3,379
    Joined: Sep 06

    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 8:18pm)

    Ok, thanks for those who stopped by to read this.

    I admit, Im average intelligence, who doesnt necessarily follow along with politics on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

    However, I would love for someone to explain to me how Congress can ban online poker when these sites are not operated on US soil?

    Its illegal to run a gambling website in the United States, so I assume all poker websites are being run offshore somewhere.

    If this is the case, then how the hell can Congress ban me from playing online poker on a website that isnt located in the US? They have no jurisdiction outside of the 50 states, PR and the Bahamas ( I could be wrong about this part).

    If I'm totally wrong in saying poker websites are not on US soil, please excuse me. I thought I read somewhere they are located offshore.

    Anyways, I would greatly appreciate it if someone could explain it to me so that I can understand how Congress can get away with doing tihs.

    Thanks!
  2. NevadaRick NevadaRick is offline

    Wells, NV
    United States

    Posts: 698
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    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 8:30pm) in reply to mesaplayeraz

    It's a government conspiracy because they are not getting their share of the loot!!! I know this doesn't answer your questions but I just had to throw that in!!!
  3. Tsupa Tsupa is online now

    Mustang, OK
    United States

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    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 8:36pm) in reply to mesaplayeraz

    the same way I can probably find a place online that would be willing to send me some cocainne for $$$ , but that doesn't make it any more legal

    hopefully the bill won't pass and it won't matter
  4. grapsfan grapsfan is offline Head Curmudgeon

    Rosemount, MN
    United States

    Posts: 7,980
    Joined: Jun 05

    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 8:52pm) in reply to mesaplayeraz

    H.R. 4411 is not looking to make it a felony for you to play poker online or anything like that. It is looking primarily to make it illegal for your bank to allow transactions between you and the off-shore poker sites. It's a different focus, as I understand it, than the bill in Washington State.

    If I'm wrong on this, I'm sure someone will correct me.
     
  5. mesaplayeraz mesaplayeraz is offline

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    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 9:10pm) in reply to grapsfan

    Well, I use Neteller for my deposits/withdrawls from my bank, and I would imagine Neteller is involved in other online sites than just poker sites?

    Ive edited this post since obv I cant delete it because it made absolutely no sense..lol sorry
    Thread Starter
  6. grapsfan grapsfan is offline Head Curmudgeon

    Rosemount, MN
    United States

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    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 9:22pm) in reply to mesaplayeraz

    And the onus would be on your bank to track down your EFTs between itself and Neteller or Firepay and block those that involve online gaming.

    I'm really surprised that there isn't a stronger push from the financial industry's lobbyists against this. The current legislation would place a TREMENDOUS strain on a banking industry that is already overburdened trying to keep up with new Homeland Security regulations.
     
  7. katdragon katdragon is offline

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    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 9:43pm) in reply to grapsfan

    neteller is a bank is it not. How could they say where your money is going from neteller. Can they stop us from using offshore banks? Kat
  8. mesaplayeraz mesaplayeraz is offline

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    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 9:48pm) in reply to katdragon

    Thats what Im wondering.. but isnt neteller offshore is it? If Neteller is actually on US Soil, then congress can impose rules I guess.
    Thread Starter
  9. sherlock37 sherlock37 is offline

    Canada

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    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 9:53pm) in reply to mesaplayeraz

    Sure, you can oen an offshore account. But really, how many people know how to do this, or will do it for that matter. Serious players will open an offshore account and the fish will find their entertainment elsewhere. Online poker will be for Europeans only and the bill will kill our game.
  10. StIcKyFiNgErS StIcKyFiNgErS is offline

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    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 10:02pm) in reply to mesaplayeraz

    It's already been admitted that this law, if passed, is virtually unenforcable.

    It's going to become like smoking pot...only not really.....but you know what i mean.

    http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...ambling27.html

    ^^^^^Washington State newspaper article, will give you a good idea of how scary it is to play up here.=)
  11. maseratti maseratti is offline

    Greenvale, NY
    United States

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    Sep 22nd, 2006 (9/22/2006 10:37pm) in reply to mesaplayeraz

    graps has it right. The bill deals with the way the sites get the money from the player not so much the action of online gaming but the transaction of the money exchange. "If you can't beat'em make it so they can't get cash" mentality.... Most of the law here in the US covers online games of chance including all forms of casino games... making it illegal as the courts of the states recognize the location of the players computer the jurisdiction and not where the servers are housed. So the point of legality happens at your terminal not offshore.
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