|
I'm working up a new letter to send to Congress. Please take a look
at the draft and offer up suggestions. Once done, it will be at http://capwiz.com/pokerplayersalliance/issues/alert/?alertid=13289011&type=CO.
If you like the letter as-is (or if you edit it yourself and wish to
send it), go to the PPA letter site at that link I just posted and
cut-and-paste the text you wish to send. It will go right to your
Congressman, formatted just as if you wrote it yourself. And, it takes
just 60 seconds! Thanks!  P.S. When you send the letter, please reply with "sent" to encourage everyone, of course.
-----------------------------------------
As a constituent, voter, and poker player, I am writing to tell you that I am
outraged by the seizure of poker players’ funds by the United States Attorney’s
office for the Southern District of New York. I am not aware of any federal law
that restricts my right to play poker online, and I believe my fellow poker
players were unfairly and improperly targeted in this action.
For many
years, the Justice Department has attempted to enforce its very broad
interpretation of the Wire Act (18 USC §1084), a bill first passed in 1948 and
revised in 1961. The Wire Act was passed to control the transmission of sports
bets and sports betting information, not to stop Americans from playing online
gaming of any type, including poker. This was affirmed in the US Fifth Circuit
Court’s landmark 2002 ruling affirming that the Wire Act pertains only to sports
betting [see re In MasterCard]. Unfortunately, the Justice Department continues
to stand by its interpretation of the Wire Act.
To address this issue, I
ask that you co-sponsor and support H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation,
Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act. I also ask that you support
legislation that clearly exempts games of skill like poker from the Unlawful
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) and the Wire Act.
H.R.
2267 provides for sensible regulation of Internet gaming and puts the U.S. in
charge of safeguarding its citizens. H.R. 2267 mandates rigorous safeguards
against underage participation and protections for those with excessive gaming
habits while providing consumer protections for the millions of Americans who
play online poker every day. This bill will also allow American gaming
companies to participate in the world's Internet gaming market, bringing needed
jobs to America. Internet censorship and an unenforceable, unpopular
prohibition provide none of these benefits. All censorship and prohibition can
do is drive players underground or overseas while limiting my personal
freedom.
Separately, something must be done to clarify the UIGEA. Our
nation's financial institutions have repeatedly warned that UIGEA is overly
broad, and that the lack of definition in the law could result in the disruption
of lawful financial transactions. Indeed, with regulators, legislators and
financial institutions all warning that UIGEA is unenforceable, and with the
need for banks to focus on our economic recovery, it is unthinkable that some in
Congress would want to continue this misguided approach. Banks must fully
comply with this burdensome law by December 1, 2009. Please act immediately to
reform the UIGEA and exempt peer-to-peer games of skill like poker from its
enforcement.
Poker is a proud American tradition and our nation's
citizens have enjoyed poker for more than 150 years. It is an honorable game
that I am proud to play. The simple fact that I choose to play it on the
Internet does not make it unlawful.
What's most important to me is your
support for my rights. Please respond to this letter and let me know you will
support my freedoms. I will be watching your actions on this issue closely. I
hope that I, along with my over one million fellow Poker Players Alliance
members, can count on your support.
Thank you for your consideration.
|