Gambling Ban to be passed tonight

[Dave]

As JC has already reported, the ban has been attached to the port bill.

Rumors are running that most of the law makers are gone for the break and the only ones left behind are those that are staying to pass the port bill and Frisk and his friends that want to see the Internet Gambling Ban passed.

Unconfirmed reports say that before 11:59 tonight, the ban will be law.

If this does happen a coded type system will be built to stop funds transfers for on-line gambling. Most say this will take anywhere from 18 months to 5 years. However rep's from the publicly traded company NETeller say that they will leave the U.S. market before breaking U.S. law.

I hope the rumors are wrong.

[Dark Horse]

What's the port bill?

[jjgold]

Its over

Was good while it lasted. I will just bet horses legally then

No biggie and get a girlfriend and have a real life

[Dark Horse]

It hasn't passed yet, and they're not talking about the port bill yet. Republicans are trying to sneak this in in the sleaziest of ways, so I hope Democrates will keep talking about other issues tonight.

[jjgold]

Dark Horse I love you man

If the ban is passed I wish you good health and good fortunes in life. Once the ban is passed and actually is being enforced and we cannot bet online anymore my posting days are over.

[ourbet]

Republicans are trying to sneak this in in the sleaziest of ways

You know that word “sleaze” really epitomizes everything about this Bush administration. You elect these self-serving SOBs and look how they fcuk you over.

As this whole nasty episode has been rolling on for months now, should the 'Sword of Damocles' fall tonight, next month or next year, what plan does anybody have to get this legislation repealed?

[Dark Horse]

The fight is far from over.

There is a lot more information here, including what we can do if this does pass...

http://www.eog.com/forums/online-sportsbooks-and-gambling-discussion/congress-daily-reports-gambling-bill-successfully-49211.html

[ourbet]

Hear that jjgold? Please don't give up...and, 'way to go' Dark Horse!

[Yoshi]

The problem is...there is the other side, the people who go broke coz of their gambling addiction. And i bet that they are a lot more than us happy gambles/scalpers/whatever.
So they wont listen if you call/write them, why should they.
Sad but true.

[Chuck Sims]

The sleazy politicians continue to destroy the american way. A long time ago former Sen. Barry Goldwater, considered an ultra conservative for his time, said, "the religious right scare the hell out of me".

[imgv94]

Good stuff Dark Horse...

[Bill Dozer]

I'm not sure how how accurate Reuters reporter Peter is since he's referencing BoS Plc but he says the current bill's language only targets banking transfers.

By Peter Kaplan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most forms of Internet gambling would be banned under a tentative agreement reached on Friday by U.S. congressional negotiators.

Pending a review by other lawmakers, the measure could be brought up within hours for passage by the House of Representatives and Senate and then forwarded to President George W. Bush to sign into law.

The measure would be attached to an unrelated measure to bolster port security. Democrats had accused Republicans of pushing the bill to placate its conservative base, particularly the religious right, in advance of the November 7 elections.

"It's been over 10 years in the making. The enforcement provisions provided by this bill will go a long way to stop these illegal online operations," one of the bill's key backers, Sen. Jon Kyl, a Republican of Arizona, said in a statement.

The agreement, a blend of earlier measures passed by the House and Senate, would make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites.

Efforts to win support for the House version had been opposed by lobbyists representing casino owners and other gambling interests.

The bill would leave out an additional provision of the House bill that would have clarified that a 1961 federal law banning interstate telephone betting also covers an array of online gambling.

Investors in British-based gaming companies such as BETonSPORTS Plc, Partygaming Plc and 888 Holdings Plc are closely watching the U.S. legislation.

Democrats have criticized the Republican-backed measure as an election-year appeal to the party's conservative base, particularly the religious right.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, recently appeared at a hearing in Iowa -- the state that holds the first presidential nominating contest in 2008 -- to listen to concerns about Internet gambling.

(Additional reporting by J

[Dark Horse]

This is an article about the port bill, including a comment that Republicans are using it as a dumping ground for other bills. They're looking at a post midnight vote. They want this.

GOP aims for vote on ports security bill

By JIM ABRAMS Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans aimed for a post-midnight vote Friday on a major ports security bill, capping a rush to complete security-related legislation before lawmakers leave to face the voters in the midterm elections.

The ports bill, aimed at making the nation's 361 seaports safer from biological, chemical or nuclear attacks, was to be the last vote taken by the House before its five-week break for the elections. The Senate could approve the bill Saturday.

"In the post-9/11 world we have to strengthen security at our ports," said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Democrats, while generally in favor of the bill, complained that it failed to address rail and mass transit, other areas considered highly vulnerable to terrorist attack. They also said Republicans were using the bill as a vehicle for other GOP-backed measures.

Debate on the bill was delayed as negotiators wrangled over other legislation that might be added.

"They're using it as a dumping ground" for bills that couldn't pass on their own, said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Senate Democrats were successful in blocking inclusion of one measure, which would have given legal immunity to communications companies that supply subscriber records to the administration's warrantless surveillance program. Another measure pushed by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., to increase security for courts and judges, also failed to make the final cut, aides said.

But it appeared that the final bill would have a provision, passed by the House, to restrict Internet gambling.

With an eye to the election, Congress has concentrated on security-related issues in the past two weeks, considered measures on military tribunals, President Bush's wiretapping program, spending for defense and homeland security and a bill to build a 700-mile fence along the Mexican border.

Democrats said the ports bill fell short of what is needed.

"We had a chance to get more screeners at our nation's airports, add more security for our transit systems and protect cargo and people as they traverse the country by rail," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. Instead, Republicans "are trying to stuff the legislation with gifts to special interests and large corporations."

"Republicans have once again shortchanged America by leaving our rail, mass transit and aviation systems vulnerable," said Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee.

Democrats were upset that the final version apparently would drop provisions in the original Senate bill that approved $4.5 billion for rail and mass transit security. They pointed to terrorist attacks on rail systems in London, Madrid, Spain, and Mumbai, India, formerly known as Bombay, as evidence of the vulnerability of American railways.

But Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chairwoman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the port bill "will make a real difference to the security of our country," adding new layers of protection for the 11 million cargo containers that enter the nation every year.

Collins said the bill would include approval of $400 million a year over five years for risk-based grants for training and exercises at ports.

It would require the nation's 22 largest ports, which handle 98 percent of all cargo entering the country, to install radiation detectors by the end of next year.

Pilot programs would be established at three foreign ports to test technology for nonintrusive cargo inspections. Currently only one foreign port, Hong Kong, scans all U.S.-bound cargo for nuclear materials.

The Homeland Security Department would be required to set up protocols for resuming operations after an attack or incident. It is feared that a terrorist attack, such as a nuclear device set off by remote control, could cripple the entire economy as well as cause massive casualties.

The bill would authorize $3.4 billion over five years for ports security.

Congress made port security a priority after a February fight over a buyout that put a Dubai company in control of some operations at six American ports. The outcry led the Dubai company, DP World, to promise it would sell the U.S. operations to an American company. The sale is pending.

___

The bill is H.R. 4954

[durito]

If they are just limiting bank and credit card transactions, what's to prevent me from fedexing a check to pinnacle?

[Bill Dozer]

Should be able to see the voting here:

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan2_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2

[Chuck Sims]

If they are just limiting bank and credit card transactions, what's to prevent me from fedexing a check to pinnacle?

Custom agents may start confiscating checks heading to and from countries where sportsbooks do their business. Its impossible for the government to stop off-shore gaming but they can really start making it difficult with the banking law put into effect. What a bunch of sleaze we have for a government.

[durito]

Custom agents may start confiscating checks heading to and from countries where sportsbooks do their business. Its impossible for the government to stop off-shore gaming but they can really start making it difficult with the banking law put into effect. What a bunch of sleaze we have for a government.

I suppose it's about time I move to Panama anyway.

[Dark Horse]

On my way out as well. Thought about Panama, but will probably end up down under. Not enough momentum against fascism in this country. Too much complacency. The experiment in freedom that was America has failed. Miserably. Too bad.

[ourbet]

The 'Land of Smiles' is a good place but if you're looking for a completely different atmosphere, how about Mars?

[Dark Horse]

Apparently the bill had to go back to the House because there was some re-wording. It should be back to the Senate soon, but nothing is decided yet.

[merlyn]

On my way out as well. Thought about Panama, but will probably end up down under. Not enough momentum against fascism in this country. Too much complacency. The experiment in freedom that was America has failed. Miserably. Too bad.

100% accurate and perfectly stated. Thanks, Dark My sons and daughter also thank you as they are inheriting this world and without voices who speak truth, their hopes are dim.

[Dark Horse]

Thank you. Let's hope the next generation is wiser, more courageous, and less selfish than ours.

[rolemand]

How long do these quorom calls last and what the hell are they?

Go home already. Call it a night. I'm tired.

[pags11]

damn, anyone with an idea on how this will affect us going forward?...

[jjgold]

What happened?

I am starting to think no one has any clue what the hell they are talking about on this subject.

We are all taking wild guesses here including JC

[isetcap]

What happened?

I am starting to think no one has any clue what the hell they are talking about on this subject.

We are all taking wild guesses here including JC

This is JJ's best post ever. Wait for the dust to clear, people. I think you'll all see that nothing has really changed from our perspective.

[tacomax]

I am starting to think no one has any clue what the hell they are talking about on this subject.

Funnily enough, I think that a lot when I read your posts. And on any subject, not just this one.

[jjgold]

Taxy I might be the most informed poster in the world, voters do not lie.

[pags11]

read a good article written by the shrink on the bill, but am still getting educated on the whole thing...anyone with updates, I'd appreciate them...