In a move that can only be designed to make America more like China, some of our great politicians voted on Tuesday July 11th to ban online poker.The House Of Representatives voted by 317 to 93 to outlaw various gambling web sites. This insane legislation known as H.R. 4411 sponsored by Jim Leach, R-Iowa prohibits banks and credit card companies from processing money from online gaming sites. And in an even more China-like move it would require US based ISPs to block or disable hyperlinks to web sites that offer gambling.
That's right folks. Internet service providers that currently offer every kind of porn access imaginable will be required to write special software to filter out links to certain gambling web sites.
But for some inexplicable reason this legislation gives a free pass to online horse betting, Internet lotteries, and some fantasy sports. So poker and certain online gaming is evil and needs to be stamped out, whereas horse betting is just fine.
So with all of the social and economic problems created by the Bush administration, they are debating flag burning and online poker. It's great to see that they have their priorities in the right place.
In a recent poll 74.2% of Americans said they believed that the government should not prevent people from playing online poker in the privacy of their own homes. In the same poll when asked if the government should prevent people from playing poker, an overwhelming 90% said no. It is time these politicians listened to the people instead of wasting valuable government time on such unnecessary and unpopular legislation.
If any of this makes you angry and you want to take action, check out the Poker Player's Alliance, and see what you can do about the situation.
1 comment:
I agree with the legislation which aims to ban credit cards as a payment method for online gambling of any sort... and i think it should be enforced worldwide – not just in America. In fact, gambling with a credit card should be banned full stop. Not just on the internet. It’s a no brainer when you consider you are placing backing the outcome of an uncertain event with somebody else’s money. Chance and credit do not mix well in my opinion, and continuing to allow it would only contribute further in negatively affecting the high levels of personal debt many citizens today find themselves in. I do however, think that the prohibition won't work; or at least it won’t be received well amongst gamblers - I mean what’s the point in banning a credit card payments made on an online poker game, for example, but not on other kinds of online sports betting? Slightly hypocritical no? I mean how can you allow someone to participate [with or without a credit card] in online horse racing betting, but not put any money on a hand of texas hold’em poker? both activities involve a large degree of chance, and neither are guaranteed to yield financial return.
What really infuriates me is that the minority of irresponsible gamblers [those paying with someone elses money!] have now ruined the fun of online betting for everyone else - those like me who pay with money they actually have in their bank!!
At least for the Americans there is always the free online poker games!
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