T1B

So, it looks like the fight against online gambling has a new ally.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte is in the process of pushing through Congress a bill that would "ban" Internet gambling. I've previously explained why the bill is bad public policy.

But since that column, it has come to light that online auction giant eBay has thrown its support behind Goodlatte's efforts. Why would an Internet company open its arms to congressional regulation of the Internet?

What's more, the letter eBay government relations director Brian Bieron sent to Goodlatte announcing the company's support of his bill actually goes above and beyond what any gambling foes in Congress have called for. Bieron in fact calls for the actual prosecution of Internet gamblers themselves, a policy which could only be enforced by allowing law enforcement officials to essentially begin monitoring everyone's online activity, including tracing visited websites back to IP addresses.

A law similar to what Bieron is advocating hit the books in Washington State this month. It makes online gambling a Class C felony, on par with child pornography.

The funny thing is, even as eBay has joined Rep. Goodlatte's moral crusade against gambling, the company's overseas operations are moving into the gaming business. According to the gaming industry publication igamingnews.com, PayPal Europe has recently entered into agreements with two online gambling services to allow PayPal to be used by Europeans who want to gamble online.

Industry insiders estimate that as much as 4 percent of the U.S. population participates in online gambling. That's about 12 million people. It's likely that a good percentage of those 12 million active, online users also patronize eBay. I wonder what they'd think if they knew that eBay has called for them to be arrested and prosecuted?

Great, just great.

Do you have a link, I want to send it to someone.

Yeah, as of like yesterday(I think), it's now a felony to gamble online in Washington(a state that's known to try and legislate human behavior by force)...exceot of course, on sites that the state approves for off-track betting -- since they get rake on it.

I think it's more of a monopolistic financial move, rather than a "morality" move, which is deplorable-imo. If you've ever been to Washington, they have some sort of casino or cardroom on every freaking corner of every intersection in every part of the state, so it ain't like they have anything against gambling.

I wish someone could explain to me how me doing business with a company in Nicarauga via a secured transmission over the internet involves "interstate commerce." In my (non-expet) opinion, the federal government doesn;t have any authority to pass such a law, rendering it moot. And since the Fed is mulling it over, I'm guessing Oregon will do its usual -- oppse draconian federal overstepping of their bounds, and go out of their way to keep it legal, as a protest...we're funny like that. And if Oregon says it's legal, the state and local authorities can't and won't aid the federal government in any way, shape, or form to enforce such a law...see "medical marijuana."


And at the core here -- the Washington Legistlature said it was "to protect people from themselves, and dishonest websites."

Just what the People need -- more laws to "protect them from themselves." In a state that embraces gambling as the Great Financial Savior, that's pretty darn comical. And nevermind the idea that compulsive gamblers have found a way to gamble since the dawn of time...but some stupid law is going to buck that trend....RIIIIIIGHT.

I have a big problem with legislators flat-out lying to drum up revenue. Wonder who greased the wheels to get THAT stupidity passed, eh? My bet would be the Indians...but when I say "bet" -- remember, it's a figure of speech....that wasn't meant as a real "bet," NSA.

the only reason the tards in dc are getting involved, is they want $$$$$


12 billion untaxed money has them drooling over the bribes and kickbacks this committe could recieve from offshore sites.

Adelpiero wrote:12 billion untaxed money has them drooling over the bribes and kickbacks this committe could recieve from offshore sites.

I think that sums it up pretty well. Nevermind that it doesn't involve interstate commerce, therefore the Fed should be keeping their noses out of it, and leave it to individual states to decide for themselves...but there's money involved...lots of money.

But hey -- the Republican Congress is all about state's rights, right? When the "champions of state's rights" quit giving a crap about states rights, as long as wheels get greased, we're in trouble.

I guess I should probably write my representative, or something.

Wait...MY representative ranks in the top 5 in "congressional spenders"...I kinda doubt he'll vote against free money, even if every constituent in the district threatened him with death.

Maybe I'll try my democratic senator -- wait, he's a flaming liberal, too.

These bastards are actually going to make me write my republican senator? That'll hurt.

The scent of cash is the impetus for bipartisan legislation. They all just get along when the American public is shining dey knobs.

Adelpiero wrote:the only reason the tards in dc are getting involved, is they want $$$$$


12 billion untaxed money has them drooling over the bribes and kickbacks this committe could recieve from offshore sites.

It has nothing to do with untaxed money and everything to do with pandering to the social conservatives in the Republican party post-Abramoff.

Jack Abramoff represented online gambling interests a couple of years ago in having a bill shut down in the House that would do almost exactly what Goodlatte's bill would do now. The funny thing is that he actually enlisted the help of social righties to do letter writing campaigns to defeat a bill which actually expanded gambling. As a gambling-loving heathen, i laughed long and hard about that one. Unfortunately, the secret got out and a lot of the grass-roots activists who crank out the vote for the GOP on election day would like some assurances that their elected officials will actually walk the walk when they talk about "values".

So they will hem and haw and may even pass this bill so they can put out a nice press release back home. Rest assured, however. This legislation will never get through the Senate. Ever.