Fight for Online Gaming!! -- Plan for weeks of 7/2 & 7/9

Summary of actions:
1. Write to the USTR and Sen. Reid
1a. Sign the petition at www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/306149419 .
2. Write to Atty. Gen Gonzales, Fed Chair Bernanke, and Treas. Sec. Paulson
3. Write to newspapers
4. Write to Congress

Sen. Harry Reid is at http://reid.senate.gov/contact/email_form.cfm
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542

Your senators are at http://www.senate.gov
Bush is at comments@whitehouse.gov

Others:
Justice Department: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
Your representative: www.house.gov
Republican National Committee: Chairman@gop.com
Democratic National Committee: www.democrats.org/contact.html
Speaker Nancy Pelosi: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov

We get a lot of "bang for the buck" here, as one letter will go to several individuals. Send one (email and hard copy) to Ambassador Schwab and Senator Reid. Then, email the same letter to each senator (separately). Add �cc: Senator xxxx to the top line�. Let�s each send one letter per month to the USTR and the copy recipients until this is resolved.

1a. Please sign the "Repeal UIGEA" online petition at www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/306149419. The site is reputable, and the signatures will be hand-delivered to Capitol Hill by representatives of Casino Gambling Web in July. Be sure to check the box to hide your name if you don't want it displayed on the website. Also be sure to deselect the boxes that offer to send regular updates if you don't want them. Focus on the Family is warning their members about this march, so it must be a good thing. See www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/gambling/cog/A000004244.cfm .

2. Please write to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Treasury Secretary Paulson, and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke at least once per month until the UIGEA regs come out. Day 270 will be July 13th or so. In case they're trying to meet this date, let's get out some mail this week (even if they don't read it in time to use it, you can still post the contents during comment period). Let's ask them not to exceed the specific mandates of UIGEA when drafting legislation. Let's ask them to exclude all ACH transactions (too burdensome for banks to filter). Also,remind them that online poker is not illegal under any federal law. We should ask them to require unambiguous state laws, so banks aren't in the position of trying to interpret state laws that may or may not apply to Internet gambing.

Focus on the Family is asking their members to write to Paulson and Bush to request tough regulations. Also, Sen. Kyl asked Gonzales for tough regulations during the AG Senate hearings. We should counterbalance this.

Addresses:

The Honorable Alberto Gonzales
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

The Honorable Henry Paulson
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

The Honorable Ben S. Bernanke
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Washington, D. C. 20551
http://www.federalreserve.gov/feedback.cfm

3. Now that we have bills out there, we should try to work on advocating for the legislation. Let's write to newspapers, magazines, post to blogs, etc. Since we proved our position in the 6/8 House hearing, let's post the link to the hearing webcast wherever we can.

Letters to the editor, Washington Post: letters@washpost.com
Letters to the editor, New York Times: letters@nytimes.com

4. Continue to contact your senators and representative. Let�s call and send snail mail at least once every four to six weeks. Let�s email at least once per week or biweekly. Some of these may be carbon copies of letters to others (like the USTR, Frank, Bachus, etc).

We have many issues, so we can focus on one item for each letter while rotating. It does not matter to our movement which items you choose; any communication against attempts to ban online gambling at the federal level work in our favor. After all, if IGREA fails due to lack of public support, it�s not like the media will report that people disagreed with giving power to the FinCEN or to issues relating to shutting out foreign operators. They�ll report, �Frank�s Attempt to End Online Gambling Ban (as if there is such a thing, but the media don�t care) Fails to Draw Public Support�. Our opponents will say, "see, Americans are happy we�re 'protecting the public'". If Wexler�s bill fails, the media won�t report that some felt it legitimized UIGEA. They�ll report that Americans didn�t even wish to legalize poker. This year, we�re all about generating support for our general position, which is that online gaming should not be prohibited. Let�s focus there. So, here are some issues we can rotate:

- Antigua�s WTO case
- IGREA
- Wexler�s bill: H.R. 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act
- Praise for the 6/8 hearing. www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/ht060807.shtml; webcast archived at http://financialserv.edgeboss.net/wmedia/financialserv/hearing060807.wvx
- Shelley Berkley's study bill

Thanks everyone!

Here's the letter I sent to the Washington Post last Sunday. No dice getting printed, though:

As stated in Friday�s op-ed, �On the Caribbean, 20/20 Blindness� (www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/21/AR2007062101743.html), America has often demonstrated 20/20 blindness with regard to the Caribbean. The latest example is our failure to comply with a WTO ruling in a case brought by Antigua, where the WTO found America�s Internet gambling restrictions to be in violation of our WTO obligations (as reported by the Post on June 21 - www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/20/AR2007062002151.html). Unfortunately, America refused to negotiate with Antigua. In fact, following the loss, in the twilight of their power the Republican Congress passed further restrictions on Internet gambling.

Now, Antigua is demanding commercial sanctions worth more than $3.4 billion each year. They will seek permission from the WTO to target American copyrights and patents. They don�t need America�s permission; they can simply legally pirate Hollywood movies and Microsoft software. The EU, Japan, China, India, and others have joined the case and will be demanding trade concessions of their own. So, the Bush administration�s unilateral foreign policy will cost us again. Not only will we lose money; we�ll also potentially lose an important tool in fighting various Chinese and EU unfair trade practices.

There is a solution. The House Financial Services committee has been debating a bill that regulates and taxes gambling on the Internet. They held a hearing on June 8 (www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/ht060807.shtml) where they proved Internet gambling can be effectively regulated. Unfortunately, the administration prefers prohibition, in clear violation of our trade obligations with Antigua and with the world.

June 29, 2007

The Honorable Susan Schwab
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20508

Dear Ambassador Schwab:

I am writing concerning �United States - Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services (WT/DS285)�, the WTO challenge to U.S. Internet gambling laws by Antigua and Barbuda. As you know, the WTO�s Appellate Body found that the U.S. is not in compliance with our WTO obligations with respect to allowing access to our remote gambling services market. Unfortunately, rather than trying negotiate in good faith with our fellow WTO members within the framework of our agreements, we instead decided to ignore our trading partners� concerns by withdrawing from the gambling services sector of GATS. This has resulted in Antigua�s demand for $3.4 billion per year in compensation, to come from American intellectual property and copyrights. Additionally, the EU, Macau, India, Canada, Costa Rica and others are lining up for damages as well. It seems our action has significant potential to harm us in many areas while gaining us nothing (aside from the continuation of an unpopular prohibition).

It is very unfortunate that a quibble over a card game has led to this. Our credibility is now at stake, as our refusal to respect the rulings of the WTO has potential to harm our other trade initiatives, particularly with regards to issues of trade fairness with China and the EU. Also, if we choose to continue to disregard our obligations under the WTO, American companies will be stuck with the bill, both from Antigua as well as the repercussions from the trade concessions being sought by the EU and others. Additionally, the U.S. is a world leader in providing of gaming services, so we do need the WTO in this regard as well.

I urge you to reconsider this unprecedented move of withdrawing from the gaming sector of GATS. Instead, let�s keep our international commitments. Keeping our commitments is good for America. I ask that we renounce our withdrawal from the gaming sector of GATS and that we initiate negotiations with Antigua and Barbuda. After all, we made a commitment, and our word should be our bond.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

The Engineer

Cc: President George Bush, my senators, my rep, and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV, Senate Majority Leader)

Representatives of Casino Gambling Web, A Gambling Information Website ( www.casinogamblingweb.com ), are going to Washington D.C. next month with the intention of garnering support to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).

The representatives of the proactive site will be in contact with every Congressman and every Senator to inform and enlighten them about the millions of Americans that want the law, considered Prohibition II, overturned.

"There are many in Congress who are not aware of the far-reaching effects of the UIGEA and it is Casino Gambling Web's intention to empower them with knowledge," said Gordon Price, owner of Casino Gambling Web.

"We will arm each representative with a new found understanding of the safeguards currently utilized by other countries to prevent underage and problem gambling," said one of the Casino Gambling Web representatives going to Washington D.C. who wishes to remain anonymous.

"We will show each representative on paper all the testimony from the Financial Services Committee hearing held earlier in the month," the rep. from the website said, "we will show them the tax revenue that can be realized with proper regulation, and we will present each of them with the will of the people in the form of the Repeal the UIGEA petition that has been signed by almost 5,000 Americans."

The Repeal the Internet Gambling Ban petition, at www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/306149419 is still going strong and has recently been upgraded. Those still wishing to sign the petition can now leave a text message for their representative to read.

The Casino Gambling Web reps also said they "will enlighten each representative about the impending ramifications with regard to trade violations and pending sanctions the United States is now facing due to the UIGEA, and the extent that those violations may financially harm the U.S. economy and several U.S. industries."

"We will also explain to each elected official how the law that was passed to protect Americans, has actually done the opposite," one of the reps said.

As of now the United States Internet gambling ( www.casinogamblingweb.com/main/other-gambling-news/internet-gambling-bill-news.jsp ) market is only open to corrupt online gambling entities that can easily steal from the American people and launder money to criminals.

"Our hope is that these elected officials will take the time to listen to its citizens," the rep said, "to read the packet of materials we will present to them, and to come to the same conclusion that we have, that is, Internet gambling should be legalized and regulated for the benefit of the society."

In a statement, Gordon Price, owner of Casino Gambling Web, said

"We urge all Americans interested in regaining personal freedom in the United States to contact their Senators and Congressmen today and tomorrow and again next week and let their voices be heard. We encourage all those interested to encourage others to do the same. It is Casino Gambling Web's true belief that we can make a difference if we all come together on this issue."

Focus on the Family Warning, at their Action site, at www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/gambling/cog/A000004244.cfm . They sound worried. :-)

Desperate Foreign, Online Casino Lobby Travels to D.C.

This July, a Canadian-based organization called Casino Gambling Web plans to march on Washington, D.C. and flood Congressmen's desks with reasons to "regulate Internet gambling for the benefit of society," or at least for the benefit of their foreign online casino operations.1 They have collected nearly 5,000 American signatures on their Repeal the Internet Gambling Ban petition, a relatively small number of citizens when compared to an estimated 15 million or more people afflicted with a problem or pathological gambling addictions in the U.S. Nonetheless, this is America and we all have the freedom to speak out.

The loudest and most desperate voices, however, seem to be coming from abroad: the United Kingdom, Costa Rica and the Caribbean Islands, amidst continuing U.N. pressure from the European Union on the World Trade Organization. Signs of desperation are popping up in other places, as well.

During the past three consecutive days, Focus on the Family has received a "list fax" from Vega Promotions encouraging investors to sink money into their sharply declining online gambling market. See fax and hi-lighted areas (PDF).

Back in Washington, D.C., these foreign "voices" plan to "enlighten" U.S. Congressmen about the "impending ramifications" concerning trade violations by not allowing the European Union to dictate U.S. foreign policy. The voices "will arm each representative with a new found understanding" of the safeguards "to prevent" problem and underage gambling. Is this why online gambling addiction and underage Internet gambling grew so rapidly while these foreign gambling operators mocked U.S. laws and ran illegal casino sites within the United States for nearly a decade? What safeguards?

"We will show them the tax revenue that can be realized," say the voices. This "revenue" will come from the losses of millions of people by deceiving them and exploiting their weaknesses. Is Congress elected to protect special foreign interests or to represent and defend the people of America? Should foreign special interest groups, particularly predatory industries like online gambling, be dictating policy for the United States?

Congress passed legislation to protect American families from online gambling predators and to prevent potential threats to our national security. Congress intentionally chose not to legalize or "regulate" online gambling, but rather to enforce existing federal laws that prohibit online gambling. In spite of the mounting desperation and pressure from foreign gambling interests, Congress must be encouraged to stick to their guns. Encourage your members of Congress to uphold the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 for the safety of our children, families and our national security.

http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/gambling-law/an_internet_gambling_education_for_anti_online_gambling_groups_46698.html

and

http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/gambling-law/focus_on_the_family_should_educate_not_legislate_about_gambling_45983.html

June 29, 2007

The Honorable Ben S. Bernanke
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Washington, D. C. 20551

Dear Chairman Bernanke:

I understand that some who wish to prohibit law-abiding Americans from choosing to play online poker in the privacy of their own homes have been lobbying you for UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006) regulations that would, in essence, create an Internet gaming prohibition. This concerns me greatly as a freedom-loving American, as Congress did not ban any gaming with UIGEA. It seems anti-poker interest groups would have you disregard this fact and would use the Federal Reserve System�s banking regulations as a back door means of creating the prohibition they were unable to win legislatively, while burdening our financial institutions with enforcement duties.

As you know, UIGEA does not make Internet gaming illegal. Rather, it merely provides a means for enforcement of federal and state Internet gaming laws that were already in effect when UIGEA passed. Prohibitionists like Senator Kyl and Congressman Bachus are fond of saying this. However, they neglect to mention the fact that very few types of online gambling are illegal under federal law. Specifically, federal law covers only some sport betting. As for state laws, very few states have outlawed Internet gaming. Regarding other states, prohibitionists are trying to use ambiguous, arcane gambling laws to claim that some types of Internet gaming MIGHT be illegal in their states. To keep from placing an unfair burden on our banks, I ask that the upcoming UIGEA regulations apply only where laws are unambiguous in their application to the Internet and to specific forms of gambling illegal under those state laws. After all, if states actually wished to ban Internet gaming, they would have done so in an unambiguous fashion, especially if they wished to have the federal government take the unprecedented step of enforcing it.

Additionally, I ask that the regulations exclude the highly automated ACH system, as the addition of manual verification steps to ACH would be overly burdensome.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Dear *********:

Thank you for your thoughtful correspondence to Chairman Bernanke and for your suggestions concerning the Unlawful
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.

The Chairman receives a great number of letters daily. As a public figure with many daily responsibilities, he is
unable to reply to those letters personally. However, he appreciates receiving observations and advice that bear on
the Federal Reserve's responsibilities, particularly from people who have concerns about how the economy is
functioning.

As you know, the Federal Reserve and the Department of the Treasury are working actively on a proposed rule to be
published in the Federal Register. As with any regulatory rulemaking, input from the public is very important. The
agencies are considering a wide range of methods for preventing transactions related to unlawful Internet gambling in order to determine the methods that best address this goal. As the act requires, the Federal Reserve plans to consult with the Department of Justice to obtain their views on the proposed rule.

The agencies will carefully consider all comments submitted in response to the proposed rule in crafting the final
rule.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.

Sincerely,

JPD
Board Staff

IF YOU NEED TO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL, YOU MUST DO SO FROM OUR PUBLIC WEB SITE AT:
http://www.federalreserve.gov .

------------------------------------------------------------------------