http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/ Poker Players Alliance Forums: Forum: State - IL - Recent Topics en Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:46:18 +0000 http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/topic/371#post-1178 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:19:15 +0000 geno875 1178@http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/ <p>Below is the email sent to me from Dick Durbin. What a politically correct way to say piss off.</p> <p>Dear Mr. Hubbart:</p> <p>Thank you for your message regarding Internet gambling. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.</p> <p>The debate over Internet gambling has generated strong public interest. While most types of Internet gambling operations are prohibited under federal law, many Internet gambling operations are based in foreign countries and have fallen outside the jurisdiction of American enforcement agencies. Overall, Americans spend roughly $4 billion to $6 billion a year on Internet gambling. Because of the largely unregulated nature of this business, Internet gambling sites often fail to block access to gambling by children and often lack effective safeguards against fraud. Further, Internet gambling can be addictive, and this addiction has had a harmful effect on some individuals and communities.</p> <p>In September 2006, the Senate passed the SAFE Port Act of 2006 (H.R. 4954). This legislation contained numerous important provisions that would improve the security of our nation's ports. When a House-Senate conference committee met to work out differences in their separate versions of the bill, the conferees added language regarding Internet gambling.</p> <p>The language that the conference committee added to the SAFE Port Act prohibits those who are in the business of gambling from knowingly accepting credit cards, checks, electronic fund transfers or similar financial instruments in connection with unlawful Internet gambling. The Act imposes fines and/or prison sentences on violators. The legislation further requires the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Board to issue regulations directing banks and other financial transaction providers to adopt practices that will enable them to identify and prevent restricted transactions that support Internet gambling.</p> <p>The final version of the SAFE Port Act of 2006 included a number of provisions important to our national security. It passed by unanimous consent in the Senate. There was not a separate vote on the provisions to prevent unlawful Internet gambling.</p> <p>As the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Board craft the regulations required by the gambling provisions of the SAFE Port Act, it is important that they work with law-abiding financial transaction providers. We can effectively improve the enforcement of our longstanding ban on unlawful Internet gambling transactions without imposing unrealistic or overly burdensome requirements on law-abiding financial transaction providers.</p> <p>Thank you again for contacting me. Please feel free to stay in touch.</p> <p>Sincerely,</p> <p>Richard J. Durbin</p> <p>United States Senator</p> <p>RJD/td</p> <p>Why not just say I don't care about how you feel about internet poker? would of saved alot of typing. </p> http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/topic/139#post-328 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:00:46 +0000 PeteMoretta 328@http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/ <p>I'm not sure I have the stomach to carry through on what I'm about to say but it seems to me the Illinois law violates my right to work. I easily spend 30+ hours per week playing lame freerolls (when I can find a worthwhile tourney). I can't claim it as my day job since all my income comes from elsewhere... uh, because Internet poker's illegal here. As I understand it, the Fed law only makes bank transfers illegal but the State of Illinois has taken it upon themselves to decide that Internet gambling is illegal altogether. Furthermore, the premise used is protecting the public from themselves. I understand that there is a segment of the population that is prone to gambling addiction but I for one really don't want that kind of protection from my government. I want to play. I want to make money playing. Am I good enough? Well I can't say because the law has relegated me to bottom-of-the-barrel freeroll tourneys (which I have one a few). But real money? No, not really yet because I can't play real games.</p> <p>Well there's more but to get to the point of the topic, I'm wondering if there are any lawyers and players willing to talk about a class action against the State of Illinois. I think the State policy is ludicrous and, frankly, is insulting. I know nothing in regards to whether legally it can be considered unconsitutional. However as an American, I am offended. I don't believe it's a case where plaintiffs could receive settlement which makes it tough for a lawyer to take it on and not much incentive for players. Not to mention the goliath we'd be up against. Illinois players that feel like me, are you interested in chipping in a couple bucks for lawyer fees? Lawyers who are players, are you willing for the "love of the game?" </p> http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/topic/50#post-94 Fri, 30 May 2008 13:05:42 +0000 umjm 94@http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/ <br /> http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/topic/49#post-93 Fri, 30 May 2008 13:04:03 +0000 umjm 93@http://pokerplayersalliance.org/forums/ <p>I keep getting the old catch 22. When I write to my U.S.representative, she writes back that internet gambling was already illegal in the state of Illinois. When I contact my IL state rep, she acts like there a bigger problems (and we do have bigger problems in Illinois, no budget AGAIN!) and changing IL law on internet poker won’t help because it's illegal on the federal level.</p> <p> How do we win this “the chicken or the egg” argument? </p>