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1. Greg
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   From Senator Craig,

   Dear Mr. H,

   Thank you for contacting me regarding gambling on the Internet. I appreciated hearing from you.

   As you may know, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act became law in 2006 as part of a port-safety measure. The measure aimed to cut off the revenue flow to offshore Internet gambling operations. The proposals currently offered in the House, such as HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, would explicitly legalize some forms of online poker. I remain committed to ensuring that online gambling in all its forms is inaccessible to children and am not convinced adequate safeguards are yet in place.

   However, you can remain confident that I will keep your thoughts in mind should these bills, or other legislation dealing with this issue, come before the full Senate for debate.

   Again, thank you for contacting me. If there is anything further I can do for you, please let me know.
   (no signature)
   _________________________________________________

   From Senator Crapo,

   Dear G:

   Thank you for contacting me regarding online gambling. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

   As you know, President Bush signed the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act into law on October 13, 2006 as part of the SAFE Port Act. This law prohibits placing bets over the Internet using credit cards, electronic fund transfers, checks, drafts, or similar financial transactions. In effect, this legislation bans all Internet gambling with the exception of horse racing and state lotteries.

   Representative Robert Wexler (D-Florida) introduced the Skill Game Protection Act (H.R. 2610) on June 7, 2007. This legislation would permit gambling in online poker and other selected games to the extent that competition existed only between and among participants, not the game operators. In addition, operators would be required to restrict Internet gambling sites to participants eighteen years of age or older. H.R. 2610 has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, where it awaits further action. Similar legislation has not been introduced in the Senate.

   I understand your concern over losing a venue through which you were previously able to play poker. You may be reassured to note that, although this legislation affects your ability to play poker on the Internet, it does not prohibit you from enjoying poker in other unregulated venues. Other forms of gambling will only be affected through legislation that is designed to directly affect their regulation.

   Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me in the future on this or other matters of interest to you. For more information about the issues before the U.S. Senate as well as news releases, photos, and other items of interest, please visit my Senate website,

   Sincerely,

   Mike Crapo

   United States Senator

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. Greg
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   I haven't heard from Rep. Sali in response to my latest letter. Here is his response from last May.

   May 5, 2008

   Dear Mr. H:

   Thank you for contacting me regarding online gambling. I appreciate you taking the opportunity to share your thoughts on this issue. The concerns you have expressed are shared by many other Idahoans and are very legitimate ones.

   In 2006 Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act (UIGEA) as part of the SAFE Port Act (P.L. 109-347). UIGEA seeks to cut off the flow of revenue to unlawful Internet gambling businesses. It outlaws receipt of checks, credit card charges, electronic funds transfers, and the like by such businesses. It also enlists the assistance of banks, credit card issuers and other payment system participants to help stem the flow.

   Because of the language making online wagering illegal, several bills have been introduced to again allow certain forms of gambling.

   On April 26, 2007, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank introduced H.R. 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. This legislation would amend federal law governing monetary transactions to establish an Internet Gambling Licensing Program administered and enforced by the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. It would also prescribe requirements for the licensing of Internet betting or wagering. H.R. 2046 has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as the House Committee on Financial Services.

   On June 7, 2007, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler introduced H.R. 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act. This legislation would amend federal criminal law to exempt from the prohibition against online wagering to include poker and other games where success is predominantly determined by a player's skill. H.R. 2610 has been referred to several House Committees, including Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, as well as the Judiciary.

   While neither of these bills will come before the committees on which I serve (Natural Resources and Oversight and Government Reform), the time you have taken to express your views will be a great help to me as I discuss this issue with my colleagues. I take seriously my responsibility to provide the representation you expect and deserve in the people's House of Representatives.

   Thank you again for contacting me. It is an honor to serve as your member of Congress, and I hope you will continue to share your views on the important issues facing our country. For more information and updates on my work in Congress, please visit my website, http://www.sali.house.gov.
   Sincerely,
   Bill Sali
   Member of Congress

   Posted 1 year ago #

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