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View Full Version : HR 2366 - Regulate Online Poker / Ron Paul is a cosponsor




tsai3904
06-26-2012, 05:10 PM
Why would Ron Paul cosponsor this bill?


H.R. 2366

Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2011

Prohibits a person from (and requires a fine under the federal criminal code, imprisonment up to five years, or both) for operating an Internet gambling facility without a license in good standing issued by a state or tribal agency qualified by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). Makes such prohibition inapplicable to facilities operated by persons located outside the United States in which bets or wagers are made by individuals located outside the United States.

Establishes the Office of Internet Poker Oversight in the Department of Commerce.

Allows a licensee to accept an Internet poker bet or wager from U.S.-located individuals and offer related services so long as the license remains in good standing.

Prohibits licensees from knowingly accepting bets or wagers by persons residing where a state or Indian tribe has notified the Secretary of specific gambling limitations. Sets forth exceptions concerning the applicability of state limitations on tribal lands.

Establishes a 5-year term for initial licenses, subject to renewal and transfer requirements.

Authorizes enforcement and disciplinary actions by the Secretary and the appropriate state or tribal agency. Sets forth civil penalties.

Requires: (1) each qualified state and tribal agency to maintain a list and submit a current copy each week to the Secretary, who shall maintain a master list, of persons self-excluded from playing Internet poker through licensed Internet poker facilities; and (2) each licensee to implement a Compulsive Gaming, Responsible Gaming, and Self-Exclusion Program as a licensure condition.

Precludes persons prohibited from gaming with a licensee by law, or by order of the Secretary, a qualified state or tribal agency, or any court of competent jurisdiction, including any person on the self-exclusion list, from collecting winnings or recovering losses arising from prohibited gaming activity. Requires court-ordered child support delinquents to be included on the self-exclusion list.

Prohibits licensees, except as specified, from: (1) accepting bets or wagers on sporting events and games other than Internet poker, and (2) using credit cards for Internet gambling. Establishes a violation for operating a place of public accommodation for accessing Internet gambling facilities.

Requires a fine under the federal criminal code, or imprisonment up to three years, or both, for certain rules of play violations, including using tools, electronic devices, or software to obtain a prohibited or unfair advantage or to defraud any licensee or persons placing bets or wagers with a licensee.

Makes specified provisions of: (1) this Act and federal monetary transaction laws inapplicable to interstate off-track wagers under the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 (IHA), and (2) the federal criminal code and financial transaction laws inapplicable to this Act and the IHA.

Prohibits this Act from having any effect on: (1) state or tribal lottery rights, privileges, or obligations; or (2) non-Internet gaming activities within the scope of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act or any successor provisions, tribal-state compacts, or authorities.

Amends the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 to prohibit holding a financial transaction provider (FTP) liable for a financial activity or transaction, including a payments processing activity, in connection with a bet or wager permitted by this Act or the IHA without actual knowledge of any applicable federal or state law violation. Shields such providers from liability for blocking or refusing to honor specified transactions.

Requires the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to investigate unlicensed Internet gambling enterprises and provide the Secretary of the Treasury with a list of such enterprises updated at least every 60 days.

Deems FTPs to have actual knowledge that persons or entities are unlicensed Internet gambling enterprises if they are included on such list or, under other specified circumstances, when information in addition to a list is available to an FTP demonstrating that a person or entity is such an enterprise.

Anti Federalist
06-26-2012, 05:15 PM
Probably because it "permits" something, which is at present, outright prohibited.

Not perfect but moving in the right direction.

TheGrinch
06-26-2012, 05:20 PM
Even after researching, I still can't figure out what this is all about, but I did see a poker forum where they seem pleased, saying that it was the best the could have hoped for, and I even noticed this quote: "We all fight for our own reasons. But we all fight against tyrants."

I used to play a lot of online poker, but it had become very difficult with them all being offshore, and very difficult to make deposits with agreements they had not to fund US customers.

According to someone who worked at the IRS, it still wasn't technically illegal to participate as a player, but I believe there was some big controversy in bills that got the US paysites got shut down... I'm sure Dr. Paul isn't crazy about a bunch of regulations attached, but it's about the only way you can get anything related to gambling in particular legalized nowadays...