TOW News
6/7/2006
Internet Gambling Prohibition Act - Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) thinks "its a great infringement on liberty"
"I think [the legislation] is a great infringement on liberty. When it comes to an individual decision on how to spend your own time and money, that's not my position. That's not my business. I am skeptical of people who want to protect people from themselves" said Congressman Barney Frank in a recent interview with Adam Small of PocketFives.com.
Online poker's booming popularity has led many in Washington, D.C. and around the country to ponder what, if any, role the government should take in the industry. Proposed in the Senate by John Kyl (R-AZ) and in the House by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act could change the landscape of the online gambling community completely by holding gamblers liable for making picks on their favorite professional sports team, folding their cards after a raise, and hitting their blackjack hands over the Internet.
Congressman Frank likened the online gambling ban to the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Prohibition), which was ratified in 1919: "In a free society, it's very hard to keep people from doing what they want to do themselves." Following the passage of the Amendment, a black market for alcohol existed for over a dozen years until its repeal in 1933, as society continued to enjoy liquor. This problem of habitual behavior is one which Congressman Frank considers relevant to the current legislation: "There isn't a human activity I'm aware of that some people don't do in excess. Some people drive their cars too fast. Some people drink too much. Some small percentage of adults misuses any activity. If that's a reason to ban it, [the United States] would be a very boring place."
As far as the future of the bill, that is up to the voters of this country: "Members of Congress pay close attention to members of their districts. If everyone wrote to their one Representative and two Senators, and said 'I will be very dissatisfied and vote against you if you vote for this bill,' that will go a long way. Make sure you're a registered voter first." CardPlayer.com offers a free service that allows anyone who visits the site to send an e-mail to their Representatives and Senators.
A lobby group called the Poker Players Alliance (pokerplayersalliance.org) is currently helping online gamblers raise their voices at the forthcoming legislation.
According to Congressman Frank: "Everyone needs to write their lawmakers. If enough people did this and spoke up, we could stop this legislation."
Originally published on June 7 2006 - TheOnlineWire.com
6/7/2006
Internet Gambling Prohibition Act - Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) thinks "its a great infringement on liberty"
"I think [the legislation] is a great infringement on liberty. When it comes to an individual decision on how to spend your own time and money, that's not my position. That's not my business. I am skeptical of people who want to protect people from themselves" said Congressman Barney Frank in a recent interview with Adam Small of PocketFives.com.
Online poker's booming popularity has led many in Washington, D.C. and around the country to ponder what, if any, role the government should take in the industry. Proposed in the Senate by John Kyl (R-AZ) and in the House by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act could change the landscape of the online gambling community completely by holding gamblers liable for making picks on their favorite professional sports team, folding their cards after a raise, and hitting their blackjack hands over the Internet.
Congressman Frank likened the online gambling ban to the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Prohibition), which was ratified in 1919: "In a free society, it's very hard to keep people from doing what they want to do themselves." Following the passage of the Amendment, a black market for alcohol existed for over a dozen years until its repeal in 1933, as society continued to enjoy liquor. This problem of habitual behavior is one which Congressman Frank considers relevant to the current legislation: "There isn't a human activity I'm aware of that some people don't do in excess. Some people drive their cars too fast. Some people drink too much. Some small percentage of adults misuses any activity. If that's a reason to ban it, [the United States] would be a very boring place."
As far as the future of the bill, that is up to the voters of this country: "Members of Congress pay close attention to members of their districts. If everyone wrote to their one Representative and two Senators, and said 'I will be very dissatisfied and vote against you if you vote for this bill,' that will go a long way. Make sure you're a registered voter first." CardPlayer.com offers a free service that allows anyone who visits the site to send an e-mail to their Representatives and Senators.
A lobby group called the Poker Players Alliance (pokerplayersalliance.org) is currently helping online gamblers raise their voices at the forthcoming legislation.
According to Congressman Frank: "Everyone needs to write their lawmakers. If enough people did this and spoke up, we could stop this legislation."
Originally published on June 7 2006 - TheOnlineWire.com