PPA Library Blog

[MN] Response from Sen. Norm Coleman (08/25/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: [MN] Response from Sen. Norm Coleman (08/25/08)

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding your opposition to the federal Internet gambling ban. I appreciate the benefit of your view that poker is a game of skill, and will further look into the various proposed bills that apply to on-line poker. As you may know, on September 30, 2006, both the House and Senate passed legislation to prohibit the use of various forms of payments, such as credit cards and checks, for unlawful Internet gambling, including on-line poker. It is important to note that this legislation did not make Internet gambling illegal, but rather sought to reinforce the exiting prohibition on Internet gambling. While I had serious reservations about the process involved - the Internet gambling measure had been folded into a port security bill - I supported the overall bill because the port security legislation was too important to jeopardize. Since that time, several Internet gambling related bills have been introduced. One such bill is the Payments System Protection Act (H.R. 5767) by Representative Barney Frank (D-MA), which would prohibit the federal government from issuing regulations to implement the 2006 legislation. This bill was referred to the House Financial Services Committee and was considered, but failed to be approved by the committee on June 25, 2008. Representative Shelley Berkeley (D-NV) has also introduced legislation the Internet Gambling Study Act (H.R. 2140), which would direct the National Academy of Sciences to undertake a comprehensive study of Internet gambling. The bill would direct the Academy to look into such critical issues as the state of Internet gambling in the U.S., the impact of Internet gambling on minors and compulsive gamblers, availability of safeguards, the extent of criminal activity associated with Internet gambling, and possible tax revenue that could be generated by legalized Internet gambling. Representative Frank has also introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2046), which would create an Internet Gambling Licensing Program administered by the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to oversee monetary exchanges. It would also require the Director to annually testify to Congress on the licensing and regulation of Internet Gambling, and would allow for sovereign bodies such as states, Indian tribes and sporting leagues to reject Internet gambling licenses. Introduced on April 26, 2007, this bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee as well as the Financial Services Committee. Lastly, the Skill Game Protection Act (H.R. 2610), introduced on June 7, 2007 by Representative Robert Wexler (D-FL), would amend federal law to allow wagering on games where success is largely dependent on the participant’s skill, such as poker or chess. This bill would require all players to be 18 years or older, that online games of skill be legal in the city or state where the player is located, and that all applicable taxes be paid. This bill has been referred to a number of committees including the House Financial Services and House Judiciary Committees. To date, none of these bills has a companion measure in the Senate. Please know I will keep your views in mind as the bills move through the legislative process. Thank you once again for sharing your thoughts with me. I am humbled to serve as your Senator. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on any matter of importance to you or your family. Sincerely, Norm Coleman United States Senate [submitted by PPA member]