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

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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]

[IL] Response from Sen. Barack Obama (08/15/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Thank you for contacting me regarding on-line gambling. You raise some important concerns. As you know, prior to Congress’s action last year, internet gambling was a growing industry. According to a study by the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), since the mid-1990s internet gambling operators established approximately 1,800 e-gaming Web sites in locations outside the United States, and global revenues from internet gaming in 2003 were over $5 billion dollars. Both states and the federal government have laws and regulations addressing internet gambling. At the federal level, the Wire Act prohibits gambling businesses from using interstate or international telecommunications firms to knowingly transmit or receive bets. Furthermore, private companies, including many in the credit card industry, have taken steps to restrict internet gambling, primarily by prohibiting cardholders from using the cards to gamble online. In 1996, Congress created the National Gambling Impact Study Commission to examine the social and economic impacts of gambling, including internet gambling. In its 1999 report, the Commission recommended (1) that the federal government prohibit any internet gambling not already authorized and encourage foreign governments not to harbor internet gambling organizations, and (2) that Congress pass legislation prohibiting the collection of credit card debt for internet gambling. Following up on the Commission’s recommendations, the House of Representatives approved HR 4411, the Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act, by a 317-93 vote. This bill was then folded into a conference committee report on unrelated port security legislation, and became Public Law 109-347 on October 13th, 2006. I recognize both the need to comply with federal and state laws and the desire of many Illinoisans to not have the federal government over-regulate their behavior. As opportunities to re-examine this issue arise, I will certainly keep your concerns in mind. Again, thank you for contacting me. Please stay in touch. Sincerely, Barack Obama United States Senator

[FL] Response from Rep.Ginny Brown-Waite [FL-05] (08/15/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention. I appreciate the time you took to contact my office on this important issue and welcome the opportunity to respond. Internet gambling has become a very real threat to our children, particularly young men in college. Many college students, used to playing video games in the consequence free confines of their homes, were unprepared for the thousands of dollars of debts they could accumulate from online poker games. These kids were ruining their credit, destroying their future, and often committing suicide as a result. My feelings on this issue run deep because I have a personal connection. A friend’s husband committed suicide rather than face the hundreds of thousands of dollars in gambling debt he accumulated online. I have seen with my own eyes a family ruined. Addictions like this are difficult to spot, difficult to treat, and should not be enabled by anonymous online activity. It is preposterous to think that I should sit back and do nothing, particularly when the sharks operating these gambling sites were accruing enormous profits at the expense of our children and families. I do not oppose poker games or wagering, but it is not a restriction on liberty to suggest that this should at least take place amongst friends or at the very least in a casino. Throughout my tenure in public service, I have always kept an open door and an open dialogue with my constituents. As Congress addresses the many challenges facing our nation, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and views with me. Accordingly, I encourage you to visit my Web site at http://brownwaite.house.gov to email me and find useful information about our 5th Congressional District. It is my honor and privilege to serve the people of Florida’s 5th Congressional District and my offices and staff are here to provide you with any assistance you may need. Sincerely, Ginny Brown-Waite Member of Congress (Congresswoman’s reponse to PPA letter - Two Plus Two Poker Forum [forumserver_twoplustwo_com] http://snipurl.com/ppa18)

[GA] Response from Rep. David Scott [GA-13] (08/08/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Thank you for contacting me regarding your support for H.R. 5767. I am honored to have the opportunity to respond to you on such an important issue. The opinions and concerns of my fellow Georgians are an essential component of my decision making process as a Member of Congress. As you may know, H.R. 5767, introduced by Representative Barney Frank is designed to prohibit the Secretary of the Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from proposing, prescribing, or implementing any regulation of internet gambling. I understand your views in favor of autonomy and internet deregulation. The House Financial Services Committee considered this bill during a Mark up in July. As you may already know, this bill did not pass out of committee. Please be assured, I will keep your views in mind as my colleagues and I continue to discuss these issues. Should this bill reach the House floor, I will be sure to share your views with my colleagues. Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. I hope you will continue to give me the benefit of your opinion in the future. I encourage you to visit my website at http://davidscott.house.gov, where you can view the latest news and obtain information on issues and legislation that is important to you. You can also sing up for my electronic newsletter, and receive periodic updates on my activities as your representative in Washington. I thank you again for contacting me, and I look forward to continuing to serve you. Sincerely, David Scott Member of Congress

[KY] Response from Sen. Mitch McConnell (08/06/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Thank you for contacting me regarding the issue of Internet gambling. I appreciate that you took the time to share your concerns with me. As you know, in 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to cut off revenue to many Internet gambling operations by instructing financial institutions to identify and block electronic payments to those operations. On September 30, 2006, the Senate unanimously passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which was included in the SAFE Port Act (H.R. 4954) and subsequently signed, into law. Supporters of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) have praised its passage for, among other reasons, its intent to protect children and those with excessive gaming habits from incurring crippling debt. As you observe, opponents of the Act believe that it represents an unwise intrusion of the federal government into their personal choices. Poker players such as you also point out that poker is a game of skill and not of chance, and that poker therefore should receive an exemption from the Act’s regulations. Earlier this year, some financial institutions expressed concern with the ability of the Treasure Department to issue UIGEA regulations that will provide enough clarity for the financial institutions that handle online payment transfers. In your correspondence, you expressed your support for several bills pending in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007, would permit certain Internet gaming in the United States, subject to federal licensing, regulation, and user fees. H.R. 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, would amend the law to permit online wagering involving poker, chess, and bridge, among other games. H.R. 5767 would prohibit the Treasury from issuing final UIGEA enforcement regulations. Each of the three bills remains under consideration in Committees of the House of Representatives. Should the U.S. Senate have the opportunity to debate any measures relating to online gambling, please know that I will keep in mind your views. Again, thanks for writing. Please do not hesitate to inform me of issues that are important to you. Sincerely, MITCH McCONNELL UNITED STATES SENATOR

[FL] Response from Rep. Tom Feeney [FL-24] (07/17/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Thank you for your views on internet gambling. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond. As you know, internet gambling has become an extremely lucrative business and is now estimated to be a $12 billion industry, with approximately $6 billion coming from bettors based in the United States alone. Internet gambling is an industry which not only has the potential to hurt individuals but their families as well. In addition, internet gambling drains the US economy of billions of dollars and serves as a vehicle for money laundering. While I understand that there are some Americans who enjoy and are successful with their internet gambling efforts, I believe that it is a growing problem that must be addressed. In the 109th Congress, I co-sponsored a bill introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte. This bill, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (H.R. 4777), would have prohibited the operation of gambling business over the internet. One major problem with internet gambling is the inherent threat it poses to identity protection. When an online gambler provides his or her credit card information to place a bet, that information becomes much easier for hackers and unscrupulous website operators to obtain and disseminate. Currently in the 110th Congress, the House Committee on Financial Services Chairman, Barney Frank (D-MA), introduced two pieces of legislation about internet gambling, H.R. 2046 and H.R. 5767. H.R. 2046 will amend federal law governing monetary transactions by establishing an Internet Gambling Licensing Program, and H.R. 5767 will prohibit the Secretary of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve from proposing, prescribing, or implementing any regulation that would prohibit the acceptance of a financial instrument for unlawful internet gambling. Additionally, Rep. Robert Wexler has introduced H.R. 2610 which would amend federal criminal law to allow individual players to gamble against each other in games of skill, such as poker, chess, bridge, or mahjong, as opposed to games of chance where a player essentially challenges the operator. Most of these legislative efforts fail to address the inherent social and economic impact of internet gambling. They merely place regulations and fines on an activity that is inherently problematic. Only when we can effectively and efficiently address the identity security issues associated with internet gambling should we begin to discuss further regulation or licensing. I assure you that I will continue to monitor the current legislation as it passes through the Financial Services committee. Thank you again for contacting me and I encourage you to visit my website at www.house.gov/feeney for more information on issues affecting Central Florida and our nation. While you visit the website, please click on “Tom’s Blog” to join your neighbors in a discussion on current news and legislative issues. If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to call my offices in Washington, DC and Florida. Sincerely, TOM FEENEY Member of Congress 24th District, Florida

[OR] Response from Sen. Gordon Smith (07/07/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Thank you for contacting me regarding the legal status of online poker. I appreciate your taking the time to share your views with me and welcome this opportunity to respond. I noted your concern that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) may have had a chilling effect on the accessibility of Internet poker in our country. This legislation, signed by the President in October, 2006, prohibits gambling businesses from accepting checks, credit card charges, electronic transfers, and similar payments in connection with Internet gambling. As I consider proposals to regulate online gambling, I believe that there are a few important objectives that federal policy must achieve. Congress must pass laws that adequately block access by children to gambling sites and create effective safeguards against fraud, money laundering, and evasion of state gambling laws. However, it is equally important to ensure that policymakers do not inadvertently create obstacles to legal pastimes. Currently there is a bill before the House of representatives, the Skill Game Protection Act (HR 2610), that would clearly exempt poker from the prohibitions set forth by the UIGEA. Should this or similar legislation come before the full Senate for consideration, please rest assured that I will keep your comments in mind. Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this important issue. If I can be helpful to you in any way in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me. Warm regards, Gordon H. Smith United States Senate

[MT] Response from Sen. Max Baucus (07/03/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Thank you for getting in touch with your support for legal online poker. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue. American law has always reflected our ambivalence towards gambling. Anti-gambling laws were common in colonial America, yet even then the lottery was a popular form of public finance. A majority of states continue to outlaw most forms of gambling, but most also continue to employ a lottery as a means of public finance and to allow several other forms of gambling as well. The Wire Act (1994) made the use of telecommunications to conduct gambling a federal crime. Consequently, online gambling was illegal well before the popularization of internet poker. As you are aware, The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) seeks to cut off the flow of revenue to unlawful Internet gambling businesses in a variety of manners. Online gambling was illegal previous to this, but only now is rigorously enforced through the UIGEA provisions. Recently, the game of poker has experienced a renaissance in popularity and participation. If and when gambling issues are brought up in the Senate, rest assured that I will take into account your thoughts on this matter. Thanks again for sharing your ideas on this evolving topic. Please feel free to contact me in the future with any additional concerns. Senator Max Baucus

[IL] Response from Rep. Don Manzullo [IL-16] (07/03/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Thank you for contacting me about internet gambling. It is good to hear from you. As you are aware, the 109th Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA, incorporated into P.L. 109-347) on July 11, 2006, to prohibit internet gambling sites from accepting electronic money transfers related to gambling. On April 10, 2008, Representative Barney Frank introduced H.R. 5767, a bill that would prohibit any of the regulations required by P.L. 109-347, which were published in the Federal Register on October 4, 2007, from being implemented. It is important to note that H.R. 5767 would not have made internet gambling legal. It simply would have prevented further clarifying regulations from going into effect. Internet gambling sites would still be prevented from accepting electronic money transfers. On June 25, 2008, H.R. 5767 came to the House Financial Services Committee for consideration. During the mark-up, an amendment was offered by Representative Peter King of New York which would have required the regulators to re-start the rule making process, thereby delaying, possibly indefinitely, the implementation of any regulations relating to P.L. 109-347. Again, it is important to note that like H.R. 5767, the King amendment would not have made internet gambling legal. Unless P.L. 109-347 is repealed, internet gambling is and will remain an illegal activity. The vote to accept the amendment was tied 32 to 32, and House rules state that when a vote in committee is tied, the amendment automatically fails. Six Members of the House Financial Services Committee did not vote on the amendment even though two of those Members voted on the House floor throughout Wednesday, both before and after the committee mark-up. H.R. 5767 was subsequently defeated by unanimous voice vote. I cast my vote in opposition to the King amendment and to H.R. 5767 because the intent of UIGEA-to keep children and college students from becoming addicted to online gambling-is working. A study by the Annenberg Center at the University of Pennsylvania recently found that online gambling among college students has decreased by 75 percent since the enactment of UIGEA. Though I agree that the regulations show areas that need improvement, the King amendment and H.R. 5767 were not good-faith efforts to improve the regulations, only to see that they were never implemented. Such drastic action is not warranted when the law is showing such obvious success in protecting children from the dangers of online gambling. Thank you again for contacting me about this issue. Your input is important to my work here in Washington. P.S. Communicating with the people I represent is very important to me. If you would like to stay informed of my activities in Congress, please visit http://manzullo.house.gov and sign up for my email updates. You can register to receive my e-newsletter, all my news releases, and updates on various issues. Sincerely, Donald A. Manzullo Member of Congress (Responds from Rep. Donald A. Manzullo - Two Plus Two Poker Forum [forumserver_twoplustwo_com] http://snipurl.com/ppa19)

[CA] Response from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (07/02/08) - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Thank you for contacting me regarding Internet gambling. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me on this important topic and I welcome the opportunity to respond. There is no doubt that the Internet and related technologies have had a remarkable effect on the U.S. economy in recent years. The flow of commerce on the Internet has enhanced American industry’s ability to distribute goods economically and efficiently. The continuing development of this industry in California has provided hundreds of thousands of new, well-paying jobs, and I am committed to strengthening online commerce and preserving and expanding this vital job base. While the advent of the Internet has been beneficial to American society, I believe the same cannot be said for Internet-based gambling. Internet gambling has become too easily accessible to minors, subject to fraud and criminal misuse, and too easily used as a tool to evade State gambling laws. I understand your thoughts on internet gambling, and as you may be aware, I have supported legislation aimed at curbing Internet gambling during my tenure in the Senate. For example, I supported the SAFE Port Act, passed into law as Public Law 109-347, which included (as Title VIII) the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. Please know that I have read your letter with interest and value your thoughts. Additionally, I appreciate hearing your concerns that such restrictions are vague for poker players, and your support for legislation to exempt online poker from the Act. While we do not necessarily agree on this particular topic, be assured that I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind should this issue come before me during the 110th Congress. Again, thank you for your letter. I hop you will continue to keep me informed on issues of importance to you. Best regards. Sincerely yours, Dianne Feinstein United States Senator [submitted by PPA Member]