Whitehouse Accused Of Trying To Push Through Anti-Gambling Regulation No One Wants

from the hurry-up-and-regulate dept

Even as some of our elected representatives are trying to re-legalize poker, the White House appears to be trying to shove through the regulations put in place a couple years ago to stop online gambling. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 put the responsibility on financial institutions to stop any financial transactions used in online gambling. As we see all too often, it's a situation where the government is putting the liability on a third party to stop an undesirable activity, rather than on those actually involved in the activity. Not surprisingly, financial institutions have been protesting any regulations enforcing this law -- and with the current financial collapse going on, they're pushing back hard on any effort to enforce the law. So, what happens? Apparently, the White House has assigned a former NFL lobbyist working for the White House to try to force the regulations through, apparently putting tremendous pressure to get things moving. Congress is now asking the White House to explain why they're trying to rush this through, just as financial institutions are having so much trouble. It certainly does raise questions. Considering the push to reverse the law in the first place, combined with the protests from financial institutions that it shouldn't be their problem to stop online gambling, why is the White House putting excess pressure to try to make it happen?
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Filed Under: gambling, laws, online gambling, regulations, white house


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  1. identicon
    Phillip Vector, 10 Nov 2008 @ 5:35pm

    He's only got a few more months man... He's in a hurry. :)

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Nov 2008 @ 6:05pm

    Only in America

    See how much more crap he can screw up b4 he leaves.. I'm still dumb founded as to why we can take a shot at Larry Flint but this fewl gets to steal his way in and walk his way out without on attempt. What are we coming to as a country!?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    steveballmer, 10 Nov 2008 @ 6:16pm

    Not So!

    ... apparently somebody want it!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    DKP, 10 Nov 2008 @ 6:42pm

    Re:

    74 days to be exact

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Gyffes, 10 Nov 2008 @ 7:03pm

    Slash and Burn

    Frankly, I'm surprised Bush isn't salting the Rose Garden, he's going out in such a blaze of inglorious regulations: it'll take Obama his entire first term (Christ, I hope he gets 2.. maybe we can amend the constitution to get him a few more terms?) just to undo the damage the Bush Admin is causing in these final months, let alone HAS caused over the past 8 years.

    *sigh*

    Thank god the rest of the Supreme Court justices hung on, no?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Simple Mind, 10 Nov 2008 @ 9:11pm

    Re: Slash and Burn

    Wait until he (Obama) actually does anything before you start petitioning him for godhood why don't you? Amending the constitution the way you suggest would be a very bad law.

    The fact is that it is very difficult to get rid of laws in this country once they are on the books. Even for a bad law there is always someone benefiting from it that will fight to keep it, and the status-quo has the advantage. That is why things keep getting worse.

    What we need badly is an automated review process. Prior to implementation of a law the intended goals and timetable must be stated. If the goals are not met in the given time the law is automatically repealed. This would remove all stupid "vice" laws since the goal of eliminating (or even reducing) the vice is never achieved.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Simple Mind, 10 Nov 2008 @ 9:21pm

    I enjoy internet poker

    I (used to) play texas hold'em online quite often. Over the long run I lose money at it. But the amount is insignificant to my net worth. I am not stupid. I do not need the gubment babying me or holding my hand in this matter. Get out of my life where it does not concern you or any one else! At some point I may actually get angry. You won't like me when I am angry.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Mini Soda Fats, 10 Nov 2008 @ 11:06pm

    This is why I hate Republicans. They take away my rights to gamble. It's my money damn it. Get that chimp out of office now!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    eleete, 11 Nov 2008 @ 1:14am

    Re:

    Was it only the Republicans ? No Democrats voted for the legislation ? I see more than 100 that wanted it too. What should we do with those 'representatives' ? According to you, they should lose their jobs too, and I agree.

    http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2006-363

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    eleete, 11 Nov 2008 @ 2:23am

    Re: Slash and Burn

    "Frankly, I'm surprised Bush isn't salting the Rose Garden,"

    http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/t/trashingthewhitehouse.htm

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Peavey, 11 Nov 2008 @ 5:06am

    morality as law

    While I'm not the biggest fan of Obama in world, I do look forward to a decline in pushes for regulations with blatant religious overtones.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. icon
    Killer_Tofu (profile), 11 Nov 2008 @ 6:26am

    Re: Re: Slash and Burn

    Very well said. I whole-heartedly agree.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Ruckus Riggles, 11 Nov 2008 @ 9:57am

    Re: Re:

    Get a clue eleete, Republicans suck, which is why they are now the minority party. They were in charge when this shit was passed. But you have your Sarah Palin vids to watch in your moms basement. Have fun with that.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    The Mad (Patent) Prosecutor, 11 Nov 2008 @ 11:04am

    >

    Why are you looking forward to Obama - are you thirsting for an increase in the push for regulations with blatant socialist overtones?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    pranks4fun, 11 Nov 2008 @ 12:24pm

    Read past the headline, willya

    "
    "Frankly, I'm surprised Bush isn't salting the Rose Garden,"

    http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/t/trashingthewhitehouse.htm
    "

    Don't know what you're trying to say, eleete. Clinton didn't salt the Rose Garden; his staff members pulled a few pranks, and nobody's mad about it (except you, apparently). There was some damage, but Bush's own General Accounting Office said it was "...consistent with what we would expect to encounter when tenants vacate office space after an extended occupancy."

    I suspect you think that you're providing evidence about how republicans are better than democrats. You just look like a petty and bitter partisan loser to me.

    Instead, why don't you try to actually defend Bush's recent behavior, which includes bypassing Congress to pass many deregulation rules that will - without question - have a huge negative impact on the environment and public health? Not to mention, of course, this really stupid legislation on regulating online gambling through banks.

    This is the "salting the Rose Garden" metaphor - Bush is trying to do as much as he can before he leaves, as any president would, but turns out the vast majority of Americans (76%, in fact) agree with me that his priorities and policies are destructive to our national interest along many fronts.

    If you have anything actually logical to say about Bush, instead of trying and failing to bash Clinton, I'd love to hear it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    pranks4fun, 11 Nov 2008 @ 12:48pm

    Re:

    Wow, Prosecutor - still on that Socialist thing? You don't even know what socialism is, do you? All you conservatives must be shaking in your boots right now, with the promise of DEADLY CHANGE hanging over your heads.

    I, for one, AM "thirsting" for an increase in regulations. If you've read anything about the economic collapse, then you'd know that the Bush camp was explicit in removing limitations *ahem, regulations* on securities trading, which directly contributed to the problem (if not singlehandedly causing it). Regulation isn't always a bad thing; this article shows that regulation can be misguided and implemented poorly, Bush is always good for demonstrating that, but I don't see how you can complain about a push for regulation at this point in time.

    I don't see where your fear of socialism comes from, either. Adam Smith himself, the father of capitalism, advocated the rich being taxed at a higher rate than the poor. "Spreading the wealth" in this way is the only thing about Obama that might smack of socialism, according to McCain's vitriolic campaign at least, though it DOESN'T.
    The government owning major stakes in our finance industry is cause for greater worry, and that was - oh look - the solution that Bush's crowd came up with.

    Bottom line? Don't worry about increased regulation - Obama is smart. And don't be afraid that Obama is a socialist, he's not anywhere near. Besides, you've got much bigger things to be scared of right now than our president-elect.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    eleete, 11 Nov 2008 @ 11:17pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    Well your assumption that I am a republican certainly made an ass of one of us. I don't live with my mother and that can be found out rather easily. As for republicans sucking, the link I provided proves that in this post, they both suck equally because they BOTH voted FOR the legislation in question. Have fun with THAT !

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    eleete, 11 Nov 2008 @ 11:25pm

    Re: Read past the headline, willya

    "Clinton didn't salt the Rose Garden; his staff members pulled a few pranks, and nobody's mad about it (except you, apparently)."

    Funny, $20,000 worth of 'pranks' and an investigation into the matter, but I'm the only one mad? First off, I provided a link and commented nothing. You ASSumed. I also didn't say anything about salting the Rose Garden, the inference was, trashing the White House, the link shows that it's been done before.

    I am not a republican, I did not vote for McCain, but I do criticize my government when either party fails their constituents. That happens more often than you think.

    Also, I can barely defend Any of Bush's actions nor have I, but I see YOU asserted your partisan opinion quite nicely.

    "this really stupid legislation on regulating online gambling through banks."
    If you bothered to read the other link I posted here, you would know it was voted for on both sides, Dems and Repubs. In your eyes, the 'perfect party' you contend, voted for the very item you damned in your post.

    Now, do YOU have anything logical to add ? I'd love to hear it.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. Great post!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    http://www.holdempoker.com/, 18 Nov 2008 @ 10:30pm

    I am the biggest fan of online poker gambling. Well, as you can see this is a huge place dedicated to promote the online poker gambling world, with a lot of warranties that make it different in between the thousands of false poker pages.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    http://www.holdempoker.com/, 18 Nov 2008 @ 10:30pm

    I am the biggest fan of online poker gambling. Well, as you can see this is a huge place dedicated to promote the online poker gambling world, with a lot of warranties that make it different in between the thousands of false poker pages.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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