InternetTexasHoldem.com Provides Internet Poker Players Guide to U.S. Unlawful Online Gambling Bill & Legislation

(PRWEB) October 10, 2006 -- In an act that seems more like extending US economic colonialism into cyberspace than eliminating the country’s moral turpitude, the US Congress succeeded in confusing the heck out of a lot of online poker players in the US.

Internet Texas Holdem, the premier Poker Community on the web and brainchild of Poker Author & Pro Matthew Hilger, examines how and why this recent legislation affects a US citizen’s right to play Online Poker. This information, along with US friendly poker rooms, is available at http://www.internettexasholdem.com.

By providing an up to date list of the poker rooms serving US citizens along with reviews, forum discussions, and player stats, Internet Texas Holdem provides an easy way to stay on top of the online poker landscape.

Bonus Codes and Free Poker Gift offers are actually readily available to US players. By offering great Bonus Offers, Poker Rooms give players who are transferring a great way to try out their software, games, and play to determine which one is the right fit for them.

With the recent explosion of Texas Holdem Poker it would seem that awareness and education about the sport would increase, thus fostering acceptance. How then did the US Congress pass The Unlawful Online Gambling Bill?

The Unlawful Online Gambling Bill – was attached as "pork" to the Safe Port Act (remember the Dubai Port Security Rights uproar?) at the last minute of a late night congress session.
Bush is expected to sign the Port Security Bill, and thus the Unlawful Online Gambling Bill which is actually an amendment to the Wire Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1084.

The bill does not make it unlawful for US citizens to play online poker. Rather, it makes it illegal for banks and credit card companies to pay foreign gambling sites. In short, banks and credit card companies aren’t allowed to process transactions from US citizens to foreign online gaming sites. A financial institution’s reputation and integrity are extremely crucial, so following the law is in their best interest.

There are international payment methods which circumvent this problem. Even so, some poker rooms such as Party Poker and Empire Poker, both owned by UK based Party Gaming, announced they will no longer accept U.S. players for the time being.

It is estimated that US players account for 60% of Party Poker’s revenue. Party Poker operates as any public corporation must, (or should) with a responsibility to shareholders. This puts Party Poker in the same situation as the US banks and credit card companies regarding integrity and corporate responsibility.

The US government publicly states morality as the reason for the bill although there has been virtually no demand for the legislation on a moral basis. The only group whom it would appease is the religious right, who had in many cases, withdrawn support in the upcoming election for the current administration and congress which they helped to put into office.

There is a lot more to the behind the legislation than the means used to pass and enforce it. Every internet poker player should be aware of these facts related to the Unlawful Online Gambling Bill:

• This bill (The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) amends the Wire Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1084

• Betting on horses (online & offline) is explicitly permitted in the existing wire act as well as the new amendment

• Legal bets on the internet specified in the amendment include: US horse racing, US internet lotteries, games of skill, and US fantasy sports

• Illegal Bets on the internet specified in the amendment include all "games of chance" like poker, blackjack, backgammon, bingo, and other such casino games

• The publicly stated reason for the bill ( moral issues)is negated and irrelevant as the amendment allows:
(1) Online Gambling on horse racing under the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA),
(2) Gambling that takes place on a Indian reservation or between two reservations
(3) Internet gambling that occurs solely within a state’s own borders, referred to as Intra-state gambling.

• The proposed amendment violates the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). In GATS, the US agrees to provide market access and national treatment to the cross-border supply of foreign services (which includes gambling and betting services)

Now, how does this affect you, the US Internet Poker Player? Because the Unlawful Gambling Bill does not make it unlawful for United States citizens to play online poker, US citizens are free to play provided they can find an online casino and a money transfer service that will serve them.

For an up to date list of Poker Rooms which accept US players, money transfer options, a comprehensive review of each room, player feedback, forum posts, and bonus codes for free play, visit the Internet Texas Holdem Bonus and Review Guide.

If you would like to E-Mail Your Congressman or Senator to voice your opinion:

E-mail your Congressman http://www.house.gov/writerep/

E-mail your Senator http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

About Internet Texas Holdem

Created by Matthew Hilger, poker pro and best-selling poker author, Texas Holdem Tips RSS Feed. This includes open forum poker discussion, poker strategy from professionals, as well as internet poker player rankings, online poker room reviews and insight into the best poker bonus codes on the web.

For all media inquiries contact:
Ryan Peck
Internet Texas Holdem
770-315-2903
www.internettexasholdem.com

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