Response to my Fox column on the Internet gambling ban has been brisk and angry. I’ve received about 75 messages in strong opposition to the ban, just two supporting it. More interestingly, many of those in opposition describe themselves as either apolitical, conservative, or advocates of limited government. And because of this issue alone, they’re all voting for the Democrats.

I particularly like the phrase coined by one angry poker player, “The Green Felt Revolution.” A sampling after the break.

(Note: Due to volume, I didn’t bother editing the responses.)

Excellent article. It is absurd that the party of “small government and liberty” has passed this ban on personal choice and freedom. Frist has made a major mistake, he will NEVER get my vote, even for dog catcher. Frist has trashed the Republican ideal of small government and liberty. The Religious Right (I am religious and conservative), is ruining the GOP. If they keep this up, there will be a third party, one that has people that have read the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and cares about this “Great Experiment”

Please keep this issue going, you are right on and have a major audience.

~

This bill is a disgrace. They ban online poker, while state lotteries and online horse racing wagers are exempt. Does Bill Frist really think we don’t realize Harrah’s was his 13th largest campaign contributor? The moral argument holds no weight. This is hypocrisy at its finest. A lifetime Republican supporter, I will no longer be backing them in ‘06 and ‘08. This is an all-out attack against American values.

~

I am a lifelong Republican voter. Or was. I play poker 20-30 hrs/wk
online. Or played. I have never in my life voted Democrat for a
national office, and I can count on one hand the times I have coted
Democrat in a state or local race. No longer. I will go to the polls
in November, and take anyone and everyone I can to vote Democrat.
straight ticket. I have given money to close races across the
country. To the Democrat. Not because they support poker in
particular, or civil liberties in general. I don’t believe they do.
But the Republicans wnet beyond the pale. I am so bitter and angry I
will do anything and everything I can to see them ousted form office.
I will be in Iowa wearing a Nazi unfirm saluting Bill f***ing Frist at
every event. The good thing from playing poker is I have money saved,
and time. Never in my life have I been arrested or in jail. I feel I
will be protesting Frist, and making sure responsible freedom loving
people vote against him. I feel I am at war with the Taliban. I
thought I lived in a free country , and I was safe from fellow
citizens pretendign to represent my interests. I am sad I was wrong.

~

Thank you very much for your well thought out report
on the recent i-Gaming legislation that was passed
through Congress on the back of the Safe Port Act.

You are correct in your point that poker is a game of
skill, but more importantly you are correct in your
point that the government should not meddle in the
private affairs of its citizens. Poker players are
outraged at this legislation not only because it
hampers our ability to play our favorite game, but
also because we simply don’t need the U.S. Congress to
protect us from ourselves.

Messrs. Frist, Goodlatte, and Leach have all
proclaimed that Internet gambling is highly addictive
and that it allows terrorist groups to easily launder
money. Yet, Congress has made no effort to provide
help and support for addicts, and there has not been a
single proven case of Internet casino funds ending up
in the hands of terrorist groups.

Your point that poker players are a “largely
apolitical group” that may well “get politically
motivated” by this legislation is spot-on. Many
Internet poker strategy forums are now awash with
posts calling for poker players to vote Democrat, vote
out all incumbents, or vote for the Libertarian party.

~

Thank you for your article on the online gambling bill pushed through in
the port security act. I’ve played poker recreationally online now for
about a year in my free time, and am appalled at this blatant intrusion
on our civil liberties. While I’m angry about not being able to play a
game I enjoy, I’m more alarmed at the fact the federal government feels
they have a right to tell millions of Americans they know what is
morally right for them. In years past, I’ve voted Republican, but this
bill is the last straw for me, in this coming election and probably in
the next few I will be voting for the only truly conservative party in
this country, the Libertarians.

~

Your report on the Internet Gambling Ban is among the best I have read. As a casual online poker player, I have been following developments very closely. I am impressed with your thorough research and knowledge of the industry.

You are very much correct when you say that the most trustworthy of online poker rooms are withdrawing from the US market. Those like PartyGaming and 888 Holdings, who are listed on the London Stock Exchange and vigorously regulated and taxed, have suspended US accounts. The CEOs of those companies and others fear that they’re going to be handed over to the US to be tried like common criminals. The companies that remain are generally privately-held and far less transparent in their dealings than those that Congress has ostracized. Several Republicans have claimed that online poker rooms are breeding grounds for money laundering and terrorist financing, and in the very near future they may be right. But unfortunately those weren’t the sites they have shut down.

My fellow poker players aren’t terrorists or criminals. We are hard-working Americans who enjoy playing cards after a long day at work. Many of us are doctors, lawyers, technical professionals, and businessmen. We are not broke–we play responsibly with money that we can afford to lose, and often at lower limits than those offered in brick and mortar casinos. The people who generally can’t afford to gamble are playing the lottery, which was conveniently exempted by this hypocritical bill, as was horse-racing and fantasy sports.

My personal opinion is that if gambling is bad, then ALL gambling is bad. It’s unfair to pick and choose which forms of gambling are exempted based on political contributions. If others can bet on horses, then let us play cards.

~

Thank you for your poker column appearing on Fox News. I am an online poker player and active reader of several internet strategy boards. I happen to win money playing. I am understandably upset about this intrusion on what I consider to be a civil liberty. I should be able to determine what I do in my spare time in my own home with my own money without having to worry about the Federal Government sticking its nose in.

The rational which is often touted for justification of this ban is that online gambling sites could somehow be used to launder money. I have yet to see, anywhere, any news about a money laundering scheme being discovered which uses an online gambling site. On most poker sites, there are limits to player to player transfers and if two players were to play each other with one always folding, the software would detect it. It is called “chip dumping,” it is against the rules of all poker sites and there is software in place to flag and freeze the accounts of players who do it. The money laundering argument is nothing short of ludicris paranoia from a bunch of stuffy old goons on capital hill who know nothing about online poker.

~

I am writing to express my appreciation for your article on the UIGEA. This legislation is a complete farce, and because of it I plan on voting for a straight Democratic ticket this election. Kyl and company passed this legislation on manipulation and mistruths. They stated ad-nauseum that online gambling can be used by terrorists and drug cartels to launder money, even though there’s not a single shred of evidence that this has ever happened. I’m sick of politicians playing the terrorism card every time they want to score some cheap political points. I’m sick of policians who think they know how I should live my life better than I do. I’m sick of this Republican congress that I helped to vote into power.

~

I enjoyed your FoxNews.com article, “Online Gambling Ban a Bad Bet for
Republicans”. Thank you for drawing attention to this issue. Until a
few weeks ago I was a registered Republican. I tend to be more of a
centrist than true conservative (basically fiscal conservative/social
liberal), but leaned Republican and generally voted that way. I have
since changed my voter registration to independent and plan to vote
Democrat for the foreseeable future. Although I do not agree with many
Democrat positions, I feel so strongly about the Internet gambling ban
(and all attacks on personal freedom) that I feel compelled to vote out
those that have infringed upon my individual liberty. In many ways, I
feel betrayed by the Republican party. Democrats may not have been
strongly opposed to the measure, but I feel we must send a message that
this type of attack on our rights will not be tolerated.

The passage of the bill has also motivated me to financially support
politcal candidates for the first time, and naturally that support will
not be going to Republicans. A growing number of poker players from
across the country are joining forces to affect the outcome of a single,
pivotal Senate race in Missouri.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=7770567&an=0
&page=0#Post7770567

My hope is that this effort helps in causing the Republicans to lose
control of the Senate, and that the passage of the UIGEA truly does
backfire on the GOP.

~

there are many
unhappy Republicans, due to this bill. The republican values of less
government and individual responsibility — just aren’t ringing true
here. I would invite you to read the “legislation” forum on
twoplustwo.com to get the sentiments of the on-line poker player.

~

I couldn’t agree with you more as to the republicans sliding this bill through at the 11th hour and moral rectitude shown by the bills sponsors and supporters. I have been a steadfast conservative since Reagan won in 1980, and will always remain one, but this bill rankles me so bad that in the upcoming election me and my entire family are voting (while holding our collective noses) a straight democratic line.

It is my desire to redo what was started in 1994 by wiping the slate clean of those who feel compelled to legislate my recreational hours with their high-minded and pious bills showing their contempt for the average American. This has cost me at least 15% of my income (online poker) and it is being felt by my whole family, THANKS MR.. FRIST!!

I have never been a one issue voter EVER but this is a turning point for me. I will not waste my vote on the libertarian candidates but when that party shows more efficacy I will come running.

~

I haven’t voted for a Democratic candidate in years, but this is about to change. The Republican leadership’s shenanigans in connection with this bill are inexcusable. These hypocritical bozos need to be shown the door.

~

Thank you for your well written article. Apparently this bill will somehow help problem gamblers. I don’t know how. John Kindt (one of the bill’s proponents), a business professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who has studied the issue, calls the Internet “the crack cocaine” of gambling. “There are no needle marks. There’s no alcohol on the breath. You just click the mouse and lose your house,” he said. I would be interested in knowing how often this occurs. Since the bill passed, investors in online gaming stock have lost approx. $7 BILLION in stock value. The median price for a house in the U.S. is 237,000. That means that STOCK INVESTORS not online poker players lost almost 29,536 houses. Maybe congress should outlaw stock trading - or at least “mouse click” stock trading.

~

This is total political crap. It is so damn unAmerican the way those stupid bastards passed this bill without a vote. They literally have no clue what Americans want or need. Those overpaid bastards can go to hell. This is what my tax dollars is paying for. I pay taxes so they can take more rights away from me. These fucking idiots try and impose their morals on people who they have never met and without our permission. The real criminals are the damn politicians. Well I guess we elected these pompous idiots so I guess we got what we deserve. I wish I could move to Canada. I hate this fucking country now. Thank you.

~

I just wanted to state that I agree with your article…I am 37 years of age and have voted in every major (president) and most minor elections and I have always voted republican. However, I will be voting democratic for the foreseeable future because of this bill and other recent freedom infringing bills…

~

Your article about the online gambling bill was right on. As a semi-professional online poker player, this government intrusion on liberty hits home pretty hard. I am a conservative who has voted GOP my whole life. That will not be the case in 2 weeks; and I’m not the only fiscal conservative who will not vote GOP this year. I’m also trying to encourage other fellow conservatives to not vote GOP either. I think this issue will put the final nail in GOP’s chances to remain in power…

…Around 10 million people its estimated play online poker. They probably would have been content to have been left alone by the politicians on Election day and just played cards . Now they’ll have to find something else to do that day..like vote. I can’t wait for the day after the election when the out of touch GOP leadership is scratching their heads as to why they aren’t in power anymore…Its because we’re not the suckers they were betting we’d be. The “Green Felt Revolution” will be heard in DC this year.

~

Gambling is therapeutic, and makes me happy. Any type of government ban is oppressive, and downright demoralizing. It has GOT to be unconstitutional because it clearly deprives a freedom and is frustrating.

I just LOVED the horse races and went about 4 times a week. Slowly but surely, the staff changed and the people became downright rude; even the foreigners who replaced the Americans in the bathrooms and sweeping floors. I guess they are better educated than their job would imply and take their frustrations out on the public. They try to tell you which stall you can use, and in such an authoritative tone; they toss trash cans around and you have to duck or jump not to be attacked by the can.

Tellers are rude to those who come to the window disorganized. I quit going to the track. Then came You Bet Most times my bets were $$2 across the board, but by the time I decided what to bet it was time for the race to go off so I’d miss it. Betting Meadowlands was fun; I discovered new drivers like Luc Ouelette, and Brennan, while Pierce and others really got good. Just as exciting was the fact that John Campbell, star of my era, still could win that huge race for big dollars. I would make the wager on line and then watch TVG or listen on the computer.

Suddenly, You Bet returned my $81 and said I am not allowed to bet with them via computer or telephone because it is against New Jersey law. It broke my heart, enraged me, and I felt that I could not emphasize with those incarcerated. Most of all, I thought how could our freedom be just taken away like that. And then later, New Jersey began their own internet wagering. I think we should have the freedom of choice. Why should we only be allowed to bet with the New Jersey on-line wagering vehicle?

Are we next going to be banned from travelling to the Kentucky Derby or the Belmont Stakes, or the Maryland Preakness? But that’s okay because we can see it electronically in New Jersey.

Finally, gambling is gambling. If Poker (I do not play) and sports cannot be speculated on (football is luck?), then how in the heck can horse racing be okay? Government should leave us alone and remember we hire them to protect and help us, not to deprive us of our endowment for the pursuit of happiness.

Singned
I am really, really, disappointed in my government

~

I very much enjoyed your article about the Republican move to ban internet gambling. I am a registered Republican in North Carolina, and I’ll be staying home this November, rather than voting to support the current group of big government Republicans in office. The internet gambling ban is the last straw for me. I voted Republican in the past, because I wanted smaller, less intrusive government. What we have instead is a federal government whose spending is out of control, and whose reach is extending into our personal lives further than ever before.

~

Right on the money.

Signed,
A lifelong Republican staying at home this Election Day.

~

It’s time that Americans take back the freedom that is slowly being taken away from us day by day by the worst set of government officials ever elected. I usually only vote during the presidential elections, but during this midterm election I am determined to make a difference and get these clowns out of office sooner rather than later. The Majority of republicans in office right now are destroying the very fabric of values that this great country was built upon, and I’m sick of standing by and not being able to do my part.

~

I am a life long republican and I would not vote for Frist (or that holier than thou hypocrite, Kyl) if someone offered money to do so.

~

I appreciate your coverage of the ban on internet gambling. I’m one of the millions of disenfranchised online poker players in this country. As a result of this single issue I’ll be voting Democrat all the way this election. Not because I think they’re any better, but because the Republicans need a wake up call.

Thanks for your time and keep up the excellent work at The Agitator - I get a little more libertarian every time I read about the SWAT team kicking down a door in the middle of the night.

In case you’re interested, below is the response I received from the office of Senator Saxby Chambliss when I asked him to vote against the gambling ban. Apparently, because the internet is used anonymously by people who may or may not be children and may or may not have a gambling problem no one can gamble.

Dear :

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, HR 4777. I appreciate hearing from you.

I voted in support of HR 3125, Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, on July 7, 2000 and I plan to do the same if such legislation comes before the Senate. As the National Gambling Impact Study Commission has documented, and Senate and House hearings have confirmed, Internet gambling is growing at an explosive rate.

Because the Internet can be used anonymously, the danger exists that access to Internet gambling will be abused by underage children. In most instances, a would-be gambler merely has to fill out a registration form in order to play. Most sites rely on the registrant to disclose his or her correct age and make little or no attempt to verify the accuracy of the information. Underage gamblers can use their parents’ credit cards or even their own credit and debit cards to register and set up accounts for use at Internet gambling sites.

Compulsive gamblers are another group susceptible to problems with Internet gambling. In addition to their accessibility, the high-speed instant gratification of Internet games and the high level of privacy they offer may exacerbate problem and pathological gambling. Access to the Internet is easy and inexpensive and can be conducted in the privacy of one’s own home. Shielded from public scrutiny, pathological gamblers can traverse dozens of web sites and gamble 24 hours a day. The potential abuse of this technology by problem and pathological gamblers can tear a family apart.

The problems associated with anonymity extend beyond youth and pathological gambling. Lack of accountability also raises the potential for criminal activities, which can occur in several ways. For example, there is the possibility of abuse by gambling operators. Most Internet service providers (ISPs) hosting Internet gambling operations are physically located offshore; as a result, operators can alter, move, or entirely remove sites within minutes. This mobility makes it possible for dishonest operators to take credit card numbers and money from deposited accounts and close down. This lack of regulation and control over the industry can ultimately lead to credit card fraud and identity theft.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

~

I personally don’t believe in gambling and the extent of my “gambling” has been the occasion $1 lottery ticket or church raffle, but, hey, this IS supposed to be a free country, isn’t it???

With the worldwide Islamofascist threat, hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens pouring across our borders, and the middle class crying out for relief from the “marriage penalty” and the alternative minimum tax, THIS is what the congressional Republicans put at the top of their legislative agenda going into an election???? Some schmoe sitting at his PC in Chicago placing bets on football games is what bothers Bush and the GOP????

It’s so obvious that the ban on internet gambling is designed to protect gambling interests from online competitors. Gambling interests own many GOP congressmen. And the congressional GOP must think that middle America is comprised solely of morons and naifs in that they have the brass nuts to pass off this favor to the gambling industry as part of a “family values” agenda. Yeah, right.

Another good reason to throw all the bums out in 2 weeks.

~

It’s about time somebody speaks the truth about this horrific invasion of our personal freedom. I’m tired of this government acting like they’re the authority on the subject of morality. I hardly think the GOP has anything to say on this matter, especially in light of what’s happened to Abramoff, Delay, and Foley. If you can explain to me what is “moral” about betting on a horse or going up the road to the many Indian casinos in this nation, then I’ll listen. The fact I’m willing to listen and they’re not, goes against everything this country stands for. The fact they won’t even debate the subject, and have no idea what they’re talking about only reveals their ignorance and hidden agendas. The only difference between horse racing and online gaming is the government gets their money. The fact they say this bill is to protect family values is insulting to every American with an IQ over 100. If the GOP is really concerned about problem gambling, then get rid of ALL forms of gaming. I am outraged that ANY bill can be passed by such cowardly tactics.

~

Your article on the banning of internet gaming is the best summary of the issue I have seen. Through my cloud of rage of begin stripped of my favorite recreational pastime, I was having trouble explaining to friends and family how and why this bill is so incredibly wrong. I will have a copy of your article in my car, my house, my desk, and right next to my book on how to make money playing online poker.

~

I admit, once the bill passed, I immediately decided that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and vowed to not vote for Republicans in the upcoming elections (maybe never).

I’ve been a Conservative Republican for so long, but the Conservative movement has changed, and this bill being passed through is a huge hint to that happening. Can you imagine, ten years ago, a Republican Conservative wanting to pass a bill that disallows you to do something perfectly legal? To legislate morality? Republican Conservatives used to be opposite of that, now they have changed for the worse.

I will vote Democrat in response.

~

I know that I have always voted republican over the last 15 years, and this travesty of the law will force me to change that.

~

While I don’t oppose gambling online, I really oppose the intrusion into
American’s personal lives when it comes to gambling. It’s not really a
moral issue, other than in the minds of a select section of fundamental
religious believers. Before a judgment is made on that last statement,
I am a born again Christian, who follows the Lord Jesus. So far, I’ve
not seen any biblical argument against wagering or betting or gambling.
In fact, in the old testament, that’s how decisions were made, by
casting lots. The Apostles cast lots to decide who the person would be
to replace Judas.

But this isn’t really a religious argument. It’s another example of
over reaching government, regulating the private time of it’s citizens.
As strong a republican as I am, should I live in one of the states
represented by the formers of this ban, I wouldn’t cast my vote for
them.

~

As soon as this bill passed i decided to rally
everyone i know to VOTE. People who have never voted
in their lives have now registered to Vote. I frequent
a lot of chat rooms and have met thousands of people
over the years. Every person I have talked to about
the GOP Gambling Ban cannot believe it. Most are
angered and it will show on election day when the GOP
loses by a landslide.

Why? We feel we are losing rights more and more and
becoming a Nanny State. To affect well over 23 million
people in an underhanded way as Frist did in the wee
hours o Sept 30 was just the last straw for the GOP.

To most of us Leach, Kyl, Goodlatte and Frist
represent the republican party as a whole, sneaking
this ban into a must pass Port Security bill. (what a
discrace to our soldiers fighting for the freedoms we
have lost over the past years)

The GOP probably thinks we dont understand how it got
passed but they are very wrong. Congress we believe,
is so out of tune with computers, the internet and how
HUGE the gaming community is, they dont have a clue
how many voters they have riled. Main Stream Media is
also missing this one but the online community is so
HUGE we dont need the media to get the word out about
the Ban.

People say this single issue has swayed their vote.
The people who play online are from every walk of
life. You would be surprised…

Take the elderly who play bingo games for nickels, the
GOP wants to stop them in the name of family values?
It is sometimes their only enjoyment.They frequent the
bingo chat rooms and meet other elderly friends.

Not everyone has a child who may get their credit
card, which in my opinion should be monitored by
parents and not the by government. These elderly women
can play for a week on 10 to $20.00… They cant do
that at land bingo. The GOP is taking that small
enjoyment in the name of do gooders? Dont forget
Foley..ahem..cough

The fact that The GOP thinks they still have a chance
to keep their seats makes us laugh. What they dont get
is the millions of us who see through their
conservative move to please evangelists.

Think about it, since we can play lotteries, and horse
racing, They are not actually telling us we can’t
gamble, but the government has decided where we can
gamble instead.

So which is it… We think if it is truly a Family
Value issue, it would have been a ban for ALL
gambling, no exceptions.

Of course lately family Value and GOP in the same
sentence leaves a bad taste. Just look at the anger in
this online petition. And this one is even hard to
find..

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?LOGNOW

~

Thank you for this article! Just a few more good reasons why big government and the Republican senate should stay out of the private lives of American citizens.

~

Man - is the government missing the boat. They are totally out of touch and way behind the times.

Most people I know play poker these days. It has become very confusing with the lotteries, casino gambling, internet gambling, horse racing etc.

The people I have spoken with are fed up with what is going on in DC. This bill went over the top.

Frist, Kyl, Leach and Goodlatte will forever regret the passing of this bill.

Looks like a couple hundred million quiet Americans will be coming out of hiding and speaking out against the tens of millions very-loud-outspoken-obnoxious christian right-wing nuts in the next decade.

Count me in as one of those that will confront and stand eye-to-eye with these lunatics.

~

I read your article “Online Gambling Ban a Bad Bet for Republicans”, and I
would like to respond to it. I’m a life-long Republican who has never voted
Democratic and who also has donated money to the RNC and NRCC multiple times
in the past four years. But after what Bill Frist did by attaching the ban
on Internet gambling to the Port Security bill, I’ve decided that I am going
to have to change party affiliation based off of this one action.

I am a small-time poker player, and I make a few dollars playing poker on
the Internet. But the action of what Bill Frist did in this case, I don’t
think I can support a party that would do such an underhanded move that
affects millions of law-abiding citizens. I think the GOP leadership is way
off base on this issue, and I hope that acts like this cost them their
majorities in the House and Senate.

It would be interesting to see on November 7th that if the Republicans lose
their majority in either branch of congress how much this one action has
cost them. There are a lot of poker-related forums that are calling for
everyone to vote Democratic which I think is going to cost the Republican
party votes that they desperately need. Also, I don’t see where the
Republicans are going to gain any additional votes by doing this action on
Internet gambling.

I’m hoping for the sake of the Republican party that they do go to defeat,
and I would laugh if this issue was enough to change a few votes in some key
swing congressional districts and states that would cause the party to lose
their majority.

~

Congratulations, Mr. Balko on an intelligent and prescient article
about the Internet Gambling ban snuck through by Herr Frist at the
behest of Herrs Goodlatte, Leach, and (Seig) Kyl.

I vote in every election, although I am fairly apolitical(if
anything, fairly conservative leaning). However, I promise you that
as a result of this bill I WILL NEVER, EVER VOTE FOR ANOTHER
REPUBLICAN. And I have dozens of friends who feel the same way.

~

Good article. I have two points to make in response - the first is that this
is incredibly tin eared on the part of the GOP. My guess would be that poker
professionals *should* be solidly in the GOP base - there is no more naked a
form of capitalism then the ruthless meritocracy of poker. Yet, as you
suggest, in a single move, the GOP has decided to jettison this group (a
group with both visibility and money to spare to contribute to candidates
who won’t try and kill their livelihood.)

My second point relates to the notion that this is simply leaving tax
revenues on the table. Yes, the operators of poker rooms won’t pay taxes,
but neither will the professional players. I subsidized grad school with
online poker, and I always paid taxes on my winnings. Now? No way would I
expose myself to criminal sanction by declaring “Other Gambling Winnings.”
And I don’t think I’m the only one. Given the size of the market, that’s
significant tax revenue simply being left on the table so that state
lotteries (or, as most poker players refer to them “taxes on stupid people”)
and Indian casinos can maintaint their monopolies and we can “save the
children.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006 at 12:30 pm by Radley Balko and is filed under Gambling, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.