Wake Up And Act Now!

[Integrity]

Hello all... how's everyone been?

Wish this was a "friendly" visit, but it's not =0(

We are about to get broadsided, and it may be the end of our livelyhood.

Rep Bob Goodlatte is about to outlaw all online gambling... and his bill will be devestating to us. If we do not do something we will all be out of business soon! Not in a year... in a month or two if this passes!

For the love of all that's holy, people, if this is all you do, WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN TODAY.

Here's the link: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

It's so so simple... I'll even give you a form letter and you can change it as you like and sign your name :

================================================== =====

Dear Rep. ________________,

I am writing you to let you know that one of your constituent, Rep Bob Goodlatte, has introduced a bill (HR 4777) that is unequalled it it's hypocrisy, lies, and discrimination of an industry.

His proposal to ban online gambling is riddled with lies, half-truths, and paranoid suspicions. This industry does not target children and it never has. This industry is not filled with criminals but honest hard working men and women of integrity. This industry does not hurt individuals or their families, but supports patriotic Americans who helped vote you into office.

There are millions of American citizens across this great country who enjoy playing a $20 game of poker online, or spending $50 at an online slot machine, and do so responsibly with no harm to themselves or their families. Goodlatte proposes to penalize these millions of responsible tax-payers by a distorted view of the facts, and by twisting statistics to fit his own moral agenda.

The American people do not support this bill, and I am holding you responsible to make my voice heard on this! The online gaming industry is LEGAL and REGULATED within the United Kingdom! It is accepted and run from other civilized countries around the globe, and the real issue here is MONEY... everything else is smoke and mirrors to support Goodlatte's pursuit of this money.

The online gambling industry did NOT grow to a $12 billion a year business by HURTING people. That $12 billion did NOT come from targeting minors! It came from a dedication to customer service and an HONEST business model. The competition is too great to act unethically, and the rewards are too great to operate dishonestly. In fact, with all the SELF-REGULATION that goes on inside this industry, I dare say we have less dirty laundry that the Congress with which you serve.

Goodlatte has failed to research this subject completely. He has failed to realize the potential of this industry. And he has failed to recognize the will of the American people. I implore you to act before he casts this great nation back into the dark ages of prohibition... which we know does not work.

If you pass this legislation, you will be equally responsible for yet another "war" against your own people. One that will wage for years, and one where honest, responsible, tax paying, patriotic American citizens will be persecuted and prosecuted for an act of recreation which they should have a right to enjoy in the privacy of their own homes.

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[bigbcasinos]

Hey Mr Integrity How are you?

I don't think this is making a mountain out of a molehill. I read that some ISP's ran a trial where they filtered out all gambling sites. Imagine that, in the land of the free, and ISP is ordered to ensure that the "free" people can only view what they (the government) decide they can view. Free? Not a chance.

OK, I guess porn is an untouchable, that would freak out far too many people. Bugger the fact that it's access is far easier that gambling. FOrget the damage that porn can do to the lives of minors. So they decide online gambling is the answer. Too bad they never went to a conference and met the owners of casinos. Terrorists? Naaah, they're worse I guess! They are capitalists who are willing to put their own money at risk to make money too. Most of them that I met have despicable working hours too. Ugggh, they WORK for a living and KEEP what they make. Not like them to send it to a terrorist. Maybe the government are jealous that they never got down to regulating the industry. They could be making a packet in taxes if they did. I even heard a rumour that some casino operators would welcome regulation!! The very idea!!! An honest industry? I guess only honest and true people can recognise honesty itself.

Instead we see a bill that purports to protect the American people from activities that are used to finance terrorism. They claim that it's open to abuse by minors. Of course, the affiliates have seen the new customer ratios take a dive because the casinos were phoning depositors to verify that they indeed used their own credit card to deposit and that it wasn't their delinquant son or daughter LOL. The industry is trying to self regulate. What a waste of time. The politicians have certainly not even had a vague look at the real issues and what has been done.

I would believe it is time for an appropriate party to challenge Mr Goodlatte to expose the terror financing activities. I am involved in this industry and I truly don't want to finance a terrorist or make money off of one. You know, I very much doubt that Mr Goodlatte has any proof at all.

What a travesty if this bill goes through.

I would agree that each affiliate should write their congressman. However, I also think that a well spoken and presentable affiliate (there must be one out there LOL) should approach the likes of Oprah or similar figure and have a full blown discussion. I don't think our industry would come off worst in an honest and well moderated debate. I think the real loser would be Goodlatte and his bill full of holes.

[casinoglen]

Well, I'm not sure how much of an impact would or would not be made, but Matt and I are talking with some guys who do a radio show in the area ( VA, MD, PA, DE and Washington DC) which is in Mr. Goodlattes own back yard so to speak.

The listener base is 20 and 30 somethings and the guys running this show love online poker. They have already been hammering on it somewhat around here on 2 stations. They took over Sterns timeslot on the participating stations.
xxxhttp://www.junkiesradio.com (standard remove the x's deal)

What we're trying to do is get it on the radio about us, the webmasters, as well as the programs involved, the impact on the loss of jobs, etc.

I will be "skimming" information from some key posts made both in the private an public forums of GPWA, so input on this would be of great value to me.

I'm not sure that it would make so much of an impact on its own, but if people were to do this across the nation, from both the players arena, and the marketing arena then we could get our voices heard. Perhaps it will start a viral type effort.

[dhayman]

Good letter, and I sent to my Congressman.

I found some good links that can be used on your radio broadcast, and I posted them in this thread:

http://www.casinoaffiliateprograms.c...ay.10149.html?

Feel free to use this information for further argument.

If your radio show is simulcast on the Internet, please provide link, date and time.

Regards,

Doug

[Integrity]

Hey guys & gals...

Glad to see some positive feedback here... all I got at the Casinomeister forum was "you have a type-o"... That's all they really took away from the letter, it seems.

Anything you guys can do to impact Congress, educate the public, or expose the truth the better... you have my backing 110%.

I'm ready to take the fight to them on this one.

[mariannalee]

You would think they had enough to do with all the ills and wrongs in the world and just maybe if they would consentrate on a few and follow through instead of using all the "issues" for their campaign headlines...some good might actually be done!!
Isn't it funny how no one has issues with all the daily and weekly lotteries and the millions of dollars of scratch off tickets they sell in the name of education ( which we all know just gets shifted from that fund into the ones they want)!!
There are bars on every street corner that effect more lives and causes more deaths, along with guns and drugs, child abuse and so many issues that their energies should be spent on...
If they could get their hands on a " piece of the action" there wouldn't be any issue here at all........." ya wanna bet?? "

[ntaus]

Anyone got any suggestions.

I don't know - I'm in a real bind...

Not only am I NOT an American citizen living in the US but also I live in Florida which is one of the only two holdout states not allowing gambling.

Would there be any point in writing to Jeb Bush - State Governor - who is already rabid on the subject

Universal4 - is there anything we should do to help?

ntaus

[Tony]

I would like to help but I can't, I'm not in the US is it any other way we can all help?
The problem is the online Casinos take costumers away from the land base casinos I read an article some where some land based casinos lost 50% in business because of the online casinos.
So I have a message for the land based casinos start your own online casinos and I'll put your bunners in my site.

[insane99994]

The U.S. Government hates to see billions of dollars being pump out of the U.S., into other countries due to online gambling. Gambling Online doesn't harm anyone and it provides Americans, along with all other participating Nationalities, a form of recreation that is enjoyed by the masses. If they ban online gambling in the U.S., they will take a lot of heat from it. I'm from the U.S. and I promote gambling and I also take part in it, just like most of the members in this G.P.W.A.
My opinion is, if it is such a problem for the government, Why don't they put a tax on online gambling instead of banning it and/or why not legalize gambling across the entire U.S.? Then, start using some of that technology by building their own, online gambling industries and try to compete with the other countries. Easier said than done, but that is my opinion. Bottom line is, the majority of the population is dead against it and hopefully that bill won't pass. Hey webmasters, they haven't banned the adult industry yet!

[tnewman]

Hello All,

Casino Watchdogs is here to help and do what is needed. I have written my representative and I hope you all do the same. It is VERY important that every one write in. A short custom letter is what works the best.

When people write into their representatives, you will be representing much more than just yourself. The representatives figure that each person who writes in represents more than 100,000 people's viewpoints. That is power!

Travis Newman
Casino Watchdogs
http://www.casinowatchdogs.com

[Former Member 14]

As a secondary thought, would that mean that US webmasters would be prevented from promoting online gambling period?

[Former Member 14]

Bottom line is, the majority of the population is dead against it and hopefully that bill won't pass. Hey webmasters, they haven't banned the adult industry yet!

True, but the porn industry hasn't had aspertions of money laundering cast on it either. In the months after 9/11 (a very sad event) very BIG fingers were being pointed directly at this industry. People, **** sticks, regardless if it's true or not!

[igami]

As a secondary thought, would that mean that US webmasters would be prevented from promoting online gambling period?

I find the timing very odd and my gut feelings indicate something much more complex, but anyway IMO the latest tailspin started earlier this year when Casino City stated they were dropping their case against the DOJ based partly on their observation that the DOJ was not actively pursuing advertisers.

Within days of CC's case dropping; Sporting News agreed to a $7.2 million settlement to drop charges it faced for running online gambling advertisements.

More recently Kroenke Sports Enterprises, the operators the Pepsi Center pulled online gaming advertisements after being contacted by the DA with threats that advertising online gambling was illegal.

So, YES, IF the law passes, you can anticipate they would start prosecuting those in the US who advertise online gaming. Heck they already persecute advertisers and they don’t have a law to back it up! Even more frightening to me is if they are already bullying and threatening media outlets to remove ads, I could honestly see them seizing property and monies of those who promote it as well.

If you have not already contacted your local/regional officials consider doing so today.

[Doolally]

As I'm based in the UK, I'm not sure what I can do you help fight this campaign. I'm sure there are a lot of people in the same position as I am as well.

I'm willing to back any campaign 100% so if anyone has any ideas on how non-US citizens can assist - Let us know!

[Maxfalcon]

I've an idea, but please let me know if it is possible.

What about making the voice of the principal persons concerned, the US players? I know it isn't a good thing for business to bug players with this, but I think we can get their opinions easily if we organize some cash reward (or a draw) via Neteller.

For example, here is one interesting real player opinion I got last week:

D.P. [dxxxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com] said:
"I really am getting less and less tolerant of my government telling me what they think I should be doing as an individual. I love this country but if us Americans don't start getting a bit riled up they will, inch by inch, take our choices away from us. If the government was really interested in our children as they always say they are there would not be one without a meal in this country, or one in a orphanage. We also wouldn't be looking at high school graduates who don't know how to read or write when they graduate. So you tell me who should be making the decisions about our lives. Certainly not the government and besides aren't WE THE PEOPLE the government."

I think this kind of comments could help a lot. What about getting an Internet campaign and displaying all comments about players on a website? If all of us link this page with targeted keywords around this subject and email this page to the major press websites, and to online casino news sites around, that could do a big thing.

What I see more precisely is something like this:

1. We organize a cash draw where there would be several winners with cash prizes. Something like a total of $1,000 or $2,000, with several winners (1st prize $1,000, 2nd $500 etc...)

2. We email and/or present on our websites the concerned problem 'agressively', that people must voice their opinion and that they could win money if they do so.

3. We link this to a page (on the website created for this circumstance) where there is a form where they can state their opinion, and with the option that when they have finished, they are directed to the link http://www.house.gov/writerep/ to voice directly their opinion to the representatives (we can give them as well a template letter before)

4. The comments are displayed anonymously, with only initials and shortened emails, on the homepage of the website.

I think that if we can get organized, this can easily becomes noticed. Plus, it will push players sending their opinions to their reps.

It could be a good thing in addition of the Radio campaign of John.

On an another side, some players may have fears voicing their opinion or don't care at all. The response ratio will not be very high.

So that's an idea, now we have to evaluate if this is possible and if people want to be in the project. Also, is this new Bill enough serious to have to organize something like this? How much time we have? Also, what say the online casino bosses and the biggest affiliate programs? Are they ready to do something or is this Bill a joke for them?

[Former Member 14]

igami,

You made some very interesting points and I am thinking along the same lines.

I'm not in US so my feeling are worthless; least in a constitutes value.

Doors are being closed & shutters pulled down. For instance WU I feel like media outlets have been issued hard line ultimatums. From reading between the lines there seems to be a lot of movement, with not much being said about it publically.


Maxfalcon,

Great idea, all expect the buying of opinions, which basically this model is (please correct me if I'm wrong). Remove the cash rewards & they probably wont post, keep them and run the risk of ridicule.

[Maxfalcon]

Remove the cash rewards & they probably wont post, keep them and run the risk of ridicule.

Yes, that is the problem. Players (customers in general) don't act if there is not a reward or something in their interest. In that case, it is in their own interest, but can we alert them enough, without having to worry them too much (legality etc...), and have them posting, because it's in their own interest, i.e., post for your freedom only?

Any ideas are welome.

(if I recall there was a website like this last year - seems it hasn't popped up as of now)

For instance WU I feel like media outlets have been issued hard line ultimatums. From reading between the lines there seems to be a lot of movement, with not much being said about it publically.

Yes, and in the same time PlayTech is looking for a £175 Million IPO... Contradictory, isn't it? (xxhttp://msnbc.msn.com/id/11401201/)

[Maxfalcon]

I've just got an idea regarding my above suggestion for the Internet campaign. Maybe what we can do is to announce that for each opinion regarding the issue we receive from players, we add $10 to a sum of money that we will give to a charity organization. We get 200 submission we give $2,000, etc... Each participating webmaster pays for the number of submission he/she brings (if he/she is ready to participate and invest a little money).

Charity funds are popular (as SlotLand currently do with Malawi), so it can make some incentive to get opinions so that we can pursue our Internet campaign, while in the same time have players writing to their reps, and we will do good for people that are in needs with the funds.

Is it a good idea? Maybe as a courtesy we can get a Press Release for free in the major news sites, and submit it to Lyceum Media, and I am also ready to send an article to my newsfeed users base.

But as I have said, we must evaluate if it is something that we must do or not.

[Catherine]

Hi all

I'm also based in the UK and as an affiliate manager don't even have a site where I can contact my players, however I wanted to give you my support and thoughts - if it helps with the radio show then all the better!

There's been increasing coverage in the UK media regarding online gambling. Programmes on the BBC have covered stories such as single parents in full time education paying the mortgage with the proceeds of playing online poker, to a recent Sunday phone in discussing the pros and cons of online gambling.

Personally, I am very anti "Big Brother" taking away my rights and choices as an adult. Yes, I gamble online and enjoy it, but the amounts I stake are very small and within my budget. I realise gambling (both on and offline) can be addictive and it is tragic when gambling becomes an out of control need as opposed to a fun way to spend your hard earned money, but most people gamble online as a means of entertainment. What's the difference between spending $20 playing online poker to deciding to go to the cinema, theatre or out for dinner?

As adults we can go out and spend as much money as we like on cigarettes and alcohol - both of which are addictive and health damaging. I can remember buying both when underage - whereas it's is nigh on impossible to gamble online unless you're over 18 because of all the restrictions in place.

I really hope your radio show goes well and good luck in rallying your congressmen and players alike.

Catherine


PS. Just a thought, but would it be worth approaching some investment houses to find out how much money their clients have tied up in online gaming stocks and shares and what their thoughts are on the online gaming industry a real, legitimate business?

[bigbcasinos]

Hi Catherine

That post lit a little spark in my mind.

I am not sure if it's the same all over the world but here, in South Africa, it's not unusual to go to the casino at say midnight and find kids playing in the hallways (not allowed in the casino) or playing in the amusement park. My most heartbreaking memories include:

1) A beautiful little girl (maybe 4 or 5), fast asleep with her head on her elder sisters (maybe 7 or 8 years old) lap. They were sitting in a cold and draughty hallway waiting for Mommy and Daddy to stop gambling
2) A tragic scene where an obviously drunk husband ripped the handbag from his wife. She was shouting "we can't afford it" and he couldn't care less.

In the online world those kids would have been asleep in bed and the drunk husband would have had a hard time navigating a reasonably complex internet. The wife could have pulled the phone plug and pretended to be concerned about it and played the part of a mortified wife.

Seriously, do land based casinos offer children and the poor more protection? No way. So, your 17 year old delinquant might get it right to rip off Dad's credit card. Dad's going to find out when the casino phones though and he will prbably get it right to charge back too. THe same 17 year old may well sneak into the casino with cash. No charge backs here my friends. Money gone.

This is all about the politicians and what they want to score in a political victory. This has so little to do with terrorism and child protection that it hurts to see what the politicians have conveniently chosen as the "cause" for their concerns.

I think this is a cold and calculated attempt at glory for the cause of money and votes. It has nothing to do with the theme of the bill at all. It can't, the bill is founded on untruths.