UGIEA may pass before Bush leaves office

If you’re reading this, you very likely play poker on the Internet. Before you finish reading this, please take the time to act and using the link we’re going to provide and ensure your voice is added to the chorus of poker players that want our game to remain legal (and available).

In a last minute move similar to the way the original bill was passed, lawmakers are attempting to do the same thing with UIGEA. Representative Bill Frist was able to pass the original bill by attaching it to the US Port Security Act by arguing that online gambling aided terrorists in moving money in secret. While the bill has been amended many times, the UIGEA is very clear in its efforts to ban all financial transactions between US banks and gambling sites.

The PPA has issued a statement that says, in part, “It’s really remarkable that this administration would try to push this out given the burden it would place on financial institutions at this time of financial crisis.”

Use this link http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ElectronicCommentForm.cfm?doc_id=R-1298&doc_ver=1&name=Prohibition%20on%20Funding%20of%20Unlawful%20Internet%20Gambling&date=20071001a to make sure your voice is heard. Here’s an idea of what you should say (courtesy of the PPA, this is an email that will be sent to the membership tomorrow morning):

Just one week after a historic election the Poker Players Alliance is pitted in a fight to keep anti-Internet poker regulations from being enacted and we NEED YOUR HELP!

The current Administration is hastily finalizing a number of “midnight rules” before they leave office and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is on the list. See the 11/06 story in Dow Jones. Just like UIGEA was snuck into legislation in the dark of night in 2006, our opponents are again trying an 11th hour sneak job. We need you to help us expose and stop this reckless rulemaking.

Please call the U.S. Federal Reserve and tell them not to approve the UIGEA regulations — Consumer Complaints, 888-851-1920 or Public Affairs, 202-452-2955.

Tell them:

• The federal agencies responsible for our nation’s economy should not be focused on Internet poker regulations.
• Finalization of the UIGEA rules will add additional burdens on our already crippled financial systems.
• Internet poker is a game of skill and form of recreation for millions of Americans; it should be exempted from the UIGEA.
• Please do not finalize the UIGEA regulations until their impact on our banking systems and average Americans has been fully studied.

Your call will make a huge difference and will add the public’s voice to these last minute policy decisions our government is poised to make. We can’t stand idly by while they make decisions that will impact our right to play America’s card game. PLEASE CALL TODAY!