EU Trade Commissioner

[Gibbon]

http://casino.pokernews.com/news/2007/11/eu-trade-commissioner-mandelson-online-gambling.htm Reuters reports the EU's top trade official has headed to Washington as part of a concerted effort to persuade Congress to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA), which places restrictions on US financial houses in regards to online gambling transactions..... The registered membership on PA's board numbers in thousands. Every single one of you should write letters to your congressmen and senators. No emails. Only real letters or phone calls please.

There are a numbers of us working diligently in the background to repeal this dreadful legislation. We can't do it alone. We need your help! I need not remind many of you – your congressmen is an employee of "we the people."

Find your Representative (http://www.house.gov/writerep/)....Contact your Senator (http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm)....Write to the Speaker of the House (http://www.speaker.gov/contact/)

Please address them all properly. Example:
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Yes, grammar and spelling count.

[Gibbon]

Even as Governor Deval Patrick seeks to license three resort casinos in Massachusetts, he hopes to clamp down on the explosion in Internet gambling by making it illegal for state residents to place a bet on line. He has proposed jail terms of up to two years and $25,000 fines for violators.

The provision, buried deep in Patrick's bill to allow three casinos to the state, puts the governor at odds with a fellow Democrat: US Representative Barney Frank, the sponsor of federal legislation to license and regulate online gambling nationally. Yesterday Frank strongly criticized the governor's plan to punish online gamers while inviting casino operators to set up shop. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/11/10/internet_gambling_is_a_target_of_patrick_bill/?page=2

[Gibbon]

The chairman of what is arguably the most powerful committee in the United States Congress has said the US government is wrong to withdraw its World Trade Organisation (WTO) gambling commitments.

Speaking with local media during a brief visit to Antigua over the weekend, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee Congressman, Charles Rangel, made reference to the plan currently being executed by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to withdraw from America’s WTO commitment to allow market access for remote gambling companies. Rangel expressed concern about the tactic and said that he plans to speak with officials in the office of the USTR before the end of the month. http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=115924088111122007&an=174131086811112007&ac=Local

We can win this fight. Please write letters to your representative.

[robert99]

If not already doing, so then perhaps also copy any letter, emails will do, to Peter's press staff below. It is of great help in any negotiations to know how real US citizens actually feel on the issue and the extent (chapter and verse) of the anomalies and contradictions. Your relevant points will certainly be brought up.

Peter Mandelson was earlier a Minister in the current UK Government - the land of the trusted free for all betting issues. He is a formidable negotiator.

Press Contacts: Mattias Sundholm Kasper Zeuthen

202-862-4720
mattias.sundholm@ec.europa.eu 202-862-9530
kasper.zeuthen@ec.europa.eu

Further Contact Information
Press and Public Diplomacy
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766