Poker Players phone in to Washington to try and legalize online gambling
There has been a recent run of arrests of CEOs of online gambling sites, and with the entire industry threatened, online poker players are fighting back. They’re organizing a phone-a-thon of sorts where they’re calling in by the thousands to Senators and congressmen. They’ve set up an incredibly efficient system to do this:
From 9:00am ET to 5:30pm ET on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, concerned online poker players, online gamblers, and anyone interested in seeing their personal freedoms protected should call 800-289-1136. Our toll free system will ask the caller to enter his or her zip code. They will then be connected, free of charge, to the appropriate Senators’ offices. “This is an easy way to send a message,” says PocketFives.com President Cal Spears. “If everyone voices their disapproval for this legislation on the same day, we will send a clear signal to the Senate that America does not support banning internet gambling and online poker.”
I’ve never understood how so many politicians have been able to run on anti-gambling campaigns. I’ve never really met a large number of people who are actually vehemently anti-gambling. I know some who find it distasteful, but it certainly doesn’t get a rise out of people like capital punishment, abortion, terrorism, etc…
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A few years ago I worked as a product tester/interview guy in a shopping mall. Next to me stood a row of (legal) slot machines.
During the course of an hour I saw a woman gamble away a serious amount of money on those machines. She looked robotic, miserable and thoroughly addicted.
Gambling is clearly a debilitating drug to some.