Stimulating Actions from SSIGI

Players should get in touch with their political reps, claims action group

This week’s been a very active time for the pro-online gambling legalisation action group Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative since the US Congress enters its pre-closing "lame duck session." The group has been pointing out the financial benefits that would be brought about by the legalization of internet gambling in the United States.

Certain assessments point that licensed internet gambling could fill the budget with over $40 billion in tax revenue over the next decade.

What the group suggests as a strategy is that players should lobby their political reps for the change, namely: “A bi-partisan commission created by President Obama is currently working on a plan to help balance the US budget – projected at $1.42 trillion for fiscal year 2009. Their recommendations, due to be released by December 1st, 2010, are being crafted in part based on testimony provided by various experts and interest groups.” In addition, the SSIGI calls on online gamblers to send an e-mail to the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform at commission@fc.eop.gov.

The Commission consists of:

Former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson and former President Clinton’s Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles are Co-Chairmen, leading six Democrat and six Republican lawmakers.

Other members include Honeywell International CEO David Cote, former Young and Rubicam Brands CEO Ann Fudge, Service Employees International Union President Andrew Stern, and former Office of Management and Budget Director Alice Rivlin.

According to the Initiative spokesperson Michael Waxman: “While the Deficit Commission has many difficult decisions to make, putting to use the revenue generated through online gambling regulation should be a no-brainer.”

He added that the Initiative has composed a sample email with all the relevant points and statistics, to help players address their political representatives. Waxman also assessed that "It is time to replace a failed attempt at prohibition with a regulated environment that allows online gambling activity, protects consumers, and uses the much-needed new revenue generated to pay off our nation’s debt.”