Great Source of News for Online Bingo Players

For all of us who play online bingo or work in the industry and are seeking current information Bingostreet has got to be one of the best sources for up to date news. The author of these daily articles is Mr. John Witherspoon who must spend incredible amounts of time researching material. Mr. Witherspoon writes colorfully about all topics of interest to both players and those on the business end of online bingo.

Probably the best example of Mr. Witherspoons issue specific coverage is the reporting of the fallout from the recently passed Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the US. This act has affected online bingo in a variety of ways and no matter what the issue Mr. Witherspoon is on top of it. The articles are usually short and sweet but contain a wealth of information.

The Neteller saga was followed closely by both players and site owners for obvious reasons. Players were concerned about funding and withdrawals and site owners stood to lose a major portion of their business. Bingostreet was easily most valuable source for current information. Although written from the point of view of someone located in the UK the series of articles provided valuable information to those of us located in the US.

Almost nothing in the world of online gaming escapes Mr. Witherspoon’s attention. Recent articles cover topics ranging from the current prosecution of the owner of Betcha.com, Malta’s boom in gaming licensing, to reports on gaming stock on the London stock exchange. These compact articles are sure to keep gaming aficionados well informed.

Other topics covered by Mr. Witherspoon at Bingostreet range from celebrity gossip to well written reviews of various online bingo websites. Often the articles are very humorous such as the recent article about Pete Doherty the singer from the rock group Babyshambles who seems to be incapable of staying out of trouble.

For online bingo players and site owners Mr. Witherspoon and Bingostreet are one of the most valuable resources on the internet.


Copyright BingoLingo all rights reserved.

SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER AT BINGOHOUSE

At BingoHouse, “Our House is Your House.”

We are so sure that you are going to love playing bingo at BingoHouse that we are giving away the house! Our September to Remember promotion gives new players a 250% deposit bonus. That means if you deposit just $40, you will actually get $100 in your account! And to top it all off, we’ll throw in this FREE VISOR. That’s right a FREE sporty new BingoHouse visor – sure to be a collector’s item.

You’ll love playing at BingoHouse because of the low priced 10 cent cards and the thrill of winning up to $15,000 jackpots! You’ll also love the different versions of bingo that you can play. Our flagship game is a group of six bingo theme games called Bingo Central. Our favorite is the Las Vegas theme bingo game because everybody loves a night in Vegas. Then, there’s the Desperate Lounge with its sexy R rated bingo chat rooms. The SS Low Max with 10 cent cards and Gilligan’s Island theme. Everybody loves to play Blackout Bingo where the game lasts the longest and you have to fill in all of the numbers to win. Finally, Fair N’ Square Bingo which keeps the high rollers at bay and allows players to only buy the same amount of cards so your chances to win are just as good as the next gal’s.

At BingoHouse, we have an international clientele and we love players from all countries.

*To obtain your FREE BingoHouse visor, send your name, address, and deposit name to bingohouse@hotmail.com.

Online Bingo. Funding Options for US Players.

Since the passage of the unpopular Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) many US online bingo players have been confused as to the legality of online bingo and the funding methods left available to them.

Several of the major players in this business such as Neteller have been prosecuted for activities that are perfectly legal in their own countries resulting in heavy fines and settlements with the US government. To avoid similar prosecutions several companies have swiftly pulled out of the US market suffering substantial monetary losses.
These companies include, Neteller, Citadel, My Citadel, InstaDebit, FirePay, Central Coin, and Pre Paid ATM.

Already several startup payment processors have started to appear but they lack the longevity and credibility of the older established firms. Put quite simply these new companies do not have a history to substantiate their claims of services provided. One of the unintended consequences of UIGEA is the appearance of payment processors who may or may not be honest and above board.

We have done some research and found several reliable payment processors that are still available to US online bingo players.

Of course one of the simplest methods to fund deposits and withdrawals from online bingo sites is an offshore bank account. This is not a popular method due to the amount of paperwork involved and balance requirements. What follows is a list of companies that still have the courage to serve US players.

Click2Pay- If you already have an account the will process your deposits and withdrawals but they are not accepting new accounts from the US. http://www.click2pay.com/

ePassporte-They are accepting US players and accounts can be funded with, A valid bank account, credit or debit cards. https://www.epassporte.com/

eWalletExpress- They are accepting US players. Accounts may be funded by, basic checking, Xpressfunds, 900pay, bank wire and money order. https://www.ewalletxpress.com/navaho/app

900pay-Currently accepting US players this service is one of the more unusual funding methods. This service allows deposits to online bingo sites and the transaction appears on the client’s phone bill. Just click the link and follow the instructions. http://www.ecashdirect.net/ecash/900pay.html

UseMyBank-This unique service allows players to use their banks existing online bill payment service. All that is needed is a valid e mail address and telephone number. http://www.usemybank.com/

Immediate Deposit-This service allows the player to use their visa or Master Card to purchase a calling card which can then be used for casino credits. This method is good for deposits only. Another method must be used for withdrawals. https://secured.immediatedeposit.com/Prod/Faq.jsp?ID=1

Western Union-One of the oldest methods. There is some confusion with the status of gambling transactions. Check for current information. http://www.westernunion.com/index_consumer.asp?country=US

MyWebATM-This is a brand new company providing funding for online bingo and accounts are accessible at most ATM’s. Since this is a new service many bingo sites and casinos do not offer this funding option yet. http://www.mywebatmcard.com/

Wire Transfer-One of the oldest and least known deposit methods. The only drawback is the length of time it takes, typically 2 to 5 days.

Add-Funds-A new service that allows US players to fund their online bingo accounts with their credit cards. It is essentially another service where clients buy phone time to be exchanged for credits at the site they choose to play at. http://www.add-funds.com/

FedEX-Players may fund accounts via FedEX. This involves sending cashiers checks or bank drafts to the site operators.

PIN Debit- This new service allows players to link their PIN Debit to their personal bank accounts both checking and savings. Winnings can be transferred to bank accounts using this service. www.PINDebit.com

Some of the companies providing these services are new and their reliability has not been established. Players need to do careful research when looking for an account funding solution.

Unfortunately US players are finding it increasingly hared to fund accounts directly using their credit cards. Most CC companies and banks have a code that denotes a gambling transaction and given the current atmosphere in the US that transaction is likely to be declined leaving the player in limbo. For the time being third party services seem to be the best solution. Keep right on playing and good luck!

The US Is At It Again!

The US Department of Justice is at is at it again. After extorting $136 million from Neteller and another $10 million from Pay Pal they are now going after profits allegedly made in violation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act of 2006. (UIGEA)

Party Gaming and 888.com are now in the sights of US prosecutors even though their businesses are perfectly legitimate in their own country, not to mention the fact that both countries have withdrawn from the US market. The DOJ is under pressure from right wingers to show enforcement successes.

Although neither company is a player in the online bingo industry, bingo site owners are following recent developments with great interest. The US market is a large one for online bingo and losing that market share would hurt site owners and operators substantially. Bingo players, by and large, do not see themselves as gamblers in the same sense as poker players.

According to an article by Helia Ebrahimi in the UK financial journal This Is Money the US seeks to extort $900 million dollars from Party Gaming and $120 million from 888.com. The demands from the DOJ would essentially put both companies out of business and cause investors to lose substantially. 888.com served approximately 20 million US players who hopefully vote and will remember this violation of their rights come election time.

It is hard for rational people to understand the US position. These companies are publicly traded on the London stock exchange, are ethical by any standards, and most importantly, are legal in their country of origin. While the US government arguably has the right to impose its own peculiar sense of morality on its own citizens it most certainly does not have those rights beyond its own borders. To do so is arrogance of the highest order.

The passage of UIGEA has had unintended consequences. While the online gaming sites in Europe are well regulated and legal, there are already reports of less than honest site operators and funds transfer services sprouting up in various places. They are targeting the US market which the UIGEA has opened to them.

The recent US opposition to gambling is hard to understand. Gambling has a long history in the United States dating back to its earliest days. Mark Twain was an avid poker player, Truman played poker at Potsdam, and games have been hosted in the White House for two centuries. The miners, cowboys, and ranchers who built the west were all avid gamblers so where did opposition to this great American tradition come from?

Prohibition and Online Bingo

How many people today remember prohibition? My grandfather was sheriff of the county in Ohio I grew up in during prohibition and I had a great uncle who was a bootlegger. Both realized the basic stupidity of the law and even though they were on opposing sides of the law they got along just fine. Both agreed the law was ridiculous and enforcement futile. That is essentially the same situation we face now with online gambling.

The similarities are obvious, both are based on the premise that the government knows what is good for us and has the right to intrude into our private lives. In both cases enforcement is a futile and the law creates more problems than the original issue. Both laws reflect the will of a very tiny minority who feel they have the right to tell their fellow citizens how to conduct their private affairs.

The arguments used to justify the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act border on the ridiculous and reek of hypocrisy. In a Wall Street Journal interview with Jim Leach (R-Iowa) one of the chief supporters of the ban, we can see the spurious reasoning that gambling opponents use.

The old “it hurts the family” argument. If Mr. Leach was really concerned about families then why does he consistently vote against things such as family leave, raising the minimum wage, and any meaningful reform of our health care system? A quick inquiry into the voting records of most gambling opponents reveals an appalling lack of concern for issues vital to families and their economic health. One need go no further than the current administration’s opposition to providing health insurance to low income children to see just what “family values” they have.

Problem gambling can lead to various social ills, crime. What most online gambling opponents don’t tell you is that most sites have programs in place that recognize compulsive betting patterns and reputable websites will ban such gamblers. All transactions are logged individually and are available for scrutiny. Remember we are talking about companies that are publicly traded and they cannot afford adverse publicity and certainly it is not in their interest to conduct business in an improper or illegal way.

Accusations of money laundering and financing terrorism. To date there have been no documented incidents of either and publicly traded companies do not behave in this manner. Quite simply, it is not in their self interest to behave illegally.

This law could have unintended consequences. Making something illegal does not make it go away. In fact it opens the door for unethical entities to take the place of well regulated, publicly traded companies.

The ban somehow exempts horseracing. Why? Again follow the money. The horseracing has donated prodigiously to various candidates and even members of the religious right (Pat Robertson) own race horses or participate in the sport. News reports brought out the fact that several vocal opponents of gambling were involved with Jack Abramoff. Ralph Reed of the Christian Coalition and James Dobson of Focus on the Family are two of the more egregious examples. State lotteries are also exempt. Why, for example, can an individual use a credit card to play the lottery or bet on horses, but not on, let’s say online bingo?

Protecting public morals. The fact is, a majority citizens do not see gambling as immoral or even a problem. When one looks at the variety of sites promoting pornography, sites with instructions for manufacturing illegal drugs, and the many sites run by various hate groups, the argument of morality rings hollow. The fact is, politicians are pandering to the wishes of a tiny minority on this issue.

The law places the entire burden of compliance on financial institutions. Banks are not law enforcement agencies and this law places another burden on an industry that is already over regulated. More regulation could result in higher service fees.

What it all comes down to is the right of a citizen to engage in consensual behavior that harms no one in the privacy on one’s own home. Scare tactics and hollow rhetoric aside, we are still citizens of a free republic and this unwarranted intrusion into our private lives is just as ridiculous and unenforceable as prohibition was in the 1920’s. The same mentality that gave us prohibition is still with us but thankfully it’s losing ground swiftly.

Online Bingo,UIGEA ,Hypocrisy and Your rights

How many of you remember the famous movie “Casablanca”? There is a scene in which Louis (the police chief) has just told Rick (Humphrey Bogart that he is shutting down his café’. When Rick inquires why, the police chief, as he is being handed gambling winnings from the café’s cashier, says “I am shocked, shocked to find out that gambling is going on here.” Hypocrisy right? But that’s the same kind of logic used in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed in 2006.

A brief inquiry into the history of this bill and the means by which it was passed reveals the hypocrisy of so many that it is truly shocking. The bill was tacked on to the Port Security Act by Republican Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) shortly before the bill was presented in the middle of the night with no time for debate. In fact many in congress were totally unaware of this ridiculous addition to a much needed bill to ensure port safety and security.

As it turns out Senator Frist has some serious ethical problems of his own including, campaign finance law violations, and insider trading. Frist said that he was concerned about minors gambling online which would be a good point if it were true. A recent 60 Minutes episode had a minor trying to access various gaming sites without success. Another argument given was to “protect public safety and morals”. Given the wide variety of pornography, bomb making, hate groups, and drug manufacturing information available on the internet to users of any age the argument seems absurd.

Another argument frequently used by conservatives is that gambling possibly could support terrorism. Terrorism seems to be invoked whenever the current administration needs to find a justification for bills that would restrict or limit rights enumerated in the US constitution. To date there has not been one documented event or incident linking online gambling to terrorism or money laundering. Terrorism is a serious business but when it is used as a smokescreen to justify the current administration’s agenda the public may tend to ignore credible threats.

When gaming industry tried to reach Frist there was no response but a referral to a statement issued to a special interest religious group. Essentially Frist said that brick and mortar casinos were ok but somehow online gaming is somehow more objectionable. With new software that blocks minors from playing on online sites Mr. Frist’s arguments become moot. Essentially Mr. Frist is pandering to a tiny minority that welcomes government intrusion into their lives.

A vast majority of Americans resent government intrusion into their private lives but somehow government never seems to get the message. Most reasonable people would agree that what a person does in the privacy of their own home or how they choose to dispose of their money is their own business and those adults are fully capable of making informed decisions about the way they choose to conduct their lives.

Take the example of online bingo, a traditionally socially acceptable form of gambling. Charitable organizations and churches have been using bingo as a fundraising tool for decades. Not everyone, especially those in remote and rural areas has access to these games but still desire to play bingo. The internet is the obvious solution for these citizens and to deny them access to online bingo would essentially make them unequal merely because of their location. These players are making a choice to play from the privacy of their own homes and spending their own hard earned dollars and what government entity has the right to say they can’t?

A new bill submitted for consideration in congress by Barney Frank (D-Mass) would essentially repeal the bad piece of legislation that is the Uniform Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. It would regulate and possibly tax internet gaming and the revenues generated would help several government programs. Frank is joined by Ron Paul (R-Texas) a Republican who believes that citizens are capable of making their own decisions making him one of the few to adhere to the founding principles of his party. A companion bill to Frank’s was introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) which essentially allow gaming revenues to be taxed.

Another ray of hope is a lawsuit filed by the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Reserve. The lawsuit seeks to halt enforcement of the UIGEA on the grounds that it is an infringement on the rights of free speech, freedom of association, and equal protection under the law. The lawsuit has asked the court for a temporary restraining order. Unfortunately as it is, occasionally a lawsuit is the only way to void a bad piece of legislation.

Our constitution allows citizens to “petition the government for redress of grievances” and time and time again this has been the most effective way for citizens to make their views and feelings known to their representatives. There have been several cases in which a few letters, e mails, and phone calls have influenced the way a legislator may vote on a particular issue. Obviously bingo players and other gamers are not criminals, capable of making their own decisions, and should start to stand up for their rights. Believe it or not, contacting your respective representatives can actually have an effect. A civil, well reasoned letter, phone call, or e mail is one sure way for a legislator to know how their constituents feel about an issue or piece of legislation.

Two quotes, the first by Abraham Lincoln, and the second by the renowned author Ayn Rand are extremely applicable when discussing the topic of individual freedom;

“Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation and makes crimes out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.”
Abraham Lincoln

“The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt”.
Ayn Rand, (‘Atlas Shrugged’) 1957